With hip rhythms, thick harmonies and memorable melodies, Heidi’s music enchants listeners and compels them to sing along. She draws on an eclectic array of influences—jazz, world, gospel, soul, Stevie Wonder, India Arie, Erykah Badu, Bjork, Bonnie Raitt, The Police—and mixes them up with a modern pop sensibility. Her CD, a collection of songs recorded with several producers in a variety of styles, is fittingly entitled “Fickle Mind.” It was released in April 2006.
Heidi’s songs have garnered acclaim from a wide and varied audience. The title track of the album won first place in the Write On ’97 songwriting contest (selected out of 500 entries in the pop category). In May 2004, Placebo earned Honorable Mention with international Song of the Year. She has won numerous awards on Garageband.com (a listener voting site) including Best Female Vocals and Track of the Day many times over, and has been in the top 20 for over two months. Recently, her song Play My Game was featured in the TV Show Chris and Bob’s Road Trip and was used in The Word Nerds, a weekly podcast with approximately 4,500 listeners worldwide. Robson Arms has licensed Play My Game to be featured in a key scene next season. Various songs are currently receiving airplay on college radio, CBC and Galaxie. Reviews from the press have been overwhelmingly enthusiastic.
Heidi’s musical history is diverse. In the early 1990’s, she co-founded the world/funk bands Maisha and Yellow Belly. Yellow Belly released an independent CD, completed two cross-Canada tours, and had several songs top the charts on MP3.com and college radio. Yellow Belly shared stages with The Bare Naked Ladies, Papa Wemba, Steele Pulse, and 54-40.
Following that project, Heidi created her own ensemble and has been performing funky originals, neo-soul classics and jazz standards ever since. She has also been a featured vocalist with Bittersweet, the Alexander Browne Orchestra and Johnny Ferreira and the Swing Machine, and a guest with numerous other prestigious bands in Vancouver and San Francisco. She has performed in Europe, the U.S.A., and Canada, including the Vancouver International Jazz Festival in 2005 (with Bittersweet). Her current backing band—Urban Tribe—consists of some of Vancouver’s finest musicians. Recently, Heidi was selected to open for Jann Arden at the Gift of Time Gala in Vancouver.
Audiences love Heidi for her unpretentious persona and soulful performance, her winning blend of natural talent and sophisticated skill. Listeners everywhere are instantly transformed into long-term and loyal fans.
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PRAISE FOR FICKLE MIND
"why in the hell doesn't Nettwerk Records have this girl's name on a recording contract? Yes Fickle Mind is that great."
- Mike Usinger, Georgia Straight, Vancouver, July 20, 2006
"A rare indie release where everything is so spot-on you are left wondering why this artist isn’t getting a big label push..Killer production, strong writing and a firm understanding of popular contemporary smooth adult pop. Totally pro."(B+)
- Stuart Derdeyn, The Province (Vancouver) June 6th, 2006
"The very deluxe jazz, funk, pop, soul and R&B I found on Fickle Mind grabs me... a CD that varies a lot and is clear and pure. Think of Curtis Mayfield meets Lauryn Hill or Beth Orton doing something with Sting. It’s clear, Heidi McCurdy is a vocal miracle. Beautiful debut album which deserves to be followed up; the time seems ripe."
- Jan Janssen, Real Roots Café (Holland) February 2006 |
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Do you have an event you’d like to have Heidi perform at? Below is a list of her current
bands that are available for various occasions.
Urban Tribe
Hip and funky, Heidi’s main backing band presents her jazzy pop originals, as well as a
smooth soul and dance/funk repertoire that includes songs by India Arie, Erykah Badu,
and Stevie Wonder. Urban Tribe is often called upon to provide a mellow jazz “dinner” set and work up to a full-on dance party.
Jazz Ensemble - The Spellbinders
Swinging the mood with the city’s most coveted jazz musicians, Heidi can put together
anywhere from a duo to a quintet. Together they perform fresh stylings of classic and
contemporary jazz and blues songs.
Bittersweet
Named after a Me’Shell tune, Bittersweet is all about laid-back jazzy soul with serious
groove. This band is the rhythm section from Famous Players with Heidi on lead vocals.
Repertoire includes D’Angelo, Jill Scott and Brand New Heavies.
VocoLoco
Primal world rhythms, ethereal harmonies, spontaneous spoken word...you never know
what wild surprises you’re going to get with this improvised vocal ensemble. With
accomplished singers Laurel Murphy and Sara Marrieros, and other special guests.
Christmas Music
Ambrosia - Semi-traditional caroling trio with Steve Gidora (Wheat in the Barley) and
Kristin Lindell. Medieval costumes included!
Jazz Christmas
Heidi sings with guitarist Daryl Jahnke and his exquisite jazz
renditions of timeless holiday songs.
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