ARTIST IN RESIDENCE:
Anne
Heaton on stage is like a jolt of morning java that breaks you out of your
sleepy listlessness. Her beautiful, strong voice croons out everything from
booming folksy rock tunes to mellow, soft songs that transport you to a
dimension where the likes of Carole King, Natalie Merchant, and Sarah McLachlan
all reside.
28 year old Heaton writes her songs herself, so it is no wonder that her work resonates with originality, including her non musical act. In between sets, she recounts ‘life in Anne’s world’ stories like trying to ‘get out of her fuc#@ing head’ while jogging ,that ensures a great backup career as a stand up comedian should it ever be necessary (it won't!).
No matter how relaxed Anne is on stage, she still has her goals clearly in sight about her musical career. “At a minimum, I would like to sustain this level and have it grow at a slow rate,” says Anne, “but I’m not afraid for it to be bigger.”
Anne’s patient, long term outlook on her career may be influenced by the fact that she didn’t always entertain. As a philosophy and literature major at Notre Dame, she had no plans of playing gigs all over the east coast and out west. In fact, soon after she graduated from college in 1994 she worked as an intern in the Clinton White House (no, she doesn’t know…) and her parents were thrilled.
But
Anne wasn’t. She wanted to try and make a go of a secret dream; to make music.
It took guts. By 23 a lot of musicians have already been hacking away in their
parents’ garage for a decade and have usually started playing gigs at night
clubs and colleges. For Anne, the challenge was two-fold because not only
did she have to break into this competitive world, but she had to reeducate
herself since she had been trained as a classical pianist with no formal
voice lessons, except for singing in the school choir.
So she soon left Billy and Hilly's house for her hometown of Chicago and got a job one step closer to her dream; teaching inner city children music with the hopes that she could play some gigs at night.
“But I was too tired, too exhausted when I got home from my day job,” she recounts. Anne says she realized that if she wanted to make a career as a musician, she had to “go for it” 100%. So she quit her job and followed her boyfriend (whose now her husband!), Rick, to New York City to pursue her dream full time, temping in-between practice and gigs to pay the bills
In New York, Anne fine-tuned her naturally melodic voice with lessons and ended up singing in a gospel choir in Harlem, which she says has really influenced her music. During this time, she also started to write her own songs, which she says is integral to her work.
“I don’t think I would play otherwise,” says Anne. “That’s the piece that feels really good; to write the songs and create it lyrically and musically and then bring it out there and share with people. That’s why I love it.”
For the past five years, Anne has been touring the North East coast playing at places like the Bitter End in Manhattan and Club Passim in Boston, both spots where Bob Dylan and many other legends have played. She has cut two albums with another on the way and is psyched about her progress but says it’s still a bit of a financial drain since she is still at a point in her career where she pays for part of the cost of the albums she produces and also often only ends up covering costs, like paying her backup musicians, when she plays at clubs.
But she won’t give up because the bottom line is, it’s a dream come true for her, and she’s got lots of support. Her husband, Rick, who manages building properties in New York City, goes to every concert within driving distance and often, one or all of her three younger brothers will be milling about in the audience. When she plays near her hometown of Chicago, her parents, go too.
But Anne says her father has his reservations. “I still get these questions from my Dad asking me ‘where is this leading and are you going to be on the road the rest of your life?'”
Anne says she ponders this question herself sometimes. “I miss Rick when I travel.” But she’s also not ready to give it up anytime soon, and encourages anyone whose dreamt of playing to dive in like she did—with one caveat.
“I would say spend a lot of time getting really good at what you do because that’s what you’re going to need once you get out there, but then...don’t wait,” says Anne, “go to an open mike. I mean if it’s something you want to do, just do it.”
—SistersGeographic
*********If you would like to learn more about Anne and upcoming concerts please go to www.AnneHeaton.com**********