HETI & HOPE are in the throws of recording, never proving to be easy….examples of songs in process on Listen.

We would love to be playing Womad, the whole band, fitting a performance in, between our exciting March tour, but not this year!… The duo Heti and Adie touring for Heti & Hope are very excited to be hitting the road. They will be travelling and performing down the South Island reaching as far as Dunedin and the back up North performing as far up as Whangaroa.

When we perform we receive lovely feedback from many of our audiences. Here is a quote  from a Lulu Bell, audience-member, at Space Studio and Gallery performance, who wrote words much appreciated....

" We loved every moment of such stunning instrumental and vocal mastery. Heti your compositions are awesome-easy listening with poignant heartfelt lyrics. "

The band comprises of

Heti Hope: Singer, Songwriter, Keyboard Player.

Adie Higginson: Guitarist and Violinist.

both whom perform together as a duo as well as a full band with:

Ross Lauri: Bass Guitarist.

Sara Fredrickson: Drummer.

Original songs written and sung by Heti Hope going deep into the experience of love and living.

Early Fleetwood Mac, Carole King, Lou Reed, Portishead, with a love of David Bowie will be somewhere in the background to the composition of these songs, as these were the tunes listened to and absorbed throughout living as well as a heap of other music.

Observational, World, Relationships and People, songs sung with soulful spirit.

Photographer: Milo Cawthorne

Residing in Whanganui. since 2018, in NZ since 2004. Heti and Adie were born in the UK, but here, they return to what feels like home; Aotearoa, where Heti’s father was born.

Heti has a Degree in Fine Art, a Diploma in Theatre and Film Studies and a Graduate Diploma in Kindergarten Teaching. She met Adie Higginson in their late twenties and they pursued music both individually and together. They made  LP CD’s with separate Bands; Heti was in a band called “Parkers Barton.” This group was named after a street in Bristol, UK, by the drummer in the band who was influenced by the Band, Portishead, with their new innovative music just coming on to the music scene at that time, their name also being chosen after a place in Bristol. It was a busy time. Heti says that she thinks it’s always hard to be a musician and work in another profession at the same time, so perseverance is definitely required.

Adie played violin in a Country band called “ Grist ” and guitar in a duo playing Jazz tunes. He also followed his earlier training in Cabinet making, loving woodwork, in particular furniture making and design. He worked through an apprenticeship in Repair and Restoration of violins and other string bowed Instruments, in the Bristol Violin shop, where he was employed for ten years. He is still working in this profession in Whanganui as well as teaching violin and guitar.

During this time, Heti was working as a personal assistant for a woman working with disabilities; a filmmaker. In her spare time Heti took singing workshops with Ida Kellarova, Trio Bulgarka, and handed their first child into the arms of Le Mystere de voix Bulgares, to be serenaded to. She became part of a singing duo called ‘Duende,’ with friend Clare McGloughlin, performing songs from Eastern Europe and other parts of the World. Duende performed at the largest European free festival at the time; Ashton Court Music Festival. as well as other music venues; Bristol Museum with amazing acoustics and Churches in Bristol UK being amongst some of their favourites. Heti also wrote and recorded two short music pieces for the filmmaker she worked for, one vocal and one on the ukulele which were shown at the Arnolfini, Bristol.

The Eastern European influences might account for Heti’s love of close harmonic notes. She also enjoyed a bit of Jazz singing in John Dalton’s jazz band and devised and performed for two years in a women’s comedy drama group called, The Jezabels, which she says, was awesome fun. She loved performing all round. Heti’s rendition of Natural Woman by Carole King sung acapela, whilst heavily pregnant, was something to be seen. She clapped her sides to gain more breath and was told later she reminded someone of a loveable penguin.

‘ Being in the Bath and Bristol school of Samba for two years was the best gig and kept me fit!. ‘ Heti says. She had a wild time performing in the Glastonbury Festival and working other large venues with this musical band. 

Heti loves to be absorbed in rhythm. Brian Eno, her external Fine Art assessor at Gwent Art College, told her she had great timing and rhythm back then, after watching one of her art video pieces. Just name dropping here, though Heti actually didn’t know who Eno was at the time. She probably would have been more nervous showing her work had she known. One more name drop? Okay well, Heti was back then, what was known as a ‘barmaid’ for Peter Gabriel at a Real World studios’ Party. Growing up, she lived just up the road and yes she got to dance with him … well next to him.

In 2004, Heti and Adie made a big change in their lives and moved to New Zealand.  They raised their two children in Kapiti, and whilst both working, Adie in Instrument restoration and furniture making, Heti as a Steiner kindergarten teacher, they continued to make music together and produced a CD, both singing and playing guitars. They called themselves ‘ The Dovetails.’ in reference to Adie’s fine woodworking skills as a cabinet maker in Scotland and Heti’s idea of a link to love stories and could be heard on the wonderful Paekakariki Radio station now on 88.2FM if you want to tune in.

In 2018, Heti stopped teaching as she and Adie moved to Whanganui, where she finally fully immersed herself in writing and composing songs on the piano. She continues to write , play, record, produce and promote her work as best she may with the band Heti & Hope. For an artist working from home, there is a mound of work beyond the creating and inspiration itself. Adie as well as his musical commitments to the band continues his work in string bowed instrument restoration and repairs as well teaching violin and guitar. He also set up a Celtic music session in 2023 in the local Irish bar; Grand Hotel, Whanganui, still running every Thursday 7-9pm and Heti loves playing guitar with this group.

Heti released an EP also named Heti & Hope in 2021 Musicians on the EP.

Heti Hope: Singer/songwriter Keyboard player , Percussion and Additional Sounds. Adie Higginson: Violin and Guitar.  Dave Griffiths: Doubles bass, Guitar, Percussion/Drum Beats. Milo Cawthorne: Drums, on ‘Take me on the Road.’

After the EP was made, Heti and Adie decided to form a full band as well as playing as a duo. Michael Peterson; a fantastic young drummer now in Wellington, joined Heti and Adie for live performances before going to University to study music. He was replaced by local drummer Darryl Jones who after an enjoyable spell of musical development, left the band to pursue his own music.

Prior to Darryl joining them, Heti and Adie encouraged their lovely bass player Ross to work with them. Originally from Hamilton, guitarist, Ross Laurie brings his skilled knowledge of music, adapting to the Bass like a seal to water. He has a degree in Music and is a popular guitar teacher here in Whanganui where he lives with his wife and two children. He plays in several other local bands as well. They first met Ross at the Celtic session where he was plucking a banjo.

It was a delight then to welcome Sara Fredrickson in 2023. Sara is a fashion designer and sewer and has her own business here in Whanganui. Originally a rock drummer, she loves Tool and the drumming style of Danny Carey who previous to Tool, played with various artists including Carole King. Heti likes that Danny Carey believes a good drummer plays the music, not the beats, participating in the musical experience and Sara does just this extremely well; both finding the beats and musicality with great performance, she is well worth watching. Don’t you just love watching drummers ! ?

Performing live, with the sensitive support of musicians, the songs live and grow with groove and vitality. This is a band all about having a great time whilst performing from the heart, being in the now and enjoying a good crowd where ever they play.

If you come and see us come and say hello!