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 go deep into the experience of love and living. Early Fleetwood Mac, Carole King, Lou Reed, Joni Mitchell 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 Heti’s life as well as a heap of other music, Nina Simone, Bob Dylan too many to mention. The Songs are Observational, About the World, Relationships and Humanity, sung with a 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 at the time, after a street in Bristol, UK, by the drummer in the band, who was very much influenced by ‘Portishead’ another Band whose innovative sound was breaking on to the music scene in this City. This was also the time when Massive Attack and Tricky appeared on the scene. Like Parkers Barton, only previously done, the band Portishead was also named after a place in Bristol.

“ It was one of those moments in time when a surge of new music could be tangible in the air. It felt great to be living in and around this vibrant City. We lived fourteen years in Bristol in different areas, St Andrews, Bowerlease and, St Pauls where the best Music Carnival was held every year. Music Decks and speakers were head to head, lining the streets with drum and bass, reggae and Afro Caribbean beats greeting you as you danced past. Also a lock in, at the Star and Garter was well sought after with DJ Derek playing his decks inside. “ says Heti.

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. When not working she was taking singing workshops with Ida Kellarova, Trio Bulgarka. She 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 its amazing acoustics, also Churches, being amongst some of their favourite buildings to sing in. 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 in a film festival at the Arnolfini, Bristol. Heti adds that she thinks it’s always hard to be a musician and work in another profession at the same time, so flexibility and perseverance is definitely required with a belief that music is to be treasured. “ More and more, Heti says, “ I feel that music and other creativities such as painting are being eroded away and under valued in their importance to the health and well being of the self and humanity as a whole. We do need Art. “

The Eastern European influences Heti enjoyed so much, might account for her love of close harmonic notes. She also enjoyed a bit of Jazz singing in John Dalton’s jazz band. One of her mistakes at this time might have also been her enjoyment of the influence of alcohol. This gave her the false confidence and bravery to join in singing with a Jazz band on a Ferry crossing. They kindly offered her to join them on stage as she was quite loud, which she did and very quickly regretted. She only knew half the lyrics to the song and a lot of la la la ing didn’t really work so well.

On a good note, Heti devised and performed for two years in a women’s comedy drama group called, The Jezabels, which she says, was great learning in performing and fun to be apart of a group. Heti’s rendition of Natural Woman by Carole King sung accappella, 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 of gigs 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, loving being absorbed in rhythm. Brian Eno, her external Fine Art assessor at Gwent College of Art, told her she had great timing and rhythm back then, after watching one of her art video pieces. Just clearly name dropping here. Heti unfortunately or perhaps fortunately 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’ Christmas Party. Growing up, she lived in a village called Box just up the road from the Real World Studios and yes she got to dance with him, well, next to him.

In 2004, Heti and Adie made an enormous change to 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. They could be heard playing at that time on the wonderful Paekakariki Radio station with Mark Amery. A great station: 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 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 are as follows:

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 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. Heti and Adie 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 unique 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. Adie and Heti also perform as a duo enjoying the nuances of their musical connection which is embedded in their life long relationship..

Come Flow single out now on Streaming platforms. Video Come Flow with Me on You tube Heti & Hope

Heti and Adie start their NZ Arts on Tour March 6th 2025.

If you come and see us come and say hello!