AUDIO: Durban songbird releases debut EP

DURBAN singer and songwriter Haylea Heyns is making waves on the music scene with the release of her debut extended playlist (EP) My Heart Belongs In Africa through The David Gresham Record Company.

Haylea has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music and Drama Performance and some of her career highlights include singing the British National anthem God Save The Queen at the international rugby test match between England and South Africa in June 2018 and performing a principal role in the London Westend Production of The Sound of Music which toured internationally in 2017/2018.

She was snapped up by the record company in 2018 when she launched her first Christmas song, Feels Like Christmas, arranged by local Durban producer, Evan Roberts, on digital music platforms in November of that year. The fact that the song, her ‘passion project’, lead to a publishing deal was something she never expected. David Gresham published and produced the song and in November last year she made her first submission for her EP, “My Heart Belongs In Africa”.

“I had the song written on guitar and wanted to add piano as I needed a more contemporary ballad. I recorded the song on a voice note and sent it on to David Gresham, and was a bit worried when I didn’t hear back from him for a few hours! He phoned back and said he loved it and wanted to call me to tell me rather than respond via message, which was very overwhelming,” she said, adding that he then offered her a full artist recording contract, something she was very excited about.

She said this tied in nicely with her other work as from January to April she was in Johannesburg performing in Into the Woods and she was able to go into the studio in Sandton to record. She said it was a rather intense time, but well worth the hard work.

ALSO READ: Durban’s Haylea is living the dream

“I spent a month in studio with two very talented producers and the team at Gresham who set me a goal of writing a song a day for three weeks. It was great having the freedom to express myself and write anything I wanted in any style I chose. Some of the songs were incomplete pieces I had started years ago while studying music at UKZN which we reworked together, others we wrote in studio from scratch. Everything you hear on the EP is a reflection of either past or present personal experiences or things I’d like to inspire in people. There’s so much more I’d like to share but for now, it’s four songs,” said Haylea.

The song My Heart Belongs In Africa is a contemporary ballad about South Africa – her home and a place she holds very close to her heart.

“When I was touring with The Sound of Music I was so nostalgic and home sick, and I wrote the song when I got home. I missed South Africa, it is such a special place with such special people. No matter where I go in the world I always feel a sense of peace and belonging when I step foot back on African soil. I’m so grateful to the producers at Gresham for bringing it to life. It’s a dream come true to be able to share it, and my hope is that it brings a little bit of light and love to South Africans everywhere,” said Haylea.

Haylea is now slowly working her way towards a full album of 10 to 12 songs. She said she has been writing for many years and has more than enough, however some of her songs have been given to other artists, which has also been exciting for her.

“It’s difficult to let them go but I trust the team. I am keen to get my writing out there whether I sing the songs or not! I have four years to write a full album,” she said.

Haylea’s EP can be downloaded from iTunes, Google Play Music, Deezer, Spotify and YouTube.

Haylea will be performing at Dinner and Live Music at St Clements, 191 Musgrave Road, Durban, on Saturday, 15 February at 7pm. Rorke Kempe will also be performing on the night. Tickets are R80 (excluding a meal) and bookings are through hello@hayleaheyns.co.za or 031 202 2511.

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