Post by Richard on Dec 10, 2006 15:17:11 GMT
Hello everybody! 
I've just found a long article at icWales that I don't think we've seen before.
Richard
I've just found a long article at icWales that I don't think we've seen before.
Hayley has complete control
Dec 1 2006
Claire Hill
New Zealand's voice of an angel Hayley Westenra is in Wales this week for two Christmas concerts. Claire Hill discovers that the talented teenager is now writing her own music too.
IF teen classical sensation Hayley Westenra is not in the recording studio she's travelling around the world singing in concerts and performing national anthems for her home rugby team the All Blacks.
Despite living in London for nearly three years now - you might occasionally see her running or walking around the parks - she still hasn't gotten around to decorating her flat and is constantly unpacking and repacking her suitcase.
Other 19-year-olds might tire of this lifestyle - she has been doing it since she was 16 and achieved most people's wildest dreams - but not Hayley.
'If I haven't sung all day then I feel uptight,' she says. 'It is a real relief to me when I do sing.'
One of the queens of the classical music crossover, Hayley is conscious that after two best-selling albums, Pure and Odyssey, she has to keep moving forward with her choice of songs.
It might be why she is continuing to focus on her own writing and arranging for her third, as yet untitled album, which is out in February.
She says, 'A lot of people are doing the same songs over and over again. While it is great to keep songs alive and introduce new songs to people, it is good to do my own songs as well.
'It is very much in the classical crossover genre and the music is quite classically based. But I am doing some writing and arranging of my own songs so it is a good mix of new songs and original ones.
'I have been writing for a few years now. But it is one thing to write a song and another to go into the studio, record it and then sing a song that you have written to the producer.'
As we talk she is preparing to head off to Paris on the Eurostar - a form of transport that excites the soprano greatly - to sing before the All Blacks game in France. Despite being in the recording studio, she does have a few carefully selected concerts coming up, including two Welsh performances, before Christmas and she is conscious about saving her voice.
She says, 'It's very much sacred time and I don't want to wear out my voice.'
The album is very important to her and she is keen to make sure she is personally happy with it and that the audiences will react to it.
And at the end of the day it is down to Hayley herself to pull it off.
'I have kind of complete control over my career. If I wanted to do something drastic my record company might step in and say 'Hang on a minute Hayley'. They will suggest songs and so will my producer but at the end of the day it's down to me.'
It's a thought that is both scary and exciting to the 19-year-old.
'You're the one to blame if it all goes pear-shaped,' she laughs.
'The songs sit really well with the album and now that I have been recording them they just seem like good songs - fingers crossed.
'Every album is important, but this one I really want to get right.'
As a worldwide artist and the biggest ever selling singer in her home country of New Zealand, there must be immense pressure each time she prepares to release an album.
But the softly spoken singer just tries to not to think about that.
She says, 'I guess there will always be some amount of pressure, but I think it's really important to just block it out from your mind when you are in the recording studio - it will affect your performance otherwise. You have to feel fine and take risks when recording an album.
'I think that's what my fans are after, they want variety and artistic expression with me trying new things. I am balancing it out.'
Her most recent accolade is as one of the 10 Outstanding Young People in the world by the prestigious Junior Chamber International awards. With the category open to young people from 18-40, Hayley is the youngest ever recipient, something which makes her extremely proud.
But you won't find her sitting at home polishing all her trophies and plaudits - she's much too busy for that.
'To be honest I don't have a lot of time to look back on what I have achieved. It is all about the future, I just work a couple of days ahead of myself really.'
As she focuses on the next few days, she will definitely be thinking of Christmas. She arrives in Wales next week to perform with the Christmas Presence Orchestra, Howell's Girls Choir and The Ysgol Gyfun Gwyr Choir for two special concerts to get everyone in the festival mood.
Hayley, who spends her time listening to The Beatles, The Carpenters and Norah Jones says, 'I am really looking forward to the tour. The lead-up to Christmas is great, there are some beautiful carols out there and I am really looking forward to performing them.'
But the main thing about the concert is it will set her off thinking about home.
She says, 'I love Christmas time, it's about going home to New Zealand for me and spending time with my family and friends. I will probably collapse in a heap on our family sofa, indulge in Christmas dinner with my family, nana and cousin and I will just be very relaxed.'
But ever the sensible professional, the soprano says she won't misbehave too much over the Christmas season.
She says, 'I am pretty disciplined, but at the same time it is important to let your hair down and you just have to pick those occasions very well. I tend to avoid alcohol because it does affect your voice and I try to get early nights. If I am sleep-deprived I notice it in my voice.
'Each performance means a great deal to me so I want it to be perfect.'
As for the future, she can think a little bit ahead, as next year will be all about Hayley's third album.
'I'll be touring and promoting the album for most of the year. We will play in the UK, Asia and New Zealand, plus I have various projects in the pipeline.
'Television projects? Well we have to wait and see. There's a lot happening.'
Hayley will perform as part of the Christmas Presence concerts at Swansea Grand Theatre on Tuesday (01792 474 715) and Wales Millennium Centre on December 9 (08700 40 2000)
Dec 1 2006
Claire Hill
New Zealand's voice of an angel Hayley Westenra is in Wales this week for two Christmas concerts. Claire Hill discovers that the talented teenager is now writing her own music too.
IF teen classical sensation Hayley Westenra is not in the recording studio she's travelling around the world singing in concerts and performing national anthems for her home rugby team the All Blacks.
Despite living in London for nearly three years now - you might occasionally see her running or walking around the parks - she still hasn't gotten around to decorating her flat and is constantly unpacking and repacking her suitcase.
Other 19-year-olds might tire of this lifestyle - she has been doing it since she was 16 and achieved most people's wildest dreams - but not Hayley.
'If I haven't sung all day then I feel uptight,' she says. 'It is a real relief to me when I do sing.'
One of the queens of the classical music crossover, Hayley is conscious that after two best-selling albums, Pure and Odyssey, she has to keep moving forward with her choice of songs.
It might be why she is continuing to focus on her own writing and arranging for her third, as yet untitled album, which is out in February.
She says, 'A lot of people are doing the same songs over and over again. While it is great to keep songs alive and introduce new songs to people, it is good to do my own songs as well.
'It is very much in the classical crossover genre and the music is quite classically based. But I am doing some writing and arranging of my own songs so it is a good mix of new songs and original ones.
'I have been writing for a few years now. But it is one thing to write a song and another to go into the studio, record it and then sing a song that you have written to the producer.'
As we talk she is preparing to head off to Paris on the Eurostar - a form of transport that excites the soprano greatly - to sing before the All Blacks game in France. Despite being in the recording studio, she does have a few carefully selected concerts coming up, including two Welsh performances, before Christmas and she is conscious about saving her voice.
She says, 'It's very much sacred time and I don't want to wear out my voice.'
The album is very important to her and she is keen to make sure she is personally happy with it and that the audiences will react to it.
And at the end of the day it is down to Hayley herself to pull it off.
'I have kind of complete control over my career. If I wanted to do something drastic my record company might step in and say 'Hang on a minute Hayley'. They will suggest songs and so will my producer but at the end of the day it's down to me.'
It's a thought that is both scary and exciting to the 19-year-old.
'You're the one to blame if it all goes pear-shaped,' she laughs.
'The songs sit really well with the album and now that I have been recording them they just seem like good songs - fingers crossed.
'Every album is important, but this one I really want to get right.'
As a worldwide artist and the biggest ever selling singer in her home country of New Zealand, there must be immense pressure each time she prepares to release an album.
But the softly spoken singer just tries to not to think about that.
She says, 'I guess there will always be some amount of pressure, but I think it's really important to just block it out from your mind when you are in the recording studio - it will affect your performance otherwise. You have to feel fine and take risks when recording an album.
'I think that's what my fans are after, they want variety and artistic expression with me trying new things. I am balancing it out.'
Her most recent accolade is as one of the 10 Outstanding Young People in the world by the prestigious Junior Chamber International awards. With the category open to young people from 18-40, Hayley is the youngest ever recipient, something which makes her extremely proud.
But you won't find her sitting at home polishing all her trophies and plaudits - she's much too busy for that.
'To be honest I don't have a lot of time to look back on what I have achieved. It is all about the future, I just work a couple of days ahead of myself really.'
As she focuses on the next few days, she will definitely be thinking of Christmas. She arrives in Wales next week to perform with the Christmas Presence Orchestra, Howell's Girls Choir and The Ysgol Gyfun Gwyr Choir for two special concerts to get everyone in the festival mood.
Hayley, who spends her time listening to The Beatles, The Carpenters and Norah Jones says, 'I am really looking forward to the tour. The lead-up to Christmas is great, there are some beautiful carols out there and I am really looking forward to performing them.'
But the main thing about the concert is it will set her off thinking about home.
She says, 'I love Christmas time, it's about going home to New Zealand for me and spending time with my family and friends. I will probably collapse in a heap on our family sofa, indulge in Christmas dinner with my family, nana and cousin and I will just be very relaxed.'
But ever the sensible professional, the soprano says she won't misbehave too much over the Christmas season.
She says, 'I am pretty disciplined, but at the same time it is important to let your hair down and you just have to pick those occasions very well. I tend to avoid alcohol because it does affect your voice and I try to get early nights. If I am sleep-deprived I notice it in my voice.
'Each performance means a great deal to me so I want it to be perfect.'
As for the future, she can think a little bit ahead, as next year will be all about Hayley's third album.
'I'll be touring and promoting the album for most of the year. We will play in the UK, Asia and New Zealand, plus I have various projects in the pipeline.
'Television projects? Well we have to wait and see. There's a lot happening.'
Hayley will perform as part of the Christmas Presence concerts at Swansea Grand Theatre on Tuesday (01792 474 715) and Wales Millennium Centre on December 9 (08700 40 2000)
Richard
