Post by Stephany on Jun 3, 2007 17:03:14 GMT
Hi all,
I found an article about Hayley from September 2005 that I didn't find on the forum (I may be wrong!).
The last paragraph is very interesting.
Not surpring that the stress breaks her nerves once in a while.
Stephany
I found an article about Hayley from September 2005 that I didn't find on the forum (I may be wrong!).
The last paragraph is very interesting.
Not surpring that the stress breaks her nerves once in a while.
Stephany
HAYLEY DOES IT HER WAY
Gregory Leow
7 September 2005
The New Paper
Copyright 2005, Singapore Press Holdings Limited
Two years ago, when New Zealand's singing sensation Hayley Westenra came to Singapore, she was just a girl of 16, shy, quiet and obviously unused to media and public attention. Now 18 and back in Singapore, Westenra is a contrast - cheerful, confident and mature. The past two years have indeed changed Hayley Westenra.
Her debut album, Pure - a collection of classical, light pop, and traditional Maori songs - made her the fastest-selling debut classical artiste of all time, beating Charlotte Church, Luciano Pavarotti, Andrea Bocelli and Russell Watson.
The album has sold nearly two million copies to date. Westenra went on to perform for important dignitaries such as US President George Bush, UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and the Queen. She became the youngest ever ambassador for Unicef and sang at countless concerts.
Sporting a new blonde look, the former brunette was in town to promote her new album, which is out in stores. The album, Odyssey, is the first of five albums under her £3 million ($9.2m) deal with London-based Decca Records, the world's biggest classical label.
And as Westenra happily says, her new album is a true representation of her taste in music. She co-wrote, co-arranged and chose all the songs on this album, even though she had no prior experience.
It was unusual too for Decca to trust a young newcomer with no composing experience. 'I was allowed free reign and was in complete control. I suppose if there was something they did not like, they would flat out say no. They probably would have been stricter if I was a pop artist,' said Westenra.
It probably explains unusual song choices on the album like Both Sides Now, a Joni Mitchell folk song that she covers. But the experience has fuelled her hunger to compose and she hopes to write and arrange everything for her next album.
'My laptop has a microphone for melodies that come into my head. It has all my ideas inside. As for lyrics, they are literally everywhere. It gets embarassing because I will be on the plane when an idea hits and I have to prevent myself from singing out loud,' said Westenra.
While Westenra seemed modest about her musical achievements, she admitted to being frustrated by the press she's been getting.
"To be honest I'm happy things have turned out as well as they have," she said. "But I'm also annoyed that people have this idea that I'm one-dimensional. Just because I didn't study at a prestigious music college or didn't pay my classical dues doesn't mean I'm not good enough.
"The sad fact is the classical crowd can be quite banal. Thankfully, people in general have been very supportive. Those are the people I sing for, anyway."
Though she has experienced a lot for someone still in her teens, Westenra feels that she is the same person she was when Pure was first released.
'I used to be really shy before and now I think I am more confident, but that is inevitable when you are forced into such situations and have to hold your own,' she said.
Admittedly, it can be a bit overwhelming.
'It is not very often, but I cry, when I get stressed. It happens when I have to learn a lot of music in two days or before a big classical concert. Or when I am sick and have to perform, that is the worst. But I am loving every minute of it.'
Gregory Leow
7 September 2005
The New Paper
Copyright 2005, Singapore Press Holdings Limited
Two years ago, when New Zealand's singing sensation Hayley Westenra came to Singapore, she was just a girl of 16, shy, quiet and obviously unused to media and public attention. Now 18 and back in Singapore, Westenra is a contrast - cheerful, confident and mature. The past two years have indeed changed Hayley Westenra.
Her debut album, Pure - a collection of classical, light pop, and traditional Maori songs - made her the fastest-selling debut classical artiste of all time, beating Charlotte Church, Luciano Pavarotti, Andrea Bocelli and Russell Watson.
The album has sold nearly two million copies to date. Westenra went on to perform for important dignitaries such as US President George Bush, UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and the Queen. She became the youngest ever ambassador for Unicef and sang at countless concerts.
Sporting a new blonde look, the former brunette was in town to promote her new album, which is out in stores. The album, Odyssey, is the first of five albums under her £3 million ($9.2m) deal with London-based Decca Records, the world's biggest classical label.
And as Westenra happily says, her new album is a true representation of her taste in music. She co-wrote, co-arranged and chose all the songs on this album, even though she had no prior experience.
It was unusual too for Decca to trust a young newcomer with no composing experience. 'I was allowed free reign and was in complete control. I suppose if there was something they did not like, they would flat out say no. They probably would have been stricter if I was a pop artist,' said Westenra.
It probably explains unusual song choices on the album like Both Sides Now, a Joni Mitchell folk song that she covers. But the experience has fuelled her hunger to compose and she hopes to write and arrange everything for her next album.
'My laptop has a microphone for melodies that come into my head. It has all my ideas inside. As for lyrics, they are literally everywhere. It gets embarassing because I will be on the plane when an idea hits and I have to prevent myself from singing out loud,' said Westenra.
While Westenra seemed modest about her musical achievements, she admitted to being frustrated by the press she's been getting.
"To be honest I'm happy things have turned out as well as they have," she said. "But I'm also annoyed that people have this idea that I'm one-dimensional. Just because I didn't study at a prestigious music college or didn't pay my classical dues doesn't mean I'm not good enough.
"The sad fact is the classical crowd can be quite banal. Thankfully, people in general have been very supportive. Those are the people I sing for, anyway."
Though she has experienced a lot for someone still in her teens, Westenra feels that she is the same person she was when Pure was first released.
'I used to be really shy before and now I think I am more confident, but that is inevitable when you are forced into such situations and have to hold your own,' she said.
Admittedly, it can be a bit overwhelming.
'It is not very often, but I cry, when I get stressed. It happens when I have to learn a lot of music in two days or before a big classical concert. Or when I am sick and have to perform, that is the worst. But I am loving every minute of it.'
