The July and August N2 Magazine feature: Hedda Layne

Hi my friends! As some of you know, I write a music article for N2 Magazine (http://www.n2mag.com) .

This month I wrote about Hedda Layne and her new release, 4Play.

Here is the uncut version of the article:

Hedda Layne – 4Play
Dear N2 Music Lovers,

June was a punch-packed month for me, on the road as always, working, playing and enjoying the warm weather. But as all Texans know, it’s only getting hotter! And this Summer is hotter than ever with the new release by Hedda Layne. 4Play is perfect for Summer fun. Play this record in your car on road trips, at a backyard BBQ, an evening cocktail party, or on your boat.

“The Truth Will Set You Free” is the repeated lyric in the first full length song on Hedda Layne’s newest release, 4Play. Here’s the truth, Dear N2 Readers; Hedda’s new launch is a blast! It’s a spacey, ethereal, positive, sexy updated Xanadu, painted with Hedda Layne’s colorful Liza Minelli-Barbara Streisand vocal styling. There’s a happy vibe to this recording in the vein of Swingout Sister or Everything But the Girl. The compositions are grand, fun, bold and playful. Each piece has its own climax into an unexpected surprise – I intended to be redundant there – Surprises are unexpected by nature. There is an extreme to which you find the unexpected in Troy Lee’s musical execution on every single track. You will be surprised!

I’ve followed Hedda Layne’s music for many years and own every record and single she has released. And there are many. Hedda and Troy are prolific for sure. And never mind that Hedda Layne’s unique presence leaves you awestruck. Before I first knew of Hedda, she and Troy Lee lived in Seattle. I asked her to tell me a little more about that experience.

“Seattle was a great experience. We met such a diverse community of people and performed in some pretty interesting (and historical) venues. It was a beautiful place but the rainy weather can be a bit trying for a Texan. Additionally, Troy Lee and I have been performing together for 16 years. We are both Texas natives and during our musical career together we have performed everything from acoustic jazz (guitar/vocal duo), jazz trio, big band, blues/rock, cabaret, ambient lounge to dance just to name a few styles. . . We have yet to try polka - but it's never too late. . . wink. We have lived and performed in San Antonio, Dallas, Houston, Austin in addition to Seattle.”

What battles are you up against playing your style of music in Texas?

“Because we have been doing cabaret, lounge and dance it has been difficult. It's great living in Austin with all of the music here, but it's been hard to break through to the main stream audience. The dance music style actually forced us to play in dance-oriented venues where the sound constraints can be quite difficult to deal with. The gay community has totally embraced us though. . . LOVE THEM!”

In the past few years in Austin, Miss Layne has been known for her dance club music and performances, with heavy beats and highly-effected vocals. The new record, 4Play is a leap in a different direction; a soulful dream. The track “Hold On to Love” recalls some of Hedda’s more recent releases, but is not a heavy dance club tune. It is a soft, sexy dance groove, great for getting lost in the simplicity of the journey of “holding on to love” while moving your body and singing along. The entire record is like that. It’s a musical sedative, but will NOT put you to sleep. Rather 4Play is a fantasy, an Annie Lennox-type story-telling journey. “Don’t Want it to Stop” is a swanky, slow, sophisticated Bassanova that you relax to with a gin and tonic in hand. And then expect to be taken to yet another place with “Love Who You Are” which opens with Troy Lee’s gentle classical guitar beneath Hedda’s feminine melody which brings visions of Miss Layne sitting atop a stage prop of a half moon in a Broadway theater. The hit song on 4Play is “Stay” which I had received an advance copy of during the process of recording. I immediately put it into my own compilations of my favorite music. “Stay” is a powerful song. It’s a slow gospel love song about a woman with a broken heart, mustering all her strength to beg her lover to stay. The song in and of itself is a little movie reel; you can place all your own characters into the epic scenes of “Stay”. The vocals are huge bellowing out the emotional and vulnerable command (or is it a question?) “Stay with me.” Hedda Layne opens up her voice in this song like no other. You feel her lungs, her heartbeat, her arms in the air like a prayer or a Hallelujah.

I’d venture to say it is difficult to follow a song like “Stay” with other songs, but Hedda Layne and Troy Lee manage to do just fine by adding “Movin On” with stunning backing vocals and then a short “Reprise of Beautiful Day”, which is the answer to the very first thing you hear on 4Play. But this reprise kicks in with beats that yet again make you feel nothing but happy!

The bonus track, “Mahalo” at the very end takes you all the way to Hawaii and convinces you once again that Hedda Layne could easily succeed on Broadway. 4Play is one of those CD’s that if you listen to it in your car, before you known it, you look down and you’re driving 90 and already missed your exit long ago. You are swept away with this record.
What was the biggest challenge with recording 4Play?

“Packaging 4 years worth of original music into an album we feel is representative of where we are - and where we are going - was the biggest challenge. This one is still electronica-ish, but stripped down to create more of an organic sound. Doing all of the back-ups the good old fashioned way was really fun for me and having a live brass section was great. Yet again, we have embarked on a new sound while still staying true to our positive lyrics, Troy's quintessential musical arrangements and my vocal stylings. Let me add that Scott Linton has been a writing partner for the past 4 years. He writes most of the lyrics. We are a grand team!”

4 Play is to be released on July 1st. It will be available on iTunes and CD Baby and Hedda Layne will be looking forward to continued airplay on satellite radio and various licensing distributors. As far as performances go, they have decided on taking a summer sabbatical while developing a formative plan to scout for new venues appropriate for their new style. The upcoming shows will be listed on their new website which will be launched on July 1st!

Bravo, Miss Hedda Layne and Mister Troy Lee! You continue to amaze the world with your musical accomplishments.
N2 Readers, take action now: www.heddalayne.com