Heather Cairncross

Last Week The Voice, This Week No Voice

heather@altovoice.com (Heather Cairncross) — Tue, 08 May 2012 16:19:37 +0000

Last Week I wrote My Sister Wants Me To Go On The Voice and this week, as if a bizarre message has been delivered from ‘The Universe’, I have NO Voice. Remember that I love to read your comments so feel free to comment in the box below this post. In over twenty years as [...]

My Big Sister Wants Me To Go On The Voice

heather@altovoice.com (Heather Cairncross) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 20:41:33 +0000

My big sister Nicola wants me to go on the BBC reality/talent show The Voice. Remember that I love to read your comments so feel free to comment in the box below this post. When I say she ‘wants’ me to go on, I mean she is subjecting me to a Chinese water-torture style drip, [...]

Reviews For At Last The Album – Good And Bad

heather@altovoice.com (Heather Cairncross) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 12:29:16 +0000

Today I got an email from Ray Bonici from www.radiomonitor.com. They supply an excellent service where your song titles are monitored to see if you’ve had any radio play. He sent me this clip of a Radio Ulster programme called Jazz Club presented by Walter Love. Walter had played The Nearness of You on his [...]

Making An Album | The Songs | Taking A Chance On Love

heather@altovoice.com (Heather Cairncross) — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 15:27:13 +0000

When making an album, I chose to record Taking A Chance On Love because I absolutely love the lyrics. Remember that I love to read your comments so feel free to comment in the box below this post. Not long after I left the Swingle Singers, I went to a party where I met the [...]

Singing And My Time Management Struggle

heather@altovoice.com (Heather Cairncross) — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 14:00:23 +0000

This week I want to talk about singing and the struggle I have with time management. Remember that I love to read your comments so feel free to comment in the box below this post. Last week I was on the bus from Cuenca in Spain to Madrid Airport, driving through thick snow (!) when [...]

Radio Interview with Joe Talbot on BBC Sussex

heather@altovoice.com (Heather Cairncross) — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 11:20:56 +0000

On March 19th, I was lucky enough to be interviewed by my favourite BBC Sussex presenter, Joe Talbot. He was every bit as lovely as he seems on his radio show and he made me feel very welcome and relaxed during the interview. He asked really interesting questions and even showed me a picture of [...]

Join Us At The Launch Party!

heather@altovoice.com (Heather Cairncross) — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 16:29:15 +0000

To celebrate the album “At Last” getting a full distribution deal, we threw a launch party at our favourite jazz venue in Hove, The Brunswick. Now, we know that not all of you could make it, so we recorded it and you can watch Heather & David performing some of the songs from the album [...]

Venezia – Delicious Hot Or Cold

heather@altovoice.com (Heather Cairncross) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 16:12:20 +0000

I recently re-visited Venice and my goodness, it was cold, although it made me remember a time when I’d been very hot there in the blazing heat of August. Remember that I love to read your comments so feel free to comment in the box below this post. Occasionally in the life of a touring [...]

Return To Tenerife

heather@altovoice.com (Heather Cairncross) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:07:42 +0000

This week I return to Tenerife for a concert. Remember that I love to read your comments so feel free to comment in the box below this post. After we’d arrived and as we climbed on board the bus to the hotel, I caught the eye of Andrew Busher and we nodded in silent, slightly [...]

Exclusive Interview For Wayne McConnell’s Jazz Podcast

heather@altovoice.com (Heather Cairncross) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 14:10:34 +0000

The ever excellent Wayne McConnell interviews Heather for his jazz podcast which is really good – I recommend you subscribe. We talk about how I got started in music and in particular how I started singing jazz before moving on to tell the story of how the album came about and got recorded in the [...]

Remember The Music

heather@altovoice.com (Heather Cairncross) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:13:07 +0000

Remember the music and remember your Passport. Top of the touring singer’s checklist. Remember that I love to read your comments so feel free to comment in the box below this post. On Saturday evening, my boyfriend drove me to a quant, Sussex village pub. It was not actually a date as I was singing [...]

Making An Album | The Songs | The One That Got Away – Nobody’s Heart

heather@altovoice.com (Heather Cairncross) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 10:18:53 +0000

When I was making an album, Nobody’s Heart was the one that got away. You can download this song for free! Remember that I love to read your comments so feel free to comment in the box below this post. The song is by Richard Rogers and Lorenz Hart and when I asked David Newton [...]

Making An Album – How To Get Your CD Track Names Onto Gracenote

heather@altovoice.com (Heather Cairncross) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 19:54:23 +0000

When making an album, you need to get your CD track names onto Gracenote. First, I wanted to update you on some other admin tasks that I have had to research – hopefully saving you some time! Remember that I love to read your comments so feel free to comment in the box below this [...]

Making An Album | Available Now – At Last!

heather@altovoice.com (Heather Cairncross) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 22:08:51 +0000

Whilst I was sampling a hot glühwein at the Christmas market in Munich, five large boxes of cds were delivered to my sister Nicola’s house in Sussex. Remember that I love to read your comments so feel free to comment in the box below this post. I was on tour with the LSO and Monteverdi [...]

Making An Album | The Songs | Where Do You Start?

heather@altovoice.com (Heather Cairncross) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 18:55:11 +0000

The next song I wanted to share from the album is Where Do You Start? with music by Johnny Mandel and lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman. Remember that I love to read your comments so feel free to comment in the box below this post. I’ve talked a little of why I chose to [...]

At Last | The Album | Feedback

heather@altovoice.com (Heather Cairncross) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 10:22:30 +0000

Hello – Heather here! This is the place to ask questions, give me some comments or feedback on the album – just use the “Leave A Comment” box below! Your email address will not be published with the comment. I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you!

Making An Album | The Songs | Our Love Is Here To Stay

heather@altovoice.com (Heather Cairncross) — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 13:47:21 +0000

I thought I’d tell you about some of the songs from the new Album starting with Our Love Is Here To Stay by George and Ira Gershwin. Remember that I love to read your comments so feel free to comment in the box below this post. Here’s a sneak preview from our recording. Depending on [...]

HC012 | Tumour In My Freezer – My Friend’s Search For An Alternative Treatment For Cancer

heather@altovoice.com (Heather Cairncross) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 15:05:25 +0000

To help a friend in her search for an alternative treatment for Cancer, I just put a piece of her malignant tumour in my freezer. Remember that I love to read your comments so feel free to comment in the box below this post. A strange request you might think, and it certainly made me [...]

HC011 | Making An Album | How To License Music For A CD Part 2

heather@altovoice.com (Heather Cairncross) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 18:03:13 +0000

I’m still trying to find out how to license music for a CD and thought I’d update you on what I’ve discovered further. Remember that I love to read your comments so feel free to comment in the box below this post. You might remember in my first article on this subject that it was [...]

HC008 | Making An Album | Finalising The Artwork For The CD Cover

heather@altovoice.com (Heather Cairncross) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 17:23:30 +0000

On the last leg of making an album you need to finalise the artwork for the CD Cover. Remember that I love to read your comments so feel free to comment in the box below this post. CD manufacturers usually have a page on their website with templates for artwork. You can have a look [...]

HC007 | Making An Album | How To License Music for a CD

heather@altovoice.com (Heather Cairncross) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 10:56:18 +0000

When making an album, I needed to find out how to license the music for the CD from MCPS/PRS who administrate the mechanical royalties for the copyright holders and composers of the songs. Remember that I love to read your comments so feel free to comment in the box below this post. I visited the [...]

“At Last” New British Jazz Album | Live Video Footage

heather@altovoice.com (Heather Cairncross) — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 13:19:40 +0000

Just click the picture to enjoy live video footage on Facebook of Heather Cairncross & David Newton performing several of the songs from “At Last”, Heather’s solo debut jazz album. They were donating their time and talents for the “Peace In Our Lifetime” concert at The Bedford in London.

HC006 | Making An Album | Use The Force!

heather@altovoice.com (Heather Cairncross) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 17:32:11 +0000

Making An Album | Use The Force! When you’ve finished making an album you have to ‘Use The Force’ to get the CD noticed. Remember that I love to read your comments so feel free to comment in the box below this post. My sister (and marketing wiz) Nicola Cairncross and I have been racking [...]

Making An Album | Sneak Preview On YouTube

heather@altovoice.com (Heather Cairncross) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 23:18:52 +0000

Here’s a sneak preview of seven of the fourteen tracks from the long awaited CD: Feel free to comment and share!

HC009 | Making An Album | Learn To Trust Yourself

heather@altovoice.com (Heather Cairncross) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 14:03:51 +0000

Whilst making an album, I’m discovering that you have to learn to trust yourself. Remember that I love to read your comments so feel free to comment in the box below this post. There are lots of decisions to make along the way and of course everybody has an opinion. From the terrifying moment when [...]

A Postcard From My Past | Pat Metheney Backstage at Carnegie Hall

heather@altovoice.com (Heather Cairncross) — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 09:04:27 +0000

This year I’m doing a lot of concerts to celebrate Stave Reich’s 75th birthday. You may have seen the pictures of Jonny Greenwood which I took in Krakow at the Sacrum Profanum Festival. He was playing the iconic guitar piece Electric Counterpoint which Steve originally wrote for Pat Metheney. It reminded me of this picture [...]

HC010 | Making An Album | The Big Day – The Recording Process

heather@altovoice.com (Heather Cairncross) — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 19:28:56 +0000

I wanted to tell you about the actual recording process and finally the big day had arrived. Remember that I love to read your comments so feel free to comment in the box below this post. I set off with the precious Neumann U87 microphone to drive round the M25. I was heading to the [...]

Jonny Greenwood soundchecks Electric Counterpoint

heather@altovoice.com (Heather Cairncross) — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 09:48:52 +0000

I took these photos whilst enjoying Jonny Greenwood’s soundcheck for Steve Reich’s Electric Counterpoint in Krakow at the Sacrum Profanum Festival. He’s playing the piece just before we do Music for 18 Musicians with Ensemble Modern and Steve Reich. The concert is part of a week long celebration of Steve’s 75th Birthday. He is of [...]

Jonny Greenwood meets Steve Reich

heather@altovoice.com (Heather Cairncross) — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 09:36:24 +0000

Steve Reich chats to Jonny Greenwood from Radiohead after his rehearsal of Electric Counterpoint in Krakow at the Sacrum Profanum Festival 2011. He’s playing the piece just before we do Music for 18 Musicians with Ensemble Modern and Steve Reich. The concert is part of a week long celebration of Steve’s 75th Birthday.

HC004 | John Wilson Orchestra say ‘Hooray For Hollywood’ at The Proms 2011

heather@altovoice.com (Heather Cairncross) — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 16:18:27 +0000

Today I was lucky enough to join the John Wilson Orchestra to say Hooray for Hollywood at the BBC Proms 2011. Remember that I love to read your comments so feel free to comment in the box below this post. I’ve started writing this on the train home to Brighton – whilst on the packed [...]

HC005 | Making An Album | Musical Mind Map – If You Build It…..

heather@altovoice.com (Heather Cairncross) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 11:54:43 +0000

Whilst revising a musical mind map for making an album, I was reminded of “If you build it….” the phrase from Field of Dreams that inspires Kevin Costner to build a baseball pitch in the middle of a corn field. I found the trailer for the film on YouTube. It starts with Costner’s character saying [...]

HC003 | Making An Album | Choosing Songs & Vintage Microphones

heather@altovoice.com (Heather Cairncross) — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 14:40:06 +0000

Episode 3 sees me choosing songs and thinking about the best microphone to use on the new album. If you prefer to read click here >>> After the first flush of excitement, we knuckled down at Cairncross Castle to all the preparations for next weeks’ recording. The Real BookMy main task (apart from updating my [...]

Making An Album | Choosing Songs And Finding The Best Microphone

heather@altovoice.com (Heather Cairncross) — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 17:52:35 +0000

The last few days I’ve been choosing songs and thinking about the best microphone to use on the new album. After the first flush of excitement, we knuckled down at Cairncross Castle to all the preparations for next weeks’ recording. My main task (apart from updating my blog) was to finalise the list of songs [...]

A Postcard From My Past – Meeting Dizzy Gillespie At Wolftrap

heather@altovoice.com (Heather Cairncross) — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 11:25:45 +0000

This is one of my favourite photographs! I think it was taken about 1989, when I was a member of the Swingle Singers. We were on an American tour and were invited to perform at the Wolftrap Performing Arts Centre in Washington D.C. It was a big televised concert for PBS and we sang both [...]

HC002 | Music For 18 Musicians In Cork & At The Proms

heather@altovoice.com (Heather Cairncross) — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 08:34:20 +0000

Welcome to episode 2 of my podcast. In it, I resume my diary of a travelling musician with a trip to Cork, Ireland and then to sing Music For 18 Musicians by Steve Reich at the Proms in the middle of the riots! If you prefer to read just click the previous link or just click [...]

Performing Music for 18 Musicians in Cork, Ireland and at the BBC Proms

heather@altovoice.com (Heather Cairncross) — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 16:38:38 +0000

This month, I was performing Music for 18 Musicians in Cork, Ireland and at the BBC Proms in the Royal Albert Hall. 2011 marks Steve Reich’s 75th birthday year and I’ve been lucky enough to be singing his compositions since his 60th birthday. I first met him as a soloist in Tehillim played by the [...]

HC001 | Making An Album | How It All Started

heather@altovoice.com (Heather Cairncross) — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 18:58:36 +0000

This is very exciting as it’s my first ever podcast. In it, I tell the story of making my first solo album project; how it came into being, the man responsible for making it all happen and where we are up to with the project. Read more about making an album (part 1) here or [...]

Making An Album – The Journey And The Pitfalls

heather@altovoice.com (Heather Cairncross) — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 11:18:27 +0000

Today I begin my diary about making an album, highlighting the pitfalls I discover on the way. (I think I can already hear cheering from my family and friends and lovely, loyal supporters). Many of you will have listened to the interviews I did with Ewing Stevens on his radio show in New Zealand. His [...]

A Postcard From My Past – The Midnight Sun

heather@altovoice.com (Heather Cairncross) — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 18:21:36 +0000

I’ve been sorting through some old photographs which feel somehow like postcards from my past and this one was taken in Sweden, lit by the midnight sun. It was during my very first tour with the Swingle Singers and the man in the picture is the wonderful tenor, Andrew Busher. He still sings with me [...]

Photoshoot

heather@altovoice.com (Heather Cairncross) — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 13:35:43 +0000

Here are some of the colourful new pictures that Wayne McConnell took on our photoshoot using the brightly painted beach hut doors as a backdrop – the only part of the beach hut that you are allowed customise. Coincidentally, this rule was recently broken by Jeff Allen right in front of the council offices! Sadly [...]

Listen Again

heather@altovoice.com (Heather Cairncross) — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 09:06:33 +0000

Apologies for the long break since my last blog pot. One of the reasons is that I have been working hard on the rest of the website and wanted to encourage you to have look round. Particularly, there are some new recordings on the Listen page which I hope you all enjoy. Heather If you [...]

Never Too Late

heather@altovoice.com (Heather Cairncross) — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 14:44:28 +0000

Today I heard a quote which really struck home: “It is never too late to be what we might have been” It was attributed to George Eliot but when I looked it up online I found an excellent bit of research by Mr Alex Measday. He surmised that although it was commonly attributed to Eliot, [...]

Pictures From A Paris Marketplace

heather@altovoice.com (Heather Cairncross) — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 11:31:36 +0000

I thought you might enjoy this album of pictures I’ve taken at the fabulous food market which happens twice a week outside my hotel in the Marais.

The Last Leg – The Snow Returns

heather@altovoice.com (Heather Cairncross) — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 10:33:22 +0000

We’re on the last leg of my travelling tale but the snow returns to thwart my singing travels once more. I left you in a Dutch hotel, as I happily turned over and went back to sleep. I was woken by a text telling me the rehearsal with the conductor was cancelled, as our two [...]

From Bach To Berio | Finally The Live Concerts

heather@altovoice.com (Heather Cairncross) — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 16:43:22 +0000

We continue on our epic journey – can we make it to Paris and Berlin for the Bach Concerts and finally onto Amsterdam for Luciano Berio? With my solo rehearsal finally under my belt, I was cooked some pasta by my lovely Italian Apprentice (How good is that? – he can go to the top [...]

From Brighton To Bach To Berio – The Long Journey Through The British Winter Continues

heather@altovoice.com (Heather Cairncross) — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 11:40:59 +0000

My apologies for the long time it has taken me to continue my journal about the the long journey through the British Winter from Brighton to Bach to Berio. As you can see I’ve been revamping my website – feel free to take a look around – audio clips coming very soon! I left you [...]

The British Winter And The Domino Effect From Bach To Berio

heather@altovoice.com (Heather Cairncross) — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 17:28:12 +0000

This week the domino effect of the British winter came very close to stopping me getting to my Bach and Berio Concerts. I’d been looking forward to these back to back tours for a few months now. The first concerts were with the Monteverdi Choir and it’s challenging but always exciting conductor, Sir John Eliot [...]

Running In Snow, Singing En Pointe And Other Ballet Disasters

heather@altovoice.com (Heather Cairncross) — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 21:27:19 +0000

Part two of this dancing tale takes me to Belgium where, as part of my professional singing training, I had to go running in snow, sing en pointe and experience other ballet disasters. I left you with mud on my face, or at least the good news that I wouldn’t have to put mud on [...]

A Gluck Opera Revisited With Naked Memories Of A Mud Facepack And Raspberry Syrup

heather@altovoice.com (Heather Cairncross) — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 17:44:07 +0000

This week I start rehearsals for a Glück Opera at Sadler’s Wells Theatre which has brought back naked memories of being covered with a mud facepack and my head being dipped in raspberry syrup. It’s for the German based, Pina Bausch Dance Company and apart from singing I have no idea what will be involved. [...]

The Third Interview About Singing On Susan Boyle’s CD, The Gift | With Ewing Stevens

heather@altovoice.com (Heather Cairncross) — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 14:53:54 +0000

Now that Susan Boyle’s CD The Gift has been released for pre-order (and has already gone to the top of the US Charts!), Ewing Stevens wanted to interview me agin about the nine tracks I had sung backing vocals on. Click on Ewing’s picture to listen. Apologies for my burgeoning New Zealand accent in this [...]