In Conversation with mesmerizing electronic pop singer and producer HEBE

Image by: Willem Odendaal

Make-up & hair: Manous Nelemans

Engaging to the core with hypnotic effects radiating from her soulful embrace – singer & electronic pop producer HEBE has shared her debut EP Cards On The Table via the Kartel Music Group. This EP is also presented in a stripped back piano version, which is equally touching as its predecessor. Listeners are left to decide which version they love the most, although we personally think that both work in showcasing HEBE’s heartfelt lyrics.

We asked the songstress a few questions about her latest releases.

What are four words you would use to describe your music?

Soulful, Earthly, Electro Pop.

How does a song come together for you? What is the songwriting process?

When I write music there is no structure at all and I never force myself if I’m not inspired. Most of the time I start a new song with just a short lyric or melody line that came to me at night or on the bike. From there I start vibing on these words with different chords, new melodies and I try to make other lines that fit the first line. Sometimes I finish a song in an hour, sometimes it takes two years to finish a song.

What was the first album/CD you ever bought?

Christina Aguilera – Stripped

What album do you know every word to?

Alicia Keys – The Diary Of Alicia Keys

Share some advice for other bands/artists creating original music?

Sing and play music, to begin with, and find like-minded people with who you feel comfortable around. There is a lot of exciting stuff and a lot of disappointment along the way when you make music, so a balance of keeping your head cool and staying positive is really important. But..I believe perseverance gets rewarded.

What is the most memorable response you have had to your music?

Once, after a concert in The Netherlands, a woman came up to me and said she played my song ‘I knew it from the start’ at the funeral of her husband. Their relationship was not an easy one, but they had accepted that, and ‘I knew it from the start’ captured their struggles.

She told me how much they wanted to see me play live, but they weren’t able to anymore. Now, some months after the funeral, she decided to see my show alone. It was deeply touching.

If you could create your own radio show, what kind of music would you feature and why?

I love to listen to the radio when I’m driving long distances. Seeing the sun go down, landscapes passing by while listening to music. So I would definitely select songs that give a good travelling vibe, like Daniel Caesar, Phoebe Bridgers, The Beach Boys, Donny Hathaway, Otis Redding…pff many more, there’s too much good stuff.

Tell us about your upcoming releases?

I just released my EP Cards On The Table and this January a live video with Mahogany came out as well. So for now, no new releases, unfortunately. But.. I’ve been writing many new songs and will be in the studio from February on, so might release some new stuff in Spring if all goes well.