I’m about to submit my bio for the Steve Vai “Story of Light” Tour Program book. Wanna give me some 11-th hour feedback? Does it describe the me you know (assuming you’ve seen my shows)? Is it fun to read? Do you get a picture of what I do and why I’m on stage with Vai?
When Deborah Henson-Conant (aka ‘DHC’) slings her signature carbon fibre electric harp, she defies definition and shatters convention. She’s a diversely talented GRAMMY®-Nominated composer/performer who fuses virtuosity and verve, classical discipline with Rock ‘n Roll showmanship playing an instrument as funky and rule-bending as she is herself. With her 32-string ‘DHC Light’ – the harp invented and named for her – she bends notes like a rock guitarist, scat-sings with the melodies, finger-slides the strings to screaming distorted high notes – then lays back into the lush, rich, sweeps of sound you can only get from a harp.
The Boston Globe calls her “a cross between Leonard Bernstein, Steven Tyler and Xena, Warrior Princess.” The N.Y. Times credits her with “reshaping the Olympian harp into a jazz instrument by warping it closer to the Blues.” Grab a free MP3 of DHC’s most requested tune and follow her real-life adventures in Steve Vai’s band in her ‘Rock-Harp Diaries’ blog at HipHarp.com.
DHC has opened for Ray Charles, starred in her own music special on PBS, created five original one-woman musicals, toured Europe with her trio, written 25 electric concertos for harp and symphony, and released over a dozen solo albums – and with the ‘Story of Light’ tour she’s realized her long-time fantasy of joining a rock band — never dreaming it would come true with the legendary Steve Vai, who discovered her on … you guessed it … YOUTUBE.
I haven’t ever seen you live (please please visit the Netherlands again! *puppy eyes*) so I can’t say whether it’s a good description. However, it certainly looks like a good bio – it’s a good overview of your accomplishments and it shows you’re not just any harpist and I love that last sentence!
Good luck! :).
Thanks CT! (Now turn those puppy eyes down or I’ll start scratching you behind the ears!). Great to get the feedback! And I’ll try to get to the Netherlands again – I LOVED it last time!
I’m not loving your use of the word “diversely” – the definition isn’t quite right for your usage. You really mean “divers” but can’t use it b/c it will be seen as a typo:
“divers has the meaning ‘several, many, various,’ while diverse has the meaning ‘different, unlike, variegated’;”
You want something more like “multifaceted”, but not sure off the top of my head how to restructure that sentence to use it – maybe remove “talented” and just use “multifaceted GRAMMY®-Nominated composer/performer”?
Thanks Betty – I’m happy you jumped on that word. I’m not even sure we want it (maybe just let the facts speak for themselves?) — so I’ll take another look. The funny thing about language is that sometimes uncorrect language is easier to understand. Weird.
Anyway – I’m glad you put a light on that part of it. Bears looking at again. Thanks!
You nailed it Deborah
I like it Deborah! I have not seen your show live (yet) but I like the bio. I love the fact that you are bridging two worlds together… Harp and electric guitar…. Not sure there is anyone else that does it the way you do!! Not sure if it would be appropriate but I would see a sentence or two on your love of sharing the music/teaching with people. You are so good at it, it should be known that you like to do this and maybe put in a plug for Pluck U!!!
Thanks everyone! I closed my eyes and shipped it out! Thanks for your feedback!
DHC –
I’ve seen you live many times most recently at the SW Michigan Symphony. We’ve already gotten tickets to the House of Blues show in Chicago. You are the best. I agree on the word “diversely” – I stumbled over it too. Otherwise your bio is fantastic.
LC
Thanks, LC! Just changed that ‘diversely’ thanks to all the comments!