It's been said that you only get one chance to make a first impression.
In H.E.R.'s case, you get two. She stunned us as a special guest for
Daniel Ceasar's Tiny Desk concert earlier this year, in an appearance
that showcased her vocal mastery. That earned her an invite to play
again, front-and-center. She attacked her second go 'round with more
fervor than the first, highlighting her skills as a
multi-instrumentalist, maneuvering between acoustic and electric
guitars, then the Fender Rhodes.
While H.E.R. stands for "Having Everything Revealed," she's an artist
who's built her reputation on a certain degree of anonymity. The cover
art for her debut, 2016 EP, H.E.R. Volume 1, shows a woman's silhouette
over a blue backdrop. Her visuals never provide the audience a clear
shot of her face and her signature accessory for every outfit is a pair
of large, dark sunglasses.
As fans collectively squinted to get a better view, she delivered more
projects. Another EP, H.E.R. Vol 2, came in 2017, followed months later
by H.E.R. which combined songs from both volumes with a handful of new
songs. The latter earned her five nominations for 2019's Grammy Awards,
including Album Of The Year and Best New Artist Of The Year. She was
born Gabriella Wilson to a Filipino mother and Black father. She first
attracted the spotlight as a child prodigy, eventually signing a record
contract when she was 14-years old. At 21, she's yet to release her
debut LP.
There were two standout moments during her Tiny Desk set. One came at
the midway point of her biggest hit so far, "Focus." When the
instruments dropped out and background vocalists Ajanee Hambrick and
Malik Spence chimed in with their lush harmonies, the audience melted.
The second came when her focus was interrupted by a charming and sincere
expression of gratitude for the Tiny Desk platform. For a split second
it appears as though she's about to remove those sunglasses. "Not saying
that I'm your favorite artist, but maybe me being here today says a
lot."
Set List
"Going" (Interlude)
"Feel A Way"
"Hard Place"
"Focus"
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