Among all the glitz and glam in today’s popular music, it’s refreshing to get back to the basics. Such is the case with Maurice the Fish recording artist Heidi Vladyka.
Just a woman and her guitar, Vladyka is in her humble element when in cozy coffeehouses where she’s often found off in a corner somewhere, gently presenting her authentically indie music to those who wish to stop and have a listen. Unassuming in nature, she prefers thrift store chic to Dolce & Gabbana and her acoustic sidearm to a plugged-in electric.
But it’s her voice that will really make you sit up and take notice. From the first notes she sings, it’s obvious that Heidi is meant to do exactly what she’s doing – singing her truth to the world like she’s reading a letter aloud. Her voice flows freely and effortlessly, and has just enough of a gritty edge to convey her realness. There’s absolutely nothing fake or put-on about Heidi, and it’s her most beautiful attribute.
Listeners may hear ghosts of other music-makers in her soft and magical singing – a little Bjork, a little Cowboy Junkies, and even a little Melanie Safka (she sang that great 70’s hit “Brand New Key” … remember? … “I got a brand new pair of rollerskates/ you got a brand new key…”).
Leadoff track “562” is like a page from her diary. She sings as if she’s confessing her deepest secrets with the lyric, “I lost my dignity sometime around 3 last night.” She’s lonely for someone she loves, as the song reveals, and her voice almost breaks with emotion.
Her cover of Bush’s 1996 hit “Glycerine” takes on a whole new vibe in Heidi’s hands. While theirs has a brooding, hard rock sound, hers is introspective and thoughtful.
“The Circus” shows Heidi’s skill on the six-string. On “The Hangover Song” she sings about the morning after, when her hair is all messed up and her cell phone won’t stop ringing. The chorus repeats what a lot of us have said after a big night out: “This is the very last time/ I’m never drinkin’ again.” This isn’t an “oh, my aching head” song by any means – in fact, the upbeat melody shows that she may still be a little drunk in this song – because at the end she also promises, “I’m never loving again.” How many of us have made such broad proclamations then laughed about them after a strong, sobering cup of coffee?
Now if it’s a tear you’re looking to shed, “Please Come Home” may just do that for you. It’s a plaintive call about missing that special someone “I’ve been waiting for you to please come home/ please come back my love.” Again, her voice betrays her breaking heart.
Every song on “hi.im.heidi” stands firmly on its own, offering a lovely introduction to this gifted singer/songwriter. Meet Heidi in person and get her new CD on June 3 at her CD release party at Metronome Coffee (3518 6th Ave.), 7 p.m.
