Brigitte Heyer
I come from a musical family. Two brothers are well known In Germany as guitarists, father played the Cello. I learned to play violin at twelve (not my choice), but much prefer the guitar! I started songwriting in 1994. In 2009 I joined the Australian Songwriters Association.
In 2021 I won the Judges Choice Award at the Bung The Door Busking Competition in Bungendore, judged by Shortis & Simpson.
"Brigitte's songs are honest and straight from the heart, whether meditating on broken down love or recounting the adventures of the farm shed that blew away. She is able to take a cliché and give it a fresh treatment such as in her marvellously philosophical ballad "Love Comes Before a Fall". Her engaging performance is a unique hybrid of Australian laconic delivery and Euro-cabaret-chic." Brett Galt-Smith
MEET THE SONGWRITER - 5 QUICK QUESTIONS:
Why do you write songs? (When/why did you start writing, what do you enjoy and what keeps you going?)
A: It is both self therapy in processing experiences that have a strong impact on me, and a great way to share them with others. Listening to someone's lyrics is a way to connect on another level. I'm also a bit of a show pony, one that occasionally grapples with excessive adrenaline!
How would you describe the emotional world or themes your songs tend to explore? (What is it that you would like people to learn, hear, feel or take from your songs?)
A: Human nature, emotions, dealing with life's challenges. I like to find a humorous angle in much of my work. Life is way too serious!
Which artists or songwriters have had the biggest influence on your musical journey?
A: Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, Donovan, John Denver, Grimick (Sydney Band), German icons (Reinhard Mey, Udo Juergens, Hildegard Knef).
Describe your songwriting process. How does a song usually begin for you?
A: Walking in the kitchen. Driving, having to pull over and start scribbling lyrics on a serviette. Sometimes the tune appears simultaneously, sometimes it comes later. Sometimes not at all - those remain poems. With strong emotions, I once penned an entire song in 30 minutes ("Not A One Night Stand Girl") :)
If you were to be stranded on a desert island and could only take two albums with you, what would they be?
A: The Beatles, Jack Johnson.
