Today we’d like to introduce you to Renaissance Heart. Them and their team share their story with us below:
During the pandemic, while the world slowed down and touring musicians were stuck at home, session ace guitar chameleon Shea Welsh from Baltimore and two-time GRAMMY® award-winning Israeli-born vocalist Hila Plitmann, who were already collaborating, were able to manifest a dream they had of forming a world music group that combines all of their eclectic musical influences including classical, jazz, folk, rock, world music and new age genres.
Shea and Hila, who had already known each other for about three years, would work with each other from time to time, featuring each other on their own individual projects. Hila would front Shea’s jazz band and Shea would accompany Hila during her classical performances. The pandemic lockdown gave them the time they needed to finally write songs together and develop their hybrid sound.
They next added world-renowned Indian tabla master Aditya Kalyanpur who was a friend of Shea’s through a previous band they both played in. The three became the core of the group and continued to write and perform. The collective ultimately decided on the name Renaissance Heart.
When it became time to record, they continued the eclectic global music theme and rounded out the band with special guests of their favorite LA-based musicians from all over the world. This included cellist Eru Matsumoto and percussionist Taku Hirano from Japan, bassist Sezin Ahmet Turkmenoglu from Turkey, percussionist Ray Yslas, a Los Angeles native, as well as GRAMMY® award-winning pianist John Beasley.
In the Fall of 2022, they released their debut album Layers on Art of Conversation Records. It can be heard on all digital streaming platforms.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Everyone has had their own trials and tribulations as they worked their way up through the music business. But while forming Renaissance Heart, they had a clear idea musically and creatively of where they wanted to head so writing and recording the music came fairly easily.
The only difficulty has been navigating the busy schedules of all of the members whose successful solo careers have them touring all over the world. They just make sure they get together as often as possible when everyone is available.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
The group truly considers themselves a collective. Not only did they pull from a large pool of colleagues as special guests on their recordings and live performances, they also rely on some of the industry’s most highly regarded engineers to realize their unique sound. This includes seven-time GRAMMY® award-winning Mixing Engineer Brian Vibberts, GRAMMY® award-winning Recording Engineer Eric Liljestrand, Mastering Engineer Joe Bozzi, and Recording Engineer Terrance Harrison. All of whom worked on their debut album “Layers” which was recorded in Los Angeles, CA at The Village and Exposition Studios and Mastered at Bernie Grundman Mastering in Hollywood, CA.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.renaissanceheartmusic.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/renaissanceheartmusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/renaissanceheartmusic/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCYz5tBbEW2843Fj8wqnZvw
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/album/29MgKMCTMi2rNNZXNgqiJb?si=mosUic9eRWCHdREKyQuNbg
Image Credits
Mark Maryanovich & Arthur Mok
