W R E N H I N D S

My name is Wren Hinds, I'm  a musician, singer-songwriter and music producer from a small town on the east coast of South Africa.
I was born into a creative family with my father Kevin Hinds being a musician (signed to EMI and Gallo in the 70's during the turbulent years of South Africa's history) and my mother Diane Erasmus, a well known South African landscape artist. I'm so fortunate to share my musical heritage with my brother, Aden-  together we perform and create music as the acoustically driven singer-songwriter harmony group - The Hinds Brothers. Growing up in this wonderland, set between the Indian Ocean and the Sub-tropical forests and hills of Kwazulu, we grew up with a loving, brotherly and significantly, a musical connection, much enhanced by our father's records, song-writing and work in his small home recording studio. The beauty and tranquility of these surrounds were to become an emblematic factor in our creative evolution.

A distant echo of the Hinds Brothers musical evolution may be found in the career of our father who teamed up with his own brother Colin in the 1960's. Although this early incarnation lasted only a few years there were remnants of their brief collaboration in the form of live recordings made by Dave Marks of 3rd Ear Music, both in his lounge and at the South Africa Folk Festival. On an LP entitled "Cross Section" they were featured alongside Jonathan Clegg (Johnny Clegg), Mike Dickman and the Kitchen Bros.

In the 1970's our dad went on to record 5 seven singles for C.B.S. and EMI Records and continued performing as a solo artist, in venues and around the country and then with his band "Leatherbone", a 3 piece harmony group in the mode of Crosby Stills and Nash.

Working on creative projects especially with family, can be a truly special thing, and in this way I am so blessed to work with the most amazing and talented people who are so close to my heart. Fraternal and familial synergy is no new thing in music. The Carter Family, The Stanley Brothers, The Everly Brothers and the Louvin Brothers are among the many examples of brothers making beautiful music together; and true to this tradition, The Hinds Brothers continue to make a vibrant contribution to this genre.

I am also part of a very special and exciting project with my friend and 'soulmate', Faye Oakes, together we perform and release music through our band, Faye & Wren - this project brings me so much joy as it allows us to really explore the depths of ambient and experimental songwriting and music production, while of course harkening toward the traditional, simplistic and minimalist style of folk/country, although I know that sound always changes and transforms.

I love collaborating with my family and other artists and just surrendering to witness the unraveling and intertwining of the unknown right before my eyes (and ears), which I guess is why I became fascinated with the art of recording music and layering textures of sound and just not knowing what one might end up with, somewhat like painting with sound, which to me is a very honest and natural process, just letting go and being yourself, and seeing how a song, or piece of art can evolve into an unexpected beauty.