The Dance of Life

The Dance of Life - new single is out today 12.02.2021.

I spent the start of 2021 immersed in my studio, armed with a plethora of synthesizers, stringed instruments and a choir within, I've been working on a bunch of new songs and this is the first offering, 'The Dance of Life'- another collaboration with lyricist/poet Keith Erasmus. I am so looking forward to the unfolding of a new collection of songs, and it always brings me such joy to share my art with the world.

Stream/Download the single
HERE

Full discography available at wrenhinds.bandcamp.com

Support future projects wrenhinds.blogspot.com

Cover photography by Keith Erasmus.

A Child's Chant for the New Millennium

Between April and July I buried myself among my musical instruments, wires, synths, guitars and whatever I could get my hands on, I lost myself in the layering of textures and sounds and vocal overtones, and armed with the scribbles of a couple new extraordinary poems which my kinsman, uncle, co-writer and collaborator , Keith Erasmus, sent me to put to music, and now just in time for my birthday (which I have set as the official release day) This sweet little EP is due to grace the world in the month of Virgo, on the 4th Sep 2020 - The title is taken from the featured track 'A Child's Chant for the New Millennium' - a haunting and apocalyptic beauty of a poem by Keith. 

I hope this collection of songs moves you, and fills you with emotion, as it has done for me.

The EP is available for Pre-Order exclusively on Bandcamp HERE

A Thousand Hearts

Exclusive to Bandcamp, I have just released my second solo full length studio album - 'A Thousand Hearts'.

These songs are close to my heart, for some reason I was holding them back, but under the circumstances we find ourselves in, may these songs bring you joy, comfort and peace within.

The title is from yet another moving poem by my uncle Keith Erasmus, a gifted poet, lyricist and artist with whom It brings me so much joy to collaborate with in the world of songwriting.

Stay safe friends x

Available HERE

New Single 20.02.2020

I experience flying in my dreams a little too often, almost every vivid dream I have had, since childhood, I recall the ability to fly within the dream realm, It's become almost second nature in my dream life, the feeling is indescribable and exhiliarating. It has gotten me through, and out of some sticky and dangerous dream situations and it is something that fascinates me when I find myself awake in the real world.

My new single, 'Wrenbird' releases on the 20th Feb 2020.

It is a fantastical adventure as far as music goes and explores the endless boundaries of the dreamscape. It is an ode to my nightly experience of flying within dreams.

Thanks to South Sea Records and Swedish based label Amuse for backing this independent
release!
Photography by Caelin Amy Roodt.

Listen and Download HERE

Rebirth

The Rebirth.
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2019 was a year of change, of high tides and tumultuous transformation, a year of simultaneous birth and death. It was a time of vulnerability and strength, it was a time of union and a time of immense growth.
We now hold our heads high to face the future and embrace the beauty of the moment.
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Cape Town, we will descend upon your ragged peaks and your windswept beaches. In March we embark on this next chapter.
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Thank you to loved ones for being the pillars of strength, love and support, and thank you to the universe for the ever changing journey.
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Photography by Gordon Date
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#rebirth #photography
#fayeandwren #nature #bayou #lagoon #singersongwriter
#musicians #bands #ambient #art #model #southafrica

SIGN OF LIFE - SINGLE RELEASE 06.12.2019

'Sign of Life' - single due for release 06.12.2019

Just a few months ago my uncle Keith recited a new poem he had been working on, a piece titled 'Sign of Life'- this was by no means a new thing for uncle Keith to do, he'd always had a way with words and was born with a writers heart, not just any writer, but almost teetering on the Shakespearean type of traditional English writing- according to my mom, he used to pace the room in their modest childhood home in Port Elizabeth- avidly reciting poetry that he had written.

Coming of age, he continued writing in his own time, between his photographic profession, his fantastical drawing style and even between his passion for the horses (the racing kind), by the time my brother and I came of age and actually started taking our music seriously, Keith would often recite a new poem or perhaps dig out a piece of dusty paper with an older one he had written, whether old or new, his writing has always held the perfect structure to be in balance with a song or piece of music, and Aden (my brother) and myself often took to translating ,without too much effort, the writings and poetry of Keith, into sweet music, where those poems would transform from words on a piece of paper into a whirling dance of energy through sound. My partner, Faye has also played a part in bringing some of these poems to life through her own beautiful compositions.

When a few months back, Keith recited 'Sign of Life' -a piece about a yearning, a longing for real human and spiritual connection within this new and somewhat impersonal digital age we find ourselves in, a sad and brutally honest look at where we have come, and where we may be going- I instantly felt the emotions stirring up, I recognized those feelings, something I had felt for so long, but could not find the words, I would often deal with these feelings through frustration, impatience and anger, and now my dear uncle, a man in his seventies, a man, like most of us, who has been submerged into a totally foreign world to the one he grew up in, was now reciting this heart-wrenching poem to me.

I quickly asked him to recite the poem again and without haste, scribbled the words down in my diary, a few days later after work-shopping some ideas, I went into my studio, set up a few microphones, and put the lyrics to a piece of music I had been working on, it took a good few hours of recording the textures and different instruments in the very house I had grown up in, in the tropical Eden of my hometown, a few days of mixing and listening and in no time 'Sign of Life' had become a little more than a poem, it had been given something more than words, and in a way, in itself became a real sign of life.

The thing about 'Sign of Life' is that It doesn't matter your age, your background, your culture or your world view. The words invoke so much emotion and deals with a subject that is constantly shoved into all of our faces on a daily basis in these times we are living in, the digital revolution, it serves as a reminder to look at ourselves, at our loved ones, at our community and the world around us, and somehow, someway, connect to the real source of life.

The release date for 'Sign of Life' is the 6th Dec 2019.
The single will be available on South Sea Records and all major digital platforms.

Keith Erasmus - Lyricist for 'Sign of Life'
Photography by Andre Swart

Sign of Life

"There's a signal and a siren that is running through my mind.

There's a gadget that connects me to all of humankind.

There's an entity that tells me everything I need to know,

and an artificial additive to everything they grow.

But I need a sign, some sign of life,

an act of human kindness.

Some shred of hope to make it right,

and love to cure the blindness.

There's a mode of entertainment to suit my every need,

and a logical explanation for every act of greed.

There's a recurring memory of the way it used to be,

when children had a childhood and a sense of history.

 But I need a sign, some sign of life,

an act of human kindness.

Some shred of hope to make it right,

and love to cure the blindness."

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.