We Speak Music
Heather Ward Reimagines RUSH Classic with Jazz Single “Closer to the Heart” from Debut Album ”Honeysweet”
Canadian-born jazz vocalist Heather Ward has released her newest single, a stunning reinterpretation of RUSH’s iconic anthem “Closer to the Heart,” from her recently released debut solo album Honeysweet. This track is not only a creative milestone but also a deeply personal tribute that bridges her musical roots with her artistic present.
The choice to include the RUSH classic was more than a musical decision — it was a nostalgic nod to Heather’s past and the enduring love story that helped inspire Honeysweet. “Dave, my partner, took me to my very first rock concert when I was 15 — it was RUSH, live in a hockey arena in London, Ontario. It doesn’t get more Canadian than that!” she recalls. The concert left a lasting impact, and when Heather began crafting Honeysweet, she knew she wanted to include Canadian content that reflected her formative years. “RUSH was an obvious choice.”
Blending her jazz sensibility with the progressive rock legacy of RUSH, Heather collaborated with her youngest child — a recent graduate of Berklee College of Music — to reharmonize the track. The result is a richly layered, emotionally resonant version of “Closer to the Heart” that stands as one of the album’s standout moments.
Heather Ward has been a beloved figure in Seattle’s jazz, cabaret, and theater scenes since 1997. Though Canadian by birth, she began performing while attending art school and eventually pursued formal music studies at Vancouver Community College and Capilano University, where she earned a degree in Jazz Performance. Her career has included training with jazz greats like Sheila Jordan, Hugh Fraser, and Jay Clayton, and performances at festivals such as Vancouver’s DuMaurier International Jazz Festival.
Heather also teaches private voice lessons as a member of NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing) and continues to perform throughout Seattle.
“Closer to the Heart” is more than a reinterpretation — it’s a celebration of musical legacy, family collaboration, and heartfelt artistry. With Honeysweet, Heather Ward delivers a debut that is as personal as it is powerful.
Listen to “Closer to the Heart” now on all streaming platforms.
Honeysweet is available everywhere music is streamed or sold.
A Song for Family, Love, and Life’s Beautiful Complexity
Acclaimed cellist, vocalist, and composer Hope Easton announces the release of her latest single, “3D Life,” a vibrant, funny, and deeply personal song written for her niece and goddaughter, Leylan, on the occasion of her wedding to David. The song is now available on all major streaming platforms.
Blending humor, sentimentality, and a rich musical palette, “3D Life” captures the spirit of a modern wedding anthem—with a wink. Easton draws from inside family jokes, generational wisdom, and musical traditions to craft a piece that feels as timeless as it is tailor-made.
“It’s her wedding song—with a little humor, it could easily be in Wedding Crashers,” says Easton with a smile. “It’s really about life, and how we go through everything together.”
The track reflects on family legacy—quoting the bride’s grandfather’s dry wit (“You can’t always be happy” after watching someone get married) and celebrating the bride’s connection to her talented maternal grandmother, Easton’s own mother. With loving candor, Hope jokes that Leylan is the only one of six nieces who can’t sing—but inherited all the other gifts. “In the end,” Easton says, “it’s about love. We’re all here to love one another, or we wouldn’t be here.”
“3D Life” concludes with a nod to the couple’s new shared last name, now known affectionately as “The Swifts.”
About Hope Easton
Hope Easton is a genre-defying musical force. Classically trained at Cleveland Institute of Music, New England Conservatory, and as a Fulbright Scholar under Ralph Kirshbaum in the UK, she has performed as a soloist since her teenage years—including appearances at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center at age 15. She has performed in renowned festivals such as Aspen, Banff, Meadowmount, and Yellow Barn.
Now based in Los Angeles, Easton fuses her classical foundation with pop, jazz, and original songwriting. She’s toured with Sheila Nicholls, formed her own band Hope & The Russians, and frequently performs solo using electric and acoustic cello. Her ensemble, Sonos Chamber Players, provides high-end music for private events, corporate gigs, and public venues, including TV appearances on The Bold and the Beautiful and more.
Hope has collaborated with artists such as Adele, Sheryl Crow, OneRepublic, Garth Brooks, Don Henley, Frank Ocean, and many others. Her studio credits span top networks and commercials, including The Voice, American Idol, The Tonight Show, and multiple national ad campaigns.
She continues to perform with orchestras across Southern California, record for film/TV scores, and share moments of her eclectic musical journey via social media.
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