Jazz Singer Heather Christine’s Captivating ‘Walking With You’ Takes You On A Nostalgic Journey Of Timeless Romance
An ode to the golden age of crooners, Mississauga-based Jazz musician/vocalist Heather Christine dazzles with her latest uplifting song about the timeless romance of being with your partner on the new original single “Walking With You,” available now!
Inspired by vocal legends like Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, and Judy Garland, “Walking With You” is a wonderous musical number that draws on the careers of giants and was recorded and produced by renowned Canadian Producer and pianist Bill King.
Part of the “Mentor Magic” project funded by the Mississauga Arts Council, “Walking With You” came together during the pandemic as Heather would take walks with her husband, and accomplished musician, Matt Zaddy.
“It’s what got me through that rough time,” says Christine. “Just that time out of the house with him was enough to spark my creativity and let me know we would be ok.”
Exquisite melodies and relentless energy elevate “Walking With You” into a swinging spectacle for the senses. The precision of the rhythm section is performed by Mark Kelso on drums and Pat Collins on acoustic bass, allowing the listener to be swept away to a time of dance halls, Broadway songs, and big bands.
Recorded at Inception Sound in Toronto, “Walking With You” was as much of a riveting experience, as it was a growing period for Heather as an artist.
“When we were recording together, Bill helped me to create a new ending for the song right on the spot,” says Heather. “Bill works ‘in the moment’ as they say. There were musical developments that happened spontaneously. The whole session was so fast as Mark Kelso and Pat Collins nailed their parts in the first two takes. I left the session floating on a cloud.”
Dynamic rhythms and cozy pianos set the backdrop for Heather Christine’s jaw-dropping vocal performance which acts as a demonstration of her raw musical talent and ability to capture the magic in her lyrics.
“Maybe good news, or some real blues
But what stays true, I’m loving you
Life is wonderful when I’m walking with you”
The music video for “Walking With You” was shot by LA Based Filmmaker Eric Soto, and was funded by the Mississauga Arts Council with their MAC MicroGrant funding.
As Heather says,
“The music video was a salute to old Hollywood.”
“The video features my former dance partner Rob Halley from Canada’s Wonderland, and it also enabled me to brush up on my dance steps and get me dancing again!”
Watch the video for “Walking With You” below and learn more about Heather via our mini-interview.
Care to introduce yourself?
Hello music lovers! My name is Heather Christine and I am a vocalist, composer, educator, and new producer from Mississauga. I am deeply motivated by the community and you can find me singing every day out and about in the neighbourhood. I perform over 150 shows a year singing everywhere from big theatres to shopping malls, outdoor parks to skating rinks and senior homes. Wherever there are people, you can do a show lol!
Tell us about the process of writing and recording “Walking With You.”
I wrote the song during the pandemic because going on walks with my husband, musician Matt Zaddy is what got me through that rough time. Those precious moments out of the house with him were enough to spark my creativity and let me know we would be ok. We are both artists and when the pandemic happened and all of our gigs were cancelled, it was scary for us to lose our income. However, we made it through that challenging period by devoting ourselves to our craft more than ever. Soon the phone started to ring again and the bookings were coming in to host live streams and teach etc. We felt inspired and more creative than ever. In that hopeful space I wrote “Walking With You” which is a ‘tip of the hat’ to the legendary crooners I grew up listening to including Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, and Judy Garland. The song was recorded by Bill King, a powerhouse Canadian Pianist and Producer who I have looked up to for years. The recording was done as part of a project titled, “Mentor Magic” that was funded by the Mississauga Arts Council. It was an incredible opportunity for me to be mentored by Bill and level-up my recording skills as a songwriter and vocalist.
How did you connect with Bill King for the song?
I was hosting an online music showcase called “Arts Café” for the Mississauga Arts Council throughout the pandemic. One day live on the show, I mentioned how much I admire the music of Bill King. Our producer heard me say this and asked me to invite Bill to the show to do a Q&A with our youth performers. Bill said yes and it went beautifully. After this positive experience, I asked Bill to work with me to do some arrangements and develop my composition, “Walking With You”, One thing lead to another, and now the tunes are recorded and out there in the world! It’s been such a great experience for me, teaching me lessons that extend far beyond music.
Where’s your favourite place to walk, and with whom?
My favourite place to walk is on the shores of Lake Ontario in Mississauga with my husband Matt Zaddy. I love to go to this little park in Clarkson and walk around Rattray Marsh, a gorgeous conservation area on the water. You can see lots of natural wildlife including deer, blue herons, fish, and birds. It’s a magical spot with a new boardwalk.
You’ve been making music for a while now, what’s one piece of advice you can offer to those starting out?
Keep on going! The most important thing is to keep creating. Whether you are a full-time artist or balancing your studies/work with your musical projects, just don’t give up! Once you get through your 20’s & mid 30’s other people start to quit (and in my experience) more opportunities present themselves.
Don’t compare yourself to others (as tempting as that is). We are all on our own individual journeys. Remember to “stay in your own lane” and do what’s right for you.
Remember there is always a side door…Many times our opportunities come through collaboration or thinking outside the box (creating our own shows and working with community sponsors etc.) If you don’t get on a festival or get booked through the traditional artist applications, remember there is always another route. Don’t let the rejection get you down. We all go through it. Keep working on your craft while staying open to feedback from mentors you trust.
Stay connected with your fellow artists and like-minded individuals. Creativity is contagious and together we can accomplish so much more!
Last tip – don’t forget to go on walks and gentle physical activities that will stimulate your creativity. After all, that’s how “Walkin’ With You” was born!
Connect with Heather Christine:
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