AcousticMusicScene.com

By Michael Kornfeld

Canadian singer-songwriter David Hein’s music is a bit hard to pigeon-hole, and the themes of his songs are certainly not run-of-the mill.  Descriptive words like eclectic, quirky, entertaining, high-energy, original acoustic folk-rock spring to mind.  Add award-winning to that list.

Hein was named the winner of the 2008 Susquehanna Music & Arts Festival (SMAF) Songwriter Contest in Darlington, Maryland on May 9.  He won over the judges with his cleverly worded, intimate ballad “Subway Sparrow” (which also was the runner-up for best song of the month in February on songwriteruniverse.com) and enticed many in the audience to sing along on the refrain of the more up-tempo, rapid-fire-paced  "Jetpack.”

 “It’s a huge honor because everyone in the contest was amazing.  There was just a lot of talent…  We all really respected each other,” Hein told AcousticMusicScene.com during SMAF. Emily Kurn captured second place, while Hungrytown (Ken Anderson and Rebecca Hall) placed third.  “One of the things I’ve loved about this festival is that everyone has been so very friendly and welcoming – especially for me as an outsider,” said Hein, noting that making new friends and contacts also was really rewarding.

Hein, who hails from the prairies of Saskatchewan and currently resides in Toronto, holds dual Canadian and U.S. citizenship and also has lived in South Dakota and in New York City, where he apprenticed at the Muppet Music studio.  However, although he has done some touring in the northern states, SMAF is the first U.S. festival at which Hein has performed.   

As the songwriter contest winner, Hein not only received a cash award and bragging rights — he also was afforded the opportunity to perform on the main stage on May 10.  Highlights of his engaging, 30-minute set included the amusing and apparently true “My Mother’s Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding” and the up-tempo and infectious “Dear Aunty Emm.” 

Hein said that attending the Winnipeg Folk Festival with his mom when he was a child was “a huge influence” on him.  “There were bands and people who really changed the way I looked at music and at life,” said Hein, describing the experience as “a bit intoxicating.”  However, Hein is reticent to describe his own music as “folk” or to categorize it in any way for that matter.   

“Labels get in the way because people suddenly start differentiating instead of listening to the lyrics and the songs,” said Hein.  “One of the things I learned from working with the Muppets is that kids’ music doesn’t fall into a genre.  It’s only when we grow up that we suddenly become ‘folk’ people or ‘rock’ people,” he added.

“I try to give the audience credit for listening — so with my lyrics I try to surprise people and make them laugh or just lead them in a direction they didn’t expect to go.  It’s no longer enough to just play music,” said Hein.  “People ought to be entertained – so I tell stories behind each song, write surprising, funny songs and intimate ballads, mix up my set so each song is different, and go beyond the stage with free comic books about me and my music.   

Hein, whose debut album, North of Nowhere, was independently released in the fall of 2006, also has produced a live album and a promo CD and is working on building a home studio.  Although focused on pursuing his musical career, Hein also illustrates comics and has been a graphic designer, actor, set and lighting designer, and muppet wrangler. 

For more information and to hear a few of his songs, including “Subway Sparrow” and "Jetpack," log-on to www.davidhein.net.

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