Hearts of Space is a show an United States weekly syndicated public radio show featuring music of contemplative nature drawn largely from the ambient, new-age and electronic genres, while also including classical, world, Celtic, experimental, and other genres. Manually curated “slow music for fast times” The show has been running since 1973, produced by Steve Davis and host by Stephen Hill.
I’m honoured to announce my cover of Finn traditional Nuku Nuku Nurmilintu has been included in this week program dedicated to Cradle Songs,timeless lullabies and sacred songs for the holidays.
Not getting older but “vintage” LOL and hopefully a bit “wiser”
TODAY IS MY BIRTHDAY!!! I have today that plan is really quiet, I
have a bottle of cider, a chocolate Santa that a fellow composer sent
to me and indulging watching a series while eating popcorn later on.
So here is me ten year apart 🙂 Same girl, same dreams… Lots of
things have changed and at the same time, lots of things are the same
too.
My birthday present
This year Birthday and Xmas are practical… Editing videos and producing music with my old outdated computer was becoming frustrating as my old battleship started to have failures. So my partner Héctor has gifted me a new graphic card and solid drive. I myself got new memory, and unexpectedly a fellow composer and family sent me a surprise box with the motherboard and cpu I needed for a full update… so as I write this post, and moved by the generosity of people that are not always the closest or the ones you expect… my computer lies now on the floor “a bit naked” haha and hopefully back to functional in a few days.
Package also had a chocolate santa and a Unicorn and a handdrawn
unicorn. I also got a card from one of my patrons… and hopefully the
following days I’ll place it under my ratty mini Xmas tree…
I don’ t think the Santa is going to make it though…
Anyway I was overwhelmed by this generosity and I was asked by a
friend recently… I’m not sure HOW I can help… so I thought about
putting a little article together, with the hope for it to be a draft
for a video. Because sure you can help me and OTHERS.
10 Ways you can support ME (or an INDEPENDENT ARTIST you like)
Everybody says they love music and art… but are you aware of the
difficulties small acts have to face? It is always awkward to ask and if
it weren’t my birthday I wouldn’t feel bold enough to write it down. 🙂
Yes, yes, this post seems like a Shameless plug… might look that
way! but me, and many fellow artists struggle with many issues you
might not be aware and that’s what I intend, spread AWARENESS of our
situation in general and this post goes beyond myself as I see how many
of us artists struggle to voice out our problems and difficulties
loudly. As you should know that streaming services barely pay cents for
thousands of plays, and not all of us are influencers or famous
youtubers… the vast majority of artists are minnows in a vast ocean, does that sound familiar to you?
So even if my music or art is NOT your cup of tea consider
to support other small independent acts you may know in a similar way.
So yes, I’m going to, and I rarely do, tell you how you can help me or others, should anyone care to 🙂
But take this post also as a way to encourage and motivate also other
small acts 🙂 So if my art is NOT YOUR thing (which is OK as art relies
on different tastes) take into account you can do this for ANOTHER person
you know. There are many ways to support an independent artists and
most of them does not involve even any money. But we need support to
grow, to be encouraged and go on!
1) Please BUY what we sell… Artist struggle in the “All is free on Internet” Streaming era
Many artists are struggling to sell because now almost everything is
available immediately on internet or streaming services. It’s happening
not only to musicians but also to visual artists.
You can purchase my ALBUMS (yes, some of us still
sell those old fashioned physical formats to include art or other goods
in it ) or digital downloads from priscillahernandez.com/shop
alternatively from legal sources as Bandcamp, Itunes , Amazon Music and
many others.
Buy the prints and small originals from illustrators, a book or
ebooks and publications from your fellow writers… even if it’s easy
to access to free content on internet and even most of us provide ways
to offer it for free (through streaming services and such) that doesn’t
mean we don’t appreciate the support.
CREATING requires gear, investment, tools… and many of us end up paying to create what they share virtually for free.
And if those artists perform on concerts, organize conferences,
workshops or venues, please also make the effort to attend to them.
My shop is at http://priscillahernandez.com/shop
There you can buy my illustrated physical music albums, but also some
original prints, art, and other merchandising. And of course also my
discography in digital format, including singles that are not elsewhere.
As I have stated before we live times where music and art can be
found easily on streaming platforms and thus the artist is not
remunerated fairly… did you know you need . Did you know that spotify
roughly pay $0.0075 per play. And then there are the digital
distributors fee… in other words… You earn selling two cds to your
friends than with 10000 plays on spotify. That is why some other options
are surfacing as PATREON, a website/blog where the artist offer
exclusive content or supporters simply sign to provide a fee a month to
support their favourite artists in order to keep on creating.
Other options are direct donations or support on crowdfunding campaigns.
3) STREAM only from legal sources
You can stream my music from legal source like Spotify or Amazon
Music. There are other sites like Bandcamp that both allow streaming and
purchase.
Yes they pay little but at least those stats help to open doors. If you
find someones’s music on a random video, maybe track down to the artist
page, to their official spotify, youtube or page. And avoid torrents
and “fans” offering the torrents because they “like” those artists. THAT
does not help.
4) Follow, subscribe, join the OFFICIAL Artist profiles on networks.
You can add me to your social networks Priscilla Hernandez is my
facebook page, on youtube, instagram, twitter my user name is my
nickname and trademark “yidneth”. Take into account that small artists
are usually not verified by facebook or twitter until we grow becasuse
literally “we are still not significant enough” that is literally the
response. The only way we can claim that or they start to see us is
that we grow our numbers. Not only that by feedbacking, commending and
interacting you’re keeping the artist motivated to keep on creating.
You can share my work with your friends, spread the word, share the videos. Tag me and be my team to reach! Here and in many networks you can tag @yidneth Most of us hate to self-promote, and that’s where we get our motivation in having our faithful supporters sharing our videos on their groups, reddit, and social networks. Spread the word!. Do not download and reupload without tags… I had myself a hideous experience of a stolen video, decropped of credit and going viral… Tag the artist page, CREDIT, and share Here is one of my videos, but it could be as well ANY… if you like
On facebook and ig they allow you to tag your stories with artists music, that way it also count in their numbers.
6) FEEDBACK, COMMENT, ENCOURAGE
You can leave feedback and encouragement, believe it reaches me and
it motivates me, and believe it is needed as I have also my times of
doubt. Tell me you like it and you care about it! A heartfelt comment
and review can make my day. Start leaving a simple comment in this very
post 🙂
Also take into account of leaving a good review on facebook, google,
amazon and other sites where rating the artist or service they provide
is allowed.
7) RECOMMEND your favourite small acts festivals and venues and asks for their music on radio stations.
8) BECOME AN ACTIVE PROMOTER
You can write a blog post, article, interview, review or feature in
your website or blog. Most big magazines actually ask small acts for a
fee to be interviewed, but you can offer your space and review. Do you
like an artist? let others know!
9) REPORT COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT
This is happening on so many levels, stolen videos from musicians,
people resharing without credit, people monetizing the creations of
others, people offering the free downloads on torrent sites… But also
large scale chinese stores selling copycats of your creations with
your own photos. This has happened to some of my fellow clothing
designers mostly and it’s in fact a scam that damages the artist image
as chinese replicas use their picture so sell a low quality knock off.
So it does not happen only in music or books it happens to multiple
disciplines. Whenever a small artist starts to have a little bit of
success there will be “scavengers” around to see what they can get, copy
or steal. And it’s sad but it makes you be cautious. So on a daily
basis you see a photography, a video, things shared anonymously on
facebook groups because it’s a share of a share of a share… sometimes
altered until the artist cannot even be tracked back anymore. If you
RECOGNIZE THE ARTIST, mention so it can be properly tagged.
I had one particular video stolen from my youtube circulating in
VIRAL numbers on facebook groups, not only they cut my credits at the
end, some groups even watermarked my video with their services. Despite
having humble numbers on my youtube, the video went viral on facebook
with several millions plays with no credit. It brought eventually some
income of listeners but how much better it would have been to feel that
push on an official source. More even it was really stressful to deal
sometimes.
Above: My original video “Over the clouds” just in case you ever see it without my name 😉
10) ARTIST ENDORSEMENTS
Endorse small artists with your products… Are you a company that
makes instruments, software, art materials, music gear, drawing
tablets… whatever the product there may be a fellow that could make
use of it. I have been lucky and my harp as well as some other
instruments and even clothing have been endorsed as support. This is
different from being an “influencer” these are small companies that
really trust in what you do.
My kantele as many of my other instruments have been endorsed.
But you don’t have to be a company, you can donate your unused gear,
materials, music instruments in order not only to keep a cleaner planet
but help a fellow friend. Do you paint and have an old tablet you don’t
use, hand it to a fellow beginner artist… your old student clarinet
to someone interested in learning… It’s all about giving… Sometimes
I’ve even received things I’m sure others cherished but thought I’d
put to better use…
Sometimes it’s about giving
but most of times is about CARING…!
So thanks everyone for your support! And feel free to become my
little street team and make someone else to know about what I do… but
also take it as an idea to support those fellow artists, because YOU
COULD BE key in them continuing create and share.
Now that year ends and we’re all in a bit of Xmassy Spirit! Remember
to be generous… which MOST OF THE TIME doesn’t even involve any
money… just ENCOURAGEMENT!
I always remember my song GROW…. we must grow when the time is
right…and even the tallest trees become from tiny seeds… it just
needs patience, time, endurance and of course NOURISHMENT! Thank you
all!
Here I am again with a NEW MUSIC VIDEO!… It didn’t take months this time but because I had been working on it 😉 I’m just a few days away of my birthday (next Monday) so I want to say thanks to Héctor Corcín for getting me a new graphic card so I can edit videos faster 🙂 Also for his help in every single video of course :). This year self-gifts are going to be practical, just gear upgrades to create a bit more smoothly. No plan for my birthday…. maybe just go somewhere to hug a tree! Usual Pris plan 🙂
Here is a very old Finnish traditional folk song called “Nuku Nuku Nurmilintu” our first Winter / Yule Special. The recording is very minimal, using only voice, harmonies, low whistle and kantele (National Finn music instrument) as the lead. I tried my best to pronounce well the words but I’m not native so my apologies if pronunciation is not 100% accurate. 🙂 Song is a lullaby about a wagtail (Motacilla alba).
Easter Eggs : How many times does the White Wagtail appear in the video? Can you find the ratties?
Can you count how many scenes the bird appear in? Also as always a
second eater egg is that as usual I hide (one or more) ratties in the
video :). If you know my feed you know I always hide my “fufunchis”
Did you know? My fufunchis had all Finn names Tuula, Ritva and Taika
🙂 They’re all 3 in the video. Let’s see who can spot them!
How can you support?
Of course, show your feedback here, resteem and encourage
If you have a second to visit the youtube channel and drop a comment there too I’m really grateful.
Sleep, sleep meadow bird,
Tired, tired, wagtail.
Sleep well in the grass,
Drift into the white land
Birds will bring you a linen shirt,
The wigeon will bring you a fine skirt.
The duck a little pillow to rest your head
The swallows, a cushion.
Sleep, sleep meadow bird,
Tired, tired, wagtail.
Sleep well in the grass,
Drift into the white land.
Pd. I merged several translations and used google translate. If you
are native from Finland and want to propose any change please contact me
🙂
Making Of / Behind the Scenes
Above: One behind the scenes photography while scouting locations.
Both my dress and cloak are made by El Costurero Real, who happened to
be visiting while we filmed this video.
My friend Alassie, Victor and Carlos came to see “Autumn” in my region
but we stumbled upon Snow, Rain, Sleet, Mist… and I must stay they
endured it all like Champions 🙂
We filmed some scenes with the cloak but it was heavy wool and it was
raining a LOT even if it’s not shown clearly in the video, so soon it
would become wet and heavy. Thus I opted for the dress only, and yes it
was chilly, sleet falling and at least I had a flask of hot tea waiting,
you know I don’t shy from the cold for a video or photoshoot 🙂
I love those moments in between seasons… Honestly I’m not even
ready to farewell Autumn… but the first snow is always a magical
feeling. The combination of golden and white and greens was such an
interesting tapestry. It’s incredible to think this is the same location
(of out of many) I used for GROW. That was filmed in Spring and Summer
The kantele: A traditional Finnish Instrument
It was all right to endure the weather but honestly I was more
worried about my Kantele, which is by the way National Finland Music
Instrument getting wet. The one I play is a 10 string kantele made by
my friend Gerry Henkel, I play it unconventionally upside down as I’m
self taught.
The kantele is the Finnish version of an instrument known throughout the world as either a zither or lap harp.
The Finnish kantele triangular shaped sound box with strings running across the top of the instrument. When the strings – usually tuned to a diatonic scale – are plucked, a kantele will produce ringing bell-like tones. It is similar to a harp in some ways, but because of the way in which it is built and the way in which the strings are attached, a compelling and unique sound is produced as it is played. Heavenly bells…
Special Thanks
Special thanks to Héctor Corcín @hedac who helped me filming an in the post-production of the video. Filmed in Urbasa Beechwoods, November 2019
Additional “Motacilla Alba” bird footage with permission and courtesy of “To Wildlife Film” so I could composite it in (thank you! :)) Here their channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDYjTGFs9DHKUJfBKAHxJcA/feed Kantele made by Gerry Henkel https://kantele.com/ All arrangements in this version by Priscilla Hernandez. (yidneth.com) All Rights Reserved
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