Heti’s musical Background

Born from Fine Artists, Mary Newbolt who was English and New Zealand born, Joe Hope, Heti grew up in a World of Art. Joe Hope won a scholarship from Aotearoa, at twenty years old, to go to the Slade Art school in London where he met Mary Newbolt and they married soon after. . Heti grew up in an old Bath stone village called Box, in Wiltshire, England.

Peter Gabriel bought up the old Flour Mill down the road and made it into his recording studio next to the then, Womad head quarters. The closest Heti got to any musical influence was being a bar person at one of his parties. She did meet however, some then musicians, Brian Ferry, Wet Wet Wet and Mongolian throat singers.

Heti grew up with her two brothers, one remains in the village today, the other, an artist, died aged 42 years old from a rare degenerative disease.

Attending piano lessons aged 6 years, Heti asked to stop on account of her teacher repeatedly squeezing her leg above the knee very hard, to instil rhythm…. well that’s what the teacher told her mother she was doing !?!

First singing performance; Heti was aged around nine singing in the neighbours house to her friend’s parents; the local Doctor and his wife. The song sung, was ‘ Those were the days.’ by Mary Hopkins. Heti sang whilst her friend played pots and pan drums.

Aged eleven years old, Heti left home, gratefully, to attend a Rudolf Steiner boarding school in Gloucester up to the age of eighteen years old. For her eleventh birthday she was given, on request, her first guitar to play, as well as returning to piano lessons. Heti loved the school but did get homesick.

Further and formal Education:

Chippenham Technical College for three A levels. Heti was listening to Joan Armatrading, Fleetwood Mac, Carole King, Ian Dury and the Blockheads. Pink Floyd, Supertramp and more.

2 years Art Foudation at Swindon School

Heti got a BA Honours Degree in Fine Art at Caerleon At College working with film and video Art. in Wales. Her Final marking External Assessor was Brian Eno. She was pleased he said she had great rhythm in her performance video piece. Listening to Van Morrison. Ella Fitzgerald.

Living with Adie in Bristol, Heti got a Diploma in Acting and Theatre skills, College Bristol. UK listening to John Martyn.

Independently Heti got Grade 5 Singing and Grade 5 piano.

Collaboratively with other women, Heti devised and performed for two years in a Women’s theatre group directed by Tina Noble called the Jezebels. Bristol. UK.

Heti played percusive drums in Bath and Bristol School of Samba, for two years and performed at Glastonbury Festival. UK.

In Ashton Court Festival; Heti sang with Jazz musician John Dalton.

Heti sang and performed in a cappella duo called ‘ Duende, “ choosing to perform songs from Eastern Europe influenced by the music, at the time, of Trio Bulgarka from Bulgaria.

Heti attended ten day singing workshops with Ida Kelarova; a singer of Gypsy music from the Romano tribe, Czech Republic, held in Bristol and Wales. UK.

2015 Heti was performing, writing the lyrics and singing, in a four piece band Band called Parkers Barton with Drummer, Double bass player, Accordian and Saxaphone player. Their name, after a street name in Bristol, was inspired by the band, Portishead, also named after a place name in Bristol. This was an exciting musical time in the City with as well as Portishead and a lot of local musicians, the emergence of Tricky and Massive Attack. Heti also loved the music of Bjork, Roots Manuva, Lee Scratch Perry.

Parkers Barton recorded and performed Album of original songs with Heti’s lyrics. Bristol. UK.

2004 Heti and family moved to NZ She produced, recorded and performed their Album with husband Adie Higginson, called The Dovetails. Paekakariki NZ.

Heti wrote and Produced EP, with the help of Dave Griffiths local Whanganui musician calledHeti & Hope 2021 Whanganui. NZ Adie played violin and guitar on the album.

To date, composing and performing in the Band Heti & Hope. Facebook: Heti & Hope.