Once upon a time, actress … Read Full Bio ↴Born: 16th June, Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK
Once upon a time, actress and musician Heather Peace, was performing at her local pub to a handful of friends, who spent more money at the bar than she was paid for each gig.
Over the next twelve months, she drove around the country with her guitar and piano in the back of a mini, attracting more and more fans with beautiful, theatrical pop songs, hilarious banter and a mesmerising stage presence. Her social media following rose into the thousands as word began to spread that Heather Peace was doing something very special on stage.
Heather’s love of music began by attending church as a small girl in Bradford every Sunday. She became a cantor, leading the church in the “Hallelujahs” and “Psalms”. Says Heather: “I loved going to church and singing in front of the congregation. I started singing constantly and became obsessed with Gospel, Motown and Jazz. It was the church bulletin that advertised free piano lessons from a lady called Ireleen Cockroft. She taught about 20 kids in her council flat who couldn’t have otherwise afforded to learn. She took me through all my classical grades. An amazing lady.”
Aged 18, Heather moved to Manchester when she was accepted to drama school, paying her way through the three year Stanislavski based course with a Jazz residency at a bar on Canal Street. On graduating, she landed a few roles in musical theatre, allowing her to combine her acting and singing skills, before winning a major TV role as the female lead in London’s Burning.
For the next ten years, acting in some of the UK’s biggest shows – Ultimate Force, The Chase, Emmerdale – took to the forefront and her music became a hobby.
“I was still playing and always writing, but it became the thing I did to relax when I got home from filming,” says Heather, “Then after about ten years of constant TV work, there were no offers coming in that were interesting. It was a tricky, quite dark time, coinciding with my relationship breaking down. I didn’t know what to do with myself – and I’m really not good if I’m not working or being creative. So I just wrote song after song, and thought, ‘Maybe I should let some people hear these and see if they like them?’ I started gigging properly then for the first time.”
And people did like them – very much. By April 2011, she sold out a two week UK tour, followed by sell out gigs at the Edinburgh Fringe, the Glee Clubs and London’s Union Chapel in the autumn. By Christmas, she had sold thousands of copies of her acoustic demo and a tour DVD through her website. All of this was achieved with zero marketing and a whole lot of fan power, which was increased further by the massive success of Heather’s new role as DS Sam Murray in BBC3’s Lip Service.
The next step was to use her tour revenue to make the album, so Heather called upon the bat-like ears of her old friend, the Oscar-nominated Nigel Wright (Barbara Streisand, Madonna). The pair had bonded fifteen years earlier over a love of big female vocalists and musical theatre when Heather was briefly signed by Simon Cowell to release a cover version of The Rose (produced by Nigel) while she was in London’s Burning.
As an opinionated Northerner with big dreams, the BMG experience of miming on TV shows and being told what to wear and do, wasn’t one that Heather enjoyed and she soon parted ways with the label, but remained in close contact with Nigel.
Says Heather: “I always knew when I made a record I wanted to do it with Nigel. I just knew I didn’t want to approach him until I had the right material and mindset. I either had an acting job or I just didn’t really feel like I had the words yet. When he came to the final show of the tour last April in London he said ‘This Is what you’ve always dreamed of. Your own sell-out concerts.’ That’s when I knew I should ask him to produce the album and without hesitation he agreed.”
There was a short gap as Heather filmed a new series of Lip Service, followed by a new role as the Head of English, teacher Nicki Boston, in BBC1’s Waterloo Road. She spent her days off completing the writing for the album before recording began in London with Nigel and his team in December 2011.
The resulting album is Fairytales, a mix of lush string-laden piano melodies and laid back guitar riffs alongside Heather’s soaring, dramatic vocals. The twelve songs share beautiful, honest stories of crap relationships, sabotaging good ones and the trouble with believing in fairytales.
“You can hear a little bit of the music I’ve always liked in the album, it’s quite theatrical, with a jazzy feel and I had to have a gospel choir. There are quite a lot of dark songs on there, so the title Fairytales might be misleading – but then my favourite Fairytales were always the Grimm’s Brother versions. I just think everyone writes better songs when they’re a bit miserable.” laughs Heather “When you’re happy you’re with your friends in the pub aren’t you?”
Set for release on her independent label Kaleidoscope Records on May 21st, the album will follow debut single Better Than You on April 30th. Heather partnered with Pledgemusic to raise the funds for manufacturing, distribution and marketing costs – and met her target in just ten hours, showing the massive level of excitement and anticipation for this release.
Says Heather: “I have the most amazing fans; they’ve been with me every step of the way waiting for this album so I hope they like it. Nigel and I always talked about doing this and now it’s happened. Everything has fallen into place all these years later. ”
http://www.heatherpeace.com/bio/
Lily
Heather Peace Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lily
She says I haven't called in a year
Oh Lily
If what you say is true
I've not been here for you
I apologise for what he's put you through
Oh Lily
We can sit here now
We can work it out
How to pay him back for what he's put you through
Seeing you like this
Knowing he did this
I only want to go and hunt him down
His name I will shout out
There no place he can hide out in
Terrified he'll know what he's put you through
I'll tell everyone
And his face will not be welcome
On his own he'll know how it feels to be you
Oh Lily
Her eyes can't smile she looks down
Lily
She holds my hand her head bowed
Oh Lily
I haven't been a friend
This is where that end
I'm now accountable for where
this story ends
Oh Lily look at you
And I cannot wait
Till I see him break
I'll celebrate when he feels the pain you do
Oh
I will hunt him down
These lyrics are from Heather Peace's song, "Lily," which talks about a woman named Lily who has been through a traumatic situation with a man. Lily is full of fear, and the singer herself has not been there for her in a year. Lily tells the singer about what has been happening to her, and the singer apologizes for not being there for her friend who has been put through an ordeal by this man. Together, the two women sit down and try to figure out a way to get vengeance against the man who has caused so much pain to Lily.
The singer promises to make sure this man is punished for what he has done- she wants Lily to see his face and to watch him suffer the same way Lily has. The singer vows to hunt this man down and make sure he never feels welcome in society again. Lily is still scared, but the singer is there for her friend and promises to be accountable for where her story goes from here.
One possible interpretation of the song is that it is meant to highlight the importance of being there for friends in times of need. Lily had felt abandoned for a year by the singer but felt comfortable enough to reach out and tell her friend about the situation. The song represents a bonding moment, where the two friends come together to try and seek justice for Lily.
Line by Line Meaning
She looks so small her face full of fear
Lily appears frightened and vulnerable.
She says I haven't called in a year
Lily reveals that the singer has been absent from her life for a prolonged period of time.
If what you say is true
The singer is questioning whether Lily's claims are accurate.
I've not been here for you
The artist acknowledges their failure to support Lily.
I apologise for what he's put you through
The artist expresses remorse for the pain that Lily has experienced at the hands of someone else.
What shall we do
The singer is seeking a course of action to help Lily.
We can sit here now
The singer suggests taking time to address Lily's situation.
We can work it out
The artist proposes finding a solution to Lily's problem.
How to pay him back for what he's put you through
The artist contemplates revenge against Lily's perpetrator(s).
Seeing you like this
The artist is saddened by Lily's distress.
Knowing he did this
The singer is aware that someone else caused Lily's suffering.
I only want to go and hunt him down
The artist desires to find and punish Lily's perpetrator(s).
His name I will shout out
The singer promises to publicly identify the perpetrator(s).
There no place he can hide out in
The singer states that the perpetrator(s) cannot escape justice.
Terrified he'll know what he's put you through
The singer hopes that the perpetrator(s) will be aware of the pain they caused Lily.
I'll tell everyone
The artist plans to inform others of Lily's situation and the perpetrator(s) responsible.
And his face will not be welcome
The perpetrator(s) will not be accepted by society or acquaintances once their crimes are revealed.
On his own he'll know how it feels to be you
The perpetrator(s) will experience the same pain and isolation that Lily has.
Her eyes can't smile she looks down
Lily is visibly unhappy and demoralized.
She holds my hand her head bowed
Lily relies on the artist for comfort and support.
I haven't been a friend
The artist recognizes their own neglect of Lily in the past.
This is where that end
The artist is committed to being there for Lily in the future.
I'm now accountable for where this story ends
The singer takes responsibility for helping Lily overcome her situation.
And I cannot wait
The artist anticipates the satisfaction of seeing the perpetrator(s) punished.
Till I see him break
The singer desires to witness the perpetrator(s) emotionally and physically defeated.
I'll celebrate when he feels the pain you do
The singer will experience joy at the perpetrator(s) being punished for causing Lily's pain.
I will hunt him down
The singer reaffirms their commitment to finding and punishing Lily's perpetrator(s).
Contributed by Savannah B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@elisabethjennings1
Hearing Heather sing this live at Band On The Wall in Manchester on 19/05/2016, moved me to tears as 'Lily' describes my late Mum & Father's relationship!! Heather has perfectly described the affect of Domestic Violence on the victim, here.
@bebeblackwell251
i agree my dad beat my mum infront of me for the entire of my infacy
@elisabethjennings1
I'm v sorry to hear that and share your pain.
@bebeblackwell251
+elisabethjennings1 this song is beautiful and love heather peace
@suzannequinn6413
Another brilliant song from a brilliant artist. I love Heather Peace!
@lususnaturae892
Love this. So different from any of the songs on the Fairytales album - Can't wait to hear the others!
@lilychapman6523
I didn't think she could do any better than her playing Sam on Lip Service, but she just proved me wrong. I love this!!
@ekathrynwilms7621
Ms Peace, you have done it again. Very meaningful and memorable.
@kristinguile4936
This is a great and powerful song! Bravo, Heather!
@user-ie3ds8dh4h
Замечательный голос. Также прекрасен как и сама женщина!!!!