Setting
her sights on becoming the next adolescent angel of
the crossover stage, 16-year-old New Zealand singer
Hayley Westenra appeared at the HOAM Art Hall Tuesday
for a promotional showcase. During the hour-long event,
which was a recording industry version of a debutante
party, the lanky teen shyly shuffled into the spotlight
and launched into songs from her first international
album, Pure, released in Korea July. Produced by longtime
Beatles collaborator, Sir George Martin, Pure features
lushly orchestrated collections of pop melodies, classical
remakes, and traditional songs of the Maori, the indigenous
people of New Zealand.
Westenra
began singing when she was six and started performing
on the streets of her hometown of Christchurch, for
fun, when she was 11. With the money she earned busking,
a year later she recorded a small collection of her
favorite songs, which sparked the interests of local
television and radio stations. At 14, she released
her next album under a major record label which soon
reached No. 1 in New Zealand album charts.
Westenra
is currently on a promotional tour of Hong Kong, Singapore,
and Malaysia. From Seoul, she is departing to Wales,
Great Britain to perform with opera stars Jose Carreras
and Bryn Terfel.
The
Westenra showcase is part of the HOAM Art Hall City
Festival, a concert series presenting domestic and
international crossover and New Age performers, running
now until Aug. 31.
(warrenlee@heraldm.com)
This
article originated from The Korea Herald. Thanks to
RWHW Group
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