Meet Herine | Indie-Pop Artist & Songwriter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Herine and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Herine, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
I realized during the early days of the pandemic that as an artist, you have to live a life to write about. I used to be a total addict to the studio grind, and it’s pretty obvious in my old work. You can hear the exhaustion, and there’s no real inspiration. My reality was 4 dark walls. That’s not where real art comes from. Real art comes from adventure, and love, and falling out of it many times. Taking this to heart, I’ve made it a point to keep the weekends the weekend, have given myself time to journal and reflect. It’s difficult to do that in an industry with no real 9-5 structure, and I’m certainly guilty of occasionally cutting a demo on a Saturday. By thinking about my personal life as part of the job, or rather the job of the artist as an extension of the human experience, it’s become much easier to find a happy medium with work-life balance.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Born and raised in Nashville, it’s no surprise I fell into a songwriting career. I had a bit of a turbulent upbringing, but there was all this amazing music around me. It offered an escape and a safe space to share my feelings. By the time I was in high school, I was in professional writing sessions, eventually leading to my first major cuts in college. After graduating (Belmont University) I moved to LA. This was December of 2019, so the pandemic hit only a few weeks later. I took the isolation as an opportunity to develop what is now Herine. It’s literally the side of Katherine that’s a bit messy. At first, these solo writing sessions were just a way to keep productive, but eventually it turned into a form of therapy. I started to heal from traumas and experience the catharsis that first drew me to music as a child. A song can make someone feel less alone in their humanness and spread so much hope/ light. Music saved my life, and I knew if I started sharing my own work, it might do the same for someone else. Thus evolved the Herine project. The purpose of my music is to heal and lift up. It’s not easy putting your darkest secrets in songs to be thrown up on the internet and judged…but I believe it’s worth it to be a part of something bigger than myself. Authenticity is the key to happiness and artistic success. If you are going through it, I see you and I love you. That’s what it’s all about. That’s what I’m all about. I now am back and forth between LA and Nashville creating and performing as Herine, and still writing for others.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My favorite spots to take friends visiting LA are the rooftop at EP/LP for drinks (such an amazing view), and Topanga State Park for some ocean view hiking. My circle is fairly outdoorsy, and there’s nothing like the fresh air. The Santa Monica farmer’s market and then a picnic is always a hit. I love LACMA as well, depending on the exhibit. Last time I had a friend accompany me on a writing trip, we went for a little coffee crawl in Highland Park and hit some record stores. I would certainly make a point to do that again. Would also probably see a local concert or showcase of some sort like School Night, Writer’s Block, or WFNM. Feels like an industry obligation, but is also highly fun. Would need to rent a car with really great mileage to make this itinerary happen, ahaha.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Much of my growth is credited to my best friend and creative director, Matt Blum. From the start of my career, he has been an unwavering voice of honesty as I made the transition from just being a songwriter to an artist. He is that friend who isn’t afraid to say “Dig deeper and embrace your vulnerability” or “What if for the next shoot we tried __?” Same goes for my boyfriend Parker Mathews, who is an excellent music producer. It’s scary to change the course of your life and start something new in the middle of your twenties. He was my biggest cheerleader, and always there to offer feedback or engineer vocals. Lastly, I’d like to thank my producer John Samuel Gerhart for helping me discover my voice as an artist. Having spent the beginning of my career helping others tell their story, I was a bit shy to tell my own. I want to thank him for listening and giving me a safe space to come out of my shell…and also for producing some of the best songs I’ve ever written, haha.

Website: www.herineofficial.com

Instagram: @herineofficial

Twitter: @herineofficial

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9unFwYwqD9lpAMdu-Bi4Yw

Image Credits
Matt Blum