Based: Cape Town
Wren Hinds is a musician and singer songwriter from the east coast of South Africa.
Born into a creative family with his father Kevin Hinds being a musician (signed to EMI and Gallo in the 70’s during the turbulent years of South Africa’s history) and his mother Diane Erasmus, a well known South African landscape artist. The young songwriter shares his musical heritage with his brothers, Craig Hinds (Watershed) and Aden Hinds- and together the siblings perform and create music as the (South African Music Award) SAMA nominated harmony group- The Hinds Brothers.
Growing up in the tropical wonderland of KwaZulu Natal, set between the Indian Ocean and the rolling green hills of the midlands, Hinds grew up in an artistic household where his inclination to music was enhanced by his father’s records, songwriting and work in his home recording studio. The beauty and tranquility of these surrounds were to become an emblematic factor in the creative evolution of Wren Hinds.
“I love collaborating with my family and other artists and just surrendering to witness the unravelling of the unknown right before my eyes, somewhat like painting with sound, which to me is a very honest and natural process, just letting go and being yourself, and seeing how a song, or piece of art can evolve into such unexpected beauty and sometimes, chaos.”
With an honest approach to crafting songs, and a strong live presence in the music industry, Hinds delivers a lush, acoustically driven production which overlaps the boundaries of alternative folk, country, and world music while staying true to his own style as an original singer-songwriter. The harmonic resonance of voice, guitar and harmonica together with a reflective and honest lyrical sensibility, communicates deep profundity bringing meaning and nourishment to an art that has been somewhat neglected in recent times.
He has performed extensively throughout Southern Africa, including festival appearances at Oppikoppi, Splashy Fen, White Mountain, The Royal Show, Dullstroom Winter Festival, The Baxter Theatre, Design Indaba and various theatre’s throughout the country. This honest creative has shared a stage with some of the industry’s most respected contributors including American folk hero Willy Mason- South African legends and mentors Syd Kitchen, Steve Fataar (The Flames), Steve Newman (Tananas), Guy Buttery, Award winning Freshly Ground & the ‘King of Zulu guitar’- Madala Kunene.
In 2021, Wren Hinds’ solo work caught the attention of British record label Bella Union (Fleet Foxes, M.Ward, Father John Misty, Beach House) and subsequently, the UK label has signed a record deal with the South African songwriter which will encompass the release of all three backlog albums as well as future works by Hinds to be released on the Bella Union label.
After signing to Bella Union, Hinds was approached by London publishing house, Faber Alt, who signed a full publishing deal with the South African export.
Wren Hinds is currently based in Cape Town, South Africa.
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