EXOTIC NEW SOUND FOR HELENA HETTEMA - "DIVIDED HEART"

"Divided Heart" is a truly South African CD featuring original songs from young and seasoned South African singer/songwriters in both English and Afrikaans yet with a totally new-world, atmospheric, modern music sound - Africa meets Europe meets Asia - with exotic rhythms yet sophisticated arrangements and instruments ranging from the Australian didgeridoo, Indian tablas and sitar to the potbelly drum. As in South Africa, one meets a world in one country.

Featuring the innovative young arranger and pianist, David Jooste and seasoned musicians like Denny Lalouette (bass) and Barry Snyman (saxaphone), this is Helena's sixth CD and the one she has always wanted to make. Other exciting performer/ musicians are Bruce Wallace on drums and Charl Coetzee on guitar.

She and David had this vision before them since 2002 and now, at last, it is a reality. There are five of her own songs, one being the title track, "Divided Heart" written in London and another, "Journeyman" composed while in Bologna, Italy. Also to be experienced on the CD are the handpicked songs of Mel Botes, Anton Goosen, Gilene Sneyd, Chris Becker, Marietjie Stoop and young artists Marelise Scheepers and Eugene Vermaak. An added bonus are songs with her father, legendary twice Springbok cyclist and rally driver, Jan Hettema with two timeless jazz classics, "Unforgettable" and Buona Sera. Helena's pianist of ten years, Alwyn van Heerden is on piano for these two songs.

The CD was recorded in the studios of veteran sound engineer, Cesar d'Almeida who has been responsible for all her previous CDs. He worked very closely with Helena and David in all aspects of production such as phrasing, harmonies and all creative touches in general. Auspiciously the CD recording was completed on the day of the full moon in August 2003 as the first spring rains began to fall.