Angel: “Hero” – an inspiring tribute
Angel is a Los Angeles and Sydney based socially conscious artist who composes what is described as “Statement” Cinematic Soundtracks and Music Short Films/Videos. Trained in acting, singing and dancing, the award-winning artist who has picked up accolades in the UK and Australia, adopted her signature style after attending a Hans Zimmer Masterclass. As a child, her mother introduced her to Hollywood musical and style icons such as Ginger Rogers, Grace Kelly, and Audrey Hepburn, who have shaped her work, and probably explains her all-embracing artistic approach. To complete the picture of Angel’s go-ahead attitude it should be noted that she also has an Honors Degree related to Biomedical Science, Medicine and Surgery.
Angel’s latest project “Hero” – adapted and reworked form the Jim Steinman/Dean Pitchford composition “Holding Out For A Hero”, and made popular by singer Bonnie Tyler – was inspired by the 2017 terrorist attacks in Manchester and the tragic shooting of Christina Grimme in particular.
In fact, Angel aspires to being a messenger of peace, through her music, and chose her moniker accordingly. “Hero was absolutely emotional and yet uplifting and exhausting but it was oh so important to have done this now as a legacy piece for victims of violence,” says the artist.
In deconstructing and then rebuilding the musical and vocal arrangement, Angel also counted on the collaboration of composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist, Jamie Messenger. The Melbourne based creative has worked with many successful artists, including Sia and the Hilltop Hoods.
He also composes music for short films, TV and Symphonic orchestras across Australia. It’s not hard for anyone to comprehend, on the basis of all this initial information that the “Hero” project, is built on a solid foundation of acclaimed and talented performers and creators.
The winning factor, of course, is that everyone involved in the project, injected it with dedicated passion. More so than anyone else, Angel, for whom the Short Film/Music Video of “Hero” represents her official debut. Despite this being a cover of an original song, the recording is an irrefutably personal one, as Angel pours her heart and emotions into the performance.
It quickly becomes clear how her interpretation of words like: “Where have all the good men gone / And where are all the gods? / Where’s the streetwise Hercules to fight the rising odds?” take on a new and appropriate meaning for the theme she proposes.
Blending a little touch of ethereal wispiness with the honest earthiness and heartbreaking emotion that the song’s theme calls for, “Hero” soars through its delicate balladry. Throughout the recording, Angel pushes her vocals into rarified territory, where sometimes in brief moments it’s hard to hold back the emotion.
“Hero” is the sound of an artist’s talent and vision meeting the perfect production, as Jamie Messenger allows the live horns, strings and percussion, to resonate within the rich cinematic THX effect. In fact listening through good quality headphones is strongly suggested for this track.
To bring the project a whole 360°, the screenplay for the Music Video filmed in 4K, was written by Australian screenwriter Liam Lacy, and Angel, who also directed the film. “I wanted to write, film and perform an emotive piece that would reflect the tragedy of this loss, from the victims perspective and how this cowardly act, affects us all,” explained Angel. I think she has certainly succeeded in doing so!
