Artists You Should Know: Heather Layne

It's a busy time for Clovis-based singer/songwriter Heather Layne.

Her first national single, "Close Your Eyes," has been sent to country radio stations across the country. She's about to embark on a promotional tour in a handful of states. And she's aligned herself with Nashville-based Applause Records.

If you want to see Layne before she hits the road, she performs tonight at Courthouse Park in Madera as part of a Celebrate Recovery event hosted by Grace Community Church. Her free show is at 8 p.m.

Much of Layne's music is influenced by the 12-step recovery process. We asked her about that and more:

Describe your style of music and your influences? Country/Americana/adult contemporary. It's Christ-centered, 12-step recovery music. My early musical influences came from '70s to early '80s country and soft rock. Specific artists were Linda Ronstadt, Tanya Tucker, Alabama, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, John Cougar Mellencamp and Don Williams.  

SPECIAL TO THE BEE

Clovis-based singer/songwriter Heather Layne is this week's Artist You Should Know.

How did you get started in music? My life hit bottom about 10 years ago. I wasn't an addict or an alcoholic, but I had A LOT of issues I needed to deal with. I joined a 12-step recovery group, started working the steps, and songs just started coming because of the pain I was in. Playing my guitar and songwriting became my therapy and my connection with God.

Your song, "Close Your Eyes," recently got sent to country radio stations nationally. How's it going so far? Getting some spins? Yes! I am getting spins around the nation and overseas, so I am told by the radio promotion team that is representing me. It is still too early to know if the song has landed on the charts. The song has been promoted to more than 18,000 contacts in the music and radio world in the past week.

The next step is a radio promotion tour. Where is that taking you? My husband, who is my drummer and road manager, and I will be leaving for a three-week radio tour of Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri and Kansas. We have 10 concerts booked on the tour as well as some interviews with radio stations along the way, which are being booked by my radio promoter.

What are you hoping comes from all of this? Because these songs come from a place of my own pain and brokenness, I have seen how the music has affected people in 12-step recovery, and people who are simply "struggling" with life. My hope from all of this is that more people will hear the music, and that the music would somehow comfort them and help them know they're not alone.

Where can people buy your music? My music is available on iTunes, amazon.com, cdbaby.com, my website, heatherlayne.com, and Majesty Bible and Gifts Bookstore in Fresno.

For more: Go to heatherlayne,com, myspace.com/heatherlaynemusic and on Facebook (search "Heather Layne").

Listeners in the UK voted "Close Your Eyes" #1 on jukeboxjury... hosted by Paul West...90.1 FM www.HopeFM.com

 

"Close Your Eyes" is currently #32 in the UK Country HotDisc Top 40 Countdown... hosted by Stuart Cameron... www.hotdisc.net

Show airs Sundays at 12noon UK time 

September 2010 Release of

 Heather Layne's Single

"Close Your Eyes"...

Nationwide on Country Music Radio

KAIR (Atchinson, KS), KAUS (Austin, MN), KBCN (Harrison, AR), KBCR (Steamboat Springs, CO), KBOE (Oskaloosa, IA), KCIL (Houma, LA), KCJC (Russellville, AR), KCNY (Conway, AR), KDXY (Jonesboro, AR), KFAV (Warrenton, MO), KFGE (Lincoln, NE), KFLG (Bullhead City, AZ), KFLS (Klamath Falls,, KFTX (Corpus Christi, TX), KGFY (Stillwater, OK), KGKL (San Angelo, TX), KGRT (Las Cruces, NM), KGWY(Gillette, WY), KICR (Sandpoint, ID), KITX (Hugo, OK), KJAM (Madison, SD), KJCS (Nacogdoches, TX), KKAJ (Ardmore, OK), KKCN (San Angelo, TX), KKOW (Pittsburg, KS), KLGT (Buffalo, WY), KLMJ (Hampton, IA), KLQL (Luverne, MN), KMCO (McAlester, OK), KMGO (Centerville, IA), KMKS (Bay City, TX), KMOK (Lewiston, ID), KNAF (Fredericksburg, TX), KNAH (Merced, CA), KNCQ (Redding, CA), KQUS (Hot Springs, AR), KREK (Bristow, OK), KRRV (Alexandria, LA), KRVN (Lexington, NE), KSOK (Arkansas City, KS), KTHK (Blackfoot, ID), KTJJ (Farmington, MO), KTKS (Versailles, MO), KTTI (Yuma, AZ), KUUB (Reno, NV), KVOM (Morrilton, AR), KVVP (Leesville, LA), KWCK (Searcy, AR), KWEY (Weatherford, OK), KWOX (Woodward, OK), KTNT (Eufaula, OK), KWWR (Mexico, MO), KXBZ (Manhatten, KS), KXIA (Marshalltown, IA), KXKU (Hutchinson, KS), KXKZ (Ruston, LA), KXOX (Sweetwater, TX), KYEZ (Salina, KS), KYKX (Longview, TX), KYYK (Palestine, TX), KZPK (St. Cloud, MN), KZZY (Devil's Lake, ND), WAAC (Valdosta, GA), WAAG (Galesburg, IL), WAGI (Gaffney, SC), WAKG (Danville, VA), WATZ (Alpena, MI), WAXX (Altoona, WI), WBKR (Owensboro, KY), WBRF (Galax, VA), WBYZ (Baxley, GA), WCJW (Warsaw, NY), WCOW (Sparta, WI), WDGG (Huntington, WV), WDHR (Pikeville, KY), WDKN (Dickson, TN), WDXX (Selma, AL), WDZQ (Decatur, IL), WEBB (Augusta, ME), WFYR (Peoria, IL), WGGC (Bowling Green, KY), WGLR (Platteville, WI), WHMA (Anniston, AL), WJNR (Iron Mountain, MI), WJVL (Janesville, WI), WKBQ (Covington, TN), WKDP (Corbin, KY), WKKW (Morgantown, WV), WKSR (Pulaski, TN), WKWS (Charleston, WV), WLJE (Valparaso, IN), WLLX (Lawrenceburg, TN), WLVS (Florence, AL), WMEV (Marion, VA), WOKA (Douglas, GA), WOOZ (Carterville, IL), WPPL (Blue Ridge, GA), WQSI (Auburn, AL), WTCM (Traverse City, MI), WTCR (Catlettsburg, KY), WTDR (Oxford, AL), WTHO (Thomson, GA), WTRS (Ocala, FL), WUCZ (Carthage, TN), WUPY (Ontonagon, MI), WUUU (Mandeville, LA), WWBE (Selinsgrove, PA), WWJO (St. Cloud, MN), WWYN (Jackson, TN), WXCL (Peoria, IL), WXFL (Florence, AL), XM16 (Washington, DC)...

 

Heather's music is currently playing at:

 

 

and 

 

Women of Substance Radio

 Radio Listeners voted Heather Layne's song

"Close Your Eyes"

#2 Song for March 2010!!

  www.womenofsubstanceradio.com

Country Show Mondays 2-3 PM Pacific (5-6 PM Eastern)

 Hear Heather's Song... "Close Your Eyes"

 

 Christian Music Show on Sunday Mornings,

 4-6 AM Pacific (7-9 AM Eastern), and 10-noon Pacific (1-3 PM Eastern)

Hear Heather's song... "Amazing Grace" 

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 2 JUNE 2009

GOING TO PRISON CHAPEL


Have you ever wondered
what it would be like to go
to chapel service at Valley
State Prison for Women
(VSPW)? As someone who
has the privilege to take
guests to the chapel at
VSPW often, I find every
visit different and every visit
inspiring. Let me tell you of
one such visit.

It was my first visit of 2009.
My guests on that particular
Saturday were especially
excited to go behind the
prison walls and on to the
chapel. Some had shared
they were prepared to minister
to the women, but
none of us were prepared
for what we were about to
experience.

We arrived at the chapel a
bit early to accommodate
recording artist Heather
Layne, who was to minister
in word and song that day.

Normally when we go into
the chapel early, just a few
women are there to greet
us. This time was different.
The chapel was already full
of women praying and crying
with heads bowed. The
presence of the Lord was so
strong, it was inescapable.

As Heather and her band set
up, several of us started
making our way down the
rows of women, shaking
their hands, talking to them,
praying with them, and being
blessed by them.

When the service started, the
tiny chapel was bursting at the
seams. We saw women turned
away because there was no room.
No room in the chapel. As we
looked back, sad eyes peered
through the windows.

Chaplain Sandy Sebesta opened
with prayer, announcements, and
encouragement. An inmate, Joanna,
used sign language to interpret
a beautiful song. The prison
worship team led us in several
songs, the first of which was
“God of This City.” Valley State
Prison is a “City” and it is evident
that God is there.

Heather Layne took over the service,
singing, giving testimony
and hope. She wrote almost all
the songs she sang, and they
spoke directly to the women.
Heather shared her story of
abuse at the hands of men, her
silenced voice, and her recovery
through a God she learned about.

It was obvious that the women
related to Heather. Her song,
“Amazing Grace,” is the song
of a woman who found
“Amazing Grace” while in
prison. Another song, “She
Rides,” was received with several
standing ovations. The
lyrics tell of a former inmate
at VSPW who is now free.

After Heather sang, “She Rides,”
she said to the women, “I am
convinced that we don’t start
out on a level playing field, but
we can end on one because of
Him.” The women stood,
clapped, and shouted in agreement.

There are inmates
and chaplains at
VSPW that are
clearly anointed.
As we looked back,
God is moving even
in prison. Lives are
being changed.
Those that were
with me in that service
clearly know this. It was an
unexpected experience.
We did not minister
to inmates at Valley State
Prison; they ministered to us.

Penny Childers
Volunteer

 Radio Stations Currently Playing

"Close Your Eyes"...

WUCZ  Carthage, TN

KNAF  Fredericksburg, TX

WELD  Fisher, WV

WWSM  Lebanon, PA

WANB  Waynesburg, PA

WVLS  Dunmore, WV

WVMR  Dunmore, WV

WCHG  Dunmore, WV

WSVS  Crewe, VA

WCEF  Ripley, WV

WHEO  Stuart, VA

WKUL  Cullman, AL

WJBB  Haleyville, AL

WERH  Hamilton, AL

WTYS  Marianna, FL

WEAG  Starke, FL

WAAZ  Crestview, FL

WJSB  Crestview, FL

WBAF  Barnesville, GA

WCON  Cornelia, GA

WCCK  Calvert City, KY

WLBQ  Morgantown, KY

WJSN  Jackson, KY

WHBN  Danville, KY

WFLE  Flemingsburg, KY

WSEK  Somerset, KY

WMMG  Brandenburg, KY

WJDR  Prentiss, MS

WBCU  Union, SC

WPYB  Raleigh, NC

WTAB  Tabor City, NC

WCPM  Cumberland, KY

WIKQ  Greenville, TN

WANY  Albany, KY

WDEB  Jamestown, TN

WKSK  West Jefferson, NC

WNKX  Centerville, TN

WJJM  Lewisburg, TN