H.E.R.

H.E.R.
Birth name not her name
Genres R&B
Years active 2016–present
Labels RCA Records
Associated acts
Website rcarecords.com/artist/h-e-r/

H.E.R. is a pop/R&B singer-songwriter whose real name and identity is Gabi Wilson from Vallejo, California. She wanted to remain unknown, although (ironically) the acronym stands for Having Everything Revealed. In 2016 her debut, the seven-song EP H.E.R. Vol. 1, released 9 September 2016 on RCA Records, made iTunes' Best of 2016 R&B/Soul Albums list, with the track "Losing" making the iTunes Best R&B/Soul Singles list, its video viewed over 7 million times on YouTube. The release also included a cover of Drake's "Jungle".

Mostly ballads, the songs were described as "downcast post-breakup material...that sounded vulnerable and assured at once." Usher, Tyrese, Pusha T, and Wyclef Jean along with labelmates Alicia Keys and Bryson Tiller helped get the word out through Twitter co-signs, shoutouts, and re-posts.[1][2] In April 2017 Rihanna posted an Instagram clip with H.E.R.'s track "Focus" playing in the background. The clip has been viewed over five million times.[3] Additional public support came from Issa Rae of HBO's Insecure, Taraji P. Henson of Empire, Kylie Jenner and Kendall Jenner.

The track "Your Way" samples Aaliyah's "Come Over".

NPR listed H.E.R. Vol. 1 as the first selection in its "5 Essential R&B Albums You Slept On" roundup.[4] Calling the music "Slow-burning R&B that zooms in on emotional highs and lows," Rolling Stone included H.E.R. in its March 2017 "10 Artists You Need To Know" roundup.[5] And Forbes named her one of "5 Alternative R&B Artists To Look Out For In 2017", reporting: "In the same vein as The Weeknd's enigmatic introduction to the world, H.E.R.'s image remains a mystery. The irony, though, is that her moniker is an acronym for Having Everything Revealed."[6]

Addressing the secrecy, she has said: "The mystery is a metaphor for who I am, or who I was at the time of creating the project…I feel like oftentimes we don’t like to be open as people about our emotions or things that we are going through. At the time [of recording], I was very closed off except for when I was writing or when I was in the studio."[7]

She explained further, "I am a voice for women who feel like they're alone in these situations. This project came from an emotion, and that's what I want it to be about – not what I look like or who I'm with, but the raw emotion and support for women."[8] To NPR she added, "I feel like this is the era of the anti-star. I really just wanted it to be about the music, and get away from, 'Who is she with?' and 'What is she wearing?'"[9]

The tracks on H.E.R. Vol. 1 have collectively been streamed over 20 million times on Spotify and over 65 million times across all streaming music providers worldwide. Her follow-up EP, H.E.R. Vol. 2, was released on June 16, 2017, and includes the single "Say It Again", which within six weeks of its April 28, 2017 release received over 400,000 Spotify plays.

Her notable live performances include the 2017 BET Experience concerts at the Staples Center in Los Angeles with Snoop Dogg, Wiz Khalifa, Kid Cudi, Lil Yachty, Rae Sremmurd, Bryson Tiller, and Khalid.

Discography

EPs

List of extended plays with selected details
Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
H.E.R. Volume 1 —
H.E.R. Volume 2 —

Filmography

Film
Year Film Role Notes
2010 School Gyrls Gabby

References

  1. ↑ "", iTunes, (retrieved 9 May 2017)
  2. ↑ Makeda Sandford, "ICYMI: 'H.E.R. Vol 1.' Gives Us a Taste of Mystery R&B Songstress", Saint Heron, 21 September 2016 (retrieved 10 May 2017)
  3. ↑ Lakin Starling, "H.E.R. On The Surprise Of Hearing Her Song In Rihanna’s Breezy Instagram Video", The Fader, 10 April 2017 (retrieved 10 May 2017)
  4. ↑ Kiana Fitzgerald/Bobby Carter, "5 Essential R&B Albums You Slept On In 2016", NPR, 17 December 2016 (retrieved 9 May 2017)
  5. ↑ Rolling Stone, "10 New Artists You Need to Know: March 2017", Rolling Stone, 15 March 2017 (retrieved 9 May 2017)
  6. ↑ Ogden Payne, "5 Alternative R&B Artists To Look Out For In 2017", Forbes, 9 January 2017 (retrieved 9 May 2017)
  7. ↑ Gerrick D. Kennedy, "So who is she? Mysterious R&B singer H.E.R. wants the focus to stay on the music — and the mystery", Los Angeles Times, 21 September 2016 (retrieved 10 May 2017)
  8. ↑ Rolling Stone, "10 New Artists You Need to Know: March 2017", Rolling Stone, 15 March 2017 (retrieved 9 May 2017)
  9. ↑ NPR Staff, "Meet H.E.R., A Rising Voice Whose Face Remains A Mystery", NPR, 17 December 2016 (retrieved 9 May 2017)
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