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H.E.R.

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For the album, see [[:H.E.R. (album)]]. For other uses of the acronym, see [[:Her (disambiguation)]].
H.E.R.
H.E.R. performing in November 2017.
H.E.R. performing in November 2017.
Background information
Birth nameGabriella Wilson
Born (1997-06-27) June 27, 1997 (age 27)
Vallejo, California, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar/piano
Years active2009–present
Labels
  • RCA
  • MBK Entertainment

Gabriella Wilson (born June 27, 1997),[1][2] better known professionally as H.E.R. (pronounced "her", acronym for Having Everything Revealed), is a Grammy Award winning American singer and songwriter. Before gaining notability as H.E.R., Wilson rose to fame by participating in Radio Disney's Next Big Thing in 2009. She later signed to RCA Records at the age of 14 and released the single "Something to Prove" under her real name in 2014.

Wilson re-emerged in 2017 with the H.E.R. persona, releasing her debut EP H.E.R. Volume 1. She then released subsequent EPs H.E.R. Volume 2 (2017), The B Sides (2017), I Used to Know Her: The Prelude (2018) and I Used to Know Her: Part 2 (2018). Her first compilation album H.E.R. was released in October 2017, consisting of tracks from the singer's first two EPs plus six additional songs. H.E.R. was nominated for five Grammy Awards at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards in 2019, winning Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Album.

In 2019, the singer was nominated for five more awards at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards, including for all three main categories: Album, Record and Song of the Year with her second compilation album I Used to Know Her and the single "Hard Place", respectively.

Early life

Wilson was raised by a Filipina mother and an African-American father. She comes from the Bay Area (California) and has a younger sister. She was introduced to the public as a child prodigy, covering Alicia Keys on piano on the Today Show,[1] before competing on Radio Disney's The Next BIG Thing when she was 12 years old.[3]

Addressing the secrecy over her identity, H.E.R. 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."[4]

She explained further: "I am a voice for women who feel like they're alone in these situations. This project came from 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."[5] To NPR she said, "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?'"[6]

Musical career

After being signed to RCA under Sony at the age of 14, she released a single in 2014 titled "Something to Prove" under her real name.[7]

Re-emerging in late 2016 with a new persona and her debut EP, H.E.R. Vol. 1 was released September 9, 2016, produced by songwriter David "Swagg R'Celious" Harris, Wilson received support from Usher, Tyrese, Pusha T, and Wyclef Jean; labelmates Alicia Keys and Bryson Tiller helped get the word out through Twitter co-signs, shoutouts, and re-posts.[8][9] 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 5 million times.[10] Additional public support came from Issa Rae of HBO's Insecure, Taraji P. Henson of Empire, Kylie Jenner, and Kendall Jenner.

NPR listed H.E.R. Vol. 1 as the first selection in its "5 Essential R&B Albums You Slept On".[11] 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.[12] 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."[13]

Wilson's follow-up EP, H.E.R. Vol. 2 (2017) also produced by Harris, was released on June 16, 2017 and includes the single "Say It Again". Also in 2017, she was on tour with Bryson Tiller for the Set It Off tour, and concluded her first headlining tour, the Lights On Tour, in support of her most recent effort H.E.R. Vol. 2.[14] She released H.E.R. Vol. 2, The B Sides (2017), also produced by Swagg R'Celious on October 20, 2017 along with the single titled 2, released on October 13, 2017. The compilation album H.E.R. was released on October 20, 2017, comprising the songs from each of the three EP's in this series. The album won Best R&B Album and received four other nominations at the 61st Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year and Best New Artist for H.E.R.[15]

Wilson announced on September 12, 2018, she will be embarking on the "I Used to Know H.E.R. Tour" in support of her EP series I Used to Know Her: The Prelude and I Used to Know Her: Part 2.[16][17] Her second compilation album I Used to Know Her was released on August 30, 2019.[18]

She was one of the headliners at the Global Citizen Festival in Central Park, New York on September 28, 2019.

In October 5, 2019, she participated in the 2019 edition of the Rock in Rio festival located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Among the headliners were Drake, Foo Fighters, Bon Jovi, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Iron Maiden, Pink and Muse. [19]

Musical style

Consisting mostly of contemporary R&B ballads, H.E.R's songs have been described as "downcast post-breakup material that sounded vulnerable and assured at once".[23]

Discography

Main article: H.E.R. discography

Tours

Headlining tours

  • Lights on Tour (2017)[24]
  • I Used to Know Her Tour (2018)[25]

Supporting

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2017 Soul Train Music Awards Best New Artist Herself Nominated [29]
2018 BET Awards Best Female R&B Artist Nominated [30]
Best New Artist Nominated
Soul Train Music Awards Best R&B/Soul Female Artist Nominated [31]
Song of the Year "Every Kind of Way" Nominated
Video of the Year "Avenue" Nominated
Album/Mixtape of the Year H.E.R. Won
The Ashford & Simpson Songwriter's Award "Focus" Nominated
"Best Part" (with Daniel Caesar) Nominated
Best Collaboration Performance Won
2019 Grammy Awards Album of the Year H.E.R. Nominated [32]
Best New Artist Herself Nominated
Best R&B Performance "Best Part" (with Daniel Caesar) Won
Best R&B Song "Focus" Nominated
Best R&B Album H.E.R. Won
iHeartRadio Music Awards R&B Artist of the Year Herself Nominated [33]
Best New R&B Artist Nominated
Billboard Music Awards Top R&B Artist Nominated [34]
Top R&B Female Artist Nominated
Top R&B Album H.E.R. Nominated
BET Awards Best Female R&B Artist Herself Nominated [citation needed]
Best Collaboration "Could've Been" (with Bryson Tiller) Nominated [citation needed]
BET Her Awards Won [citation needed]
MTV Video Music Awards Best New Artist Herself Nominated [35]
Push Artist of the Year Nominated
Best R&B "Could've Been" (with Bryson Tiller) Nominated
Soul Train Music Awards Best R&B/Soul Female Artist Herself Won [36]
Album/Mixtape of the Year I Used to Know Her Nominated
2020 Grammy Awards Album of the Year I Used to Know Her Nominated
Record of the Year "Hard Place" Nominated
Song of the Year Nominated
Best R&B Performance "Could've Been" (with Bryson Tiller) Nominated
Best R&B Song Nominated

References

  1. ^ a b Fedaku, Mesfin (2018). "Doing It H.E.R. Way: Singer Gabi Wilson Emerges From Shadows". Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  2. ^ Robehmed, Natalie (2017). "Yes, R&B Sensation H.E.R. Is Gabi Wilson". Forbes.com. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  3. ^ "10 Things You Should Know About Gabi Wilson". Bet.com. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  4. ^ 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)
  5. ^ Rolling Stone, "10 New Artists You Need to Know: March 2017", Rolling Stone, 15 March 2017 (retrieved 9 May 2017)
  6. ^ NPR Staff, "Meet H.E.R., a Rising Voice Whose Face Remains a Mystery", NPR, 17 December 2016 (retrieved 9 May 2017)
  7. ^ Natalie Robehmed, "Yes, R&B Sensation H.E.R. Is Gabi Wilson", Forbes, Nov 14, 2017 (retrieved 10 Jan 2019)
  8. ^ "[1]", iTunes, (retrieved 9 May 2017)
  9. ^ 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)
  10. ^ 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)
  11. ^ Kiana Fitzgerald/Bobby Carter, "5 Essential R&B Albums You Slept On In 2016", NPR, 17 December 2016 (retrieved 9 May 2017)
  12. ^ Rolling Stone, "10 New Artists You Need to Know: March 2017", Rolling Stone, 15 March 2017 (retrieved 9 May 2017)
  13. ^ Ogden Payne, "5 Alternative R&B Artists To Look Out For In 2017", Forbes, 9 January 2017 (retrieved 9 May 2017)
  14. ^ "H.E.R. Announces First-Ever Headlining Tour". Billboard.com. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  15. ^ Velez, Jennifer. "H.E.R. Wins Best R&B Album For 'H.E.R.'| 2019 GRAMMYs". Grammy Awards. Retrieved February 10, 2018.
  16. ^ "H.E.R. Announces 'I Used to Know HER Tour'". Rap-up.com. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  17. ^ "H.E.R. Prepares For Debut Album With 'I Used To Know Her: The Prelude' EP". Npr.org. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  18. ^ "H.E.R. – I Used To Know Her [Album Stream]". OnSmash. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  19. ^ "Rock in Rio Brasil". rockinrio.com (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2019-10-07.
  20. ^ Helman, Peter (2019-06-25). "H.E.R. – "Racks" (Feat. YBN Cordae)". Stereogum. SpinMedia. Retrieved 2019-07-12.
  21. ^ Reed, Ryan; Shaffer, Claire (2019-06-26). "Hear H.E.R., YBN Cordae on Sensual New Song 'Racks'". Rolling Stone. RealNetworks, Inc. Retrieved 2008-08-04.
  22. ^ a b Saponara, Michael (2019-06-25). "H.E.R. Connects With YBN Cordae For 'Racks': Listen". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
  23. ^ "H.E.R. biography". AllMusic.
  24. ^ "H.E.R. Announces 'The Lights On Tour'". Rap-Up. Retrieved 2018-11-19.
  25. ^ "H.E.R. Announces North American "I Used To Know Her" Tour". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 2018-11-19.
  26. ^ "Bryson Tiller Reveals Set It Off Tour With H.E.R. & Metro Boomin'". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-11-19.
  27. ^ "Chris Brown Announces 'Heartbreak On A Full Moon Tour' With 6lack, H.E.R. And Rich The Kid". investors.livenationentertainment.com. Retrieved 2018-11-19.
  28. ^ O2, The. "Childish Gambino | The O2". www.theo2.co.uk. Retrieved 2019-03-26.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  29. ^ "Solange, Bruno Mars Lead 2017 Soul Train Awards Nominations". Billboard. October 17, 2017. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
  30. ^ Amatulli, Jenna (May 16, 2018). "The 2018 BET Awards Nominations Are Here And DJ Khaled Must Be Screaming". HuffPost. Retrieved May 23, 2018.
  31. ^ "2018 Soul Train Awards Nominees". BET. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  32. ^ Lynch, Joe. "Grammys 2019 Nominees: The Complete List". Billboard. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  33. ^ "2019 iHeartRadio Music Awards Winners: See The Complete List | iHeartRadio Music Awards | iHeartRadio". iHeartRadio Music Awards. Retrieved 2019-04-25.
  34. ^ Lynch, Joe (May 1, 2019). "2019 Billboard Music Awards Winners: The Complete List". Billboard. Retrieved June 17, 2019.
  35. ^ Minsker, Evan (July 23, 2019). "MTV VMAs 2019: See The Full List of Nominees Here".
  36. ^ https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/18/entertainment/bet-soul-train-awards-trnd/index.html
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