Heather Dale is a Canadian musician who has been releasing music inspired by mythology, folklore, and history for decades. Her career spans 20 albums and other projects, weaving together traditional Celtic music, fantastical takes on history and more modern themes.
She has a pure, flute-like voice that lends itself well to haunting ballads but also to fun, lively tracks. In addition, her pieces often showcase traditional Celtic instruments like the tin whistle and hammered dulcimer. These are sometimes interwoven with more modern sounds like electric guitars, making for a unique listening experience. She plays some of these herself, while others are provided by talented collaborators.
Some of her most famous work is based on Arthurian legend. Her song, Mordred’s Lullaby (a chilling piece sung by a mother grooming her son to bring down Camelot) has been viewed over 20 million times on You tube. Recently, she also put together a stage show called Queens of Avalon which reinterprets the legends so that they’re told from Guinevere and Morgana’s perspectives.
She has written on many other topics. These range from other legends and stories (some she created for herself or with other artists) to historical events. Some are mournful (like ‘White Rose’, a tragedy about magic passing out of a land) while others are joyous and funny (like ‘renaissance Man’ where a hapless guy desperately seeks a career that he’s any good at). She has also written more modern music, examining experiences like heartbreak through the lens of fairy tales and familiar narratives (see her song ‘Story Book’). She has recently translated many of her most popular pieces into American Sign Language, which have been posted as videos to her YouTube channel.