A Twin Cities transplant by way of the west coast, singer-songwriter Heather Murphy deeply touches her listeners with songs about hope, compassion, healing, connection and revival of community. Inspiration for her songs comes from personal experiences-–her search for a soulmate, a friends’ ocean-side wedding, the destruction of the earth, her spiritual quest to find home and a tenderhearted friend in need. John Gronquist of KFAI radio’s Urban Folk show says, "Her enchantingly lovely voice delivers a message of community ... a community I would like to live in!"

As a performer, Heather Murphy is authentic, thought provoking, and approachable. One listener says, “When Heather Murphy sings, her voice takes on an ethereal quality, transcendent yet root-deep … At once vulnerable and strong, she gets on stage and meets the world with her heart, and that's enough to move mountains. No wonder it moves me to tears.”

Heather’s exploration of songwriting has been a natural evolution. She was born into a musical family--singing along while her dad played folk tunes on the guitar and absorbing harmonies at the music parties in her home state of Ohio. During those early years, Heather learned the guitar by playing and singing the songs of Cat Stevens, John Denver, Crosby Stills Nash and Young, Bonnie Raitt, Joni Mitchell, The Beatles, and others. She continued to be inspired by artists such as The Indigo Girls, Melissa Ethridge, Michelle Shocked, Ani Di Franco, Emmy Lou Harris, Dar Williams, Iris Dement and Catie Curtis. In 1994, after moving to Minnesota, Heather put down her guitar vowing not play again until she had written her own songs. After a year of soul searching and spiritual growth, she produced her first song and has never looked back. A move to the mountains of Northern California and then to the coast of Washington State further fueled her inspiration.

Since returning to Minnesota in 1998, Heather has continued to write and share her songs with audiences at various venues in the Pacific Northwest and the Midwest. Her 14-song solo debut CD, Another Way, was independently released in January of 2002 and skillfully showcases her gifts as a singer-songwriter with powerful insight and soaring vocals. Backed by her own earthy, rhythmic, acoustic guitar playing, Murphy’s songs are further enhanced on this CD by a talented group of Twin Cities musicians on mandolin, violin/viola, pedal steel guitar, piccolo, harmonica and more.