HAEVN is the musical project between singer and songwriter Marijn van der Meer and film soundtrack composer Jorrit Kleijnen formed back in 2015. Jasmine van den Bogaerde, better known by her stage name Birdy, is the phenomenal singer, songwriter, and musician who started her career on the heels of a win of the Open Mic UK back in 2008 when she was just 12. While both HAEVN and Birdy are excellent in their own right, the sum of the parts here is breathtakingly beautiful. Open Hearts (heard here) demonstrates that good musical collaboration pays dividends!

Diligent Vodka readers may remember Marijn from clear back in 2013 and the review of Valentino. Since joining up with Jorrit, the music has gotten even better, fuller, while Marijn’s vocals shine. Add in the velvet voice of Birdy, and the music here is transformational!

Open Hearts delves into sharing your heart, your dreams, your love because these feelings only work for you when they are shared:

“Open hearts, forever young, one day a change will come,
You only feel it, when you share it with someone.”

It’s a simple message, but so true. 

You can find more information on HAEVN by heading up to their website which includes all of the social, streaming, and purchase links you might expect. Hard copies of their music in both CD and Vinyl formats are available from their shop, including the 2018 debut, Eyes Closed and the most recent LP, Symphonic Tales (2019). Also available for pre-order is the duo’s new EP, Throw Me A Line.

More information on Birdy can be found on her website which has nearly everything (social, streaming, purchase, etc.). What is missing is a good biography. Clicking the “Listen” option on any of her 5 LPs including her latest, Young Heart (April 2021), will take you to a listing of both streaming and purchase options.

As near as I can tell, Open Hearts is only available to stream at this time.  Watch for that to be included in a HAEVN collection in the future, and for now, consider picking up some of the other great music from HAEVN or Birdy now!

Note: It looked like we were heading for clear skies with Covid 19. The variants are making a comeback, which means that the livelihoods of artists like HAEVN, Birdy, and many others are still threatened. If your situation allows it, consider purchasing more in these tough times. Please, if you are physically able to do so, get the vaccine! –Vodka