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Parthenope Wald-Harding

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Parthenope
Birth nameParthenope Ann Wald-Harding
Born2002 (age 21–22)
Swillington, England
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • flautist
  • saxophonist
  • violinist
Years active2015–present
Member ofLoud LDN

Parthenope Ann Wald-Harding (/pɜːrθɛnoʊpiː/) (born 2002), usually credited as Parthenope, is an English musician and singer. She is best known for her cover of Norah Jones's "Don't Know Why", and is a member of Loud LDN.

Early life

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Parthenope Ann Wald-Harding[1] (/pɜːrθɛnoʊpiː/)[2] was born in 2002[3] in Swillington[4] and attended Chetham's School of Music in Manchester,[5] where she studied jazz saxophone,[6] and Guildhall School of Music and Drama.[7] Her mother, Hayley,[6] worked in a music centre.[7]

Wald-Harding was initially a violinist, which she played from the age of eleven after being gifted an 1804 Joseph Strauss by a violin teacher,[6] but switched to alto saxophone after hearing her sister,[7] Milly,[4] play with a jazz ensemble, and after her mother received a shipment of instruments to sell, including an alto saxophone which she found she could not shift.[7] In January 2020, she left her violin on a rack above her seat on a Manchester Victoria train; after her mother's Twitter appeal to find it went viral,[6] she found it at the station's lost property office.[8] Later that year, she won an art competition, the Welcome Back Project, which invited applicants to design an advert inviting punters to return to Leeds.[5]

Career

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When she was thirteen, The Press noted that she and her sister Milly were members of Yorkshire Young Sinfonia, a Yorkshire-based youth orchestra.[4] In September 2020, she played Monterey Jazz Festival as part of Next Generation Women in Jazz Combo.[9] On 29 January 2021, Wald-Harding played flute on Celeste's "The Promise", from her album Not Your Muse, where she was credited as Parthenope Wald-Harding.[10] Later that year, Wald-Harding[11] featured on two tracks by DJ Alex FB: "Guessing Game", also featuring Nate Gordon and Kya, on 29 May 2021,[12] and "Again and Again", also featuring Harry Linacre, on 24 July 2021.[13] On 22 October 2021, she featured on Pastel's "Papaya",[14] from the compilation album College Music Presents: Back on Track, released the same day.[15]

On 30 September 2022, she released a cover version of Norah Jones' "Don't Know Why",[16] which appeared on the compilation album Blue Note Re:imagined II; as part of a review for said album, KNKX noted that she "stays mostly faithful to Jones' original coffee shop vibe but adds her generational perspective with a more introverted vocal reading and sharp, concise saxophone solos", and likened it to "a coffee shop with free wi-fi, charging stations and great music".[3] In November 2022, she performed at Froge.tour.[17] On 30 March 2023, she released "City Life", and on 28 April 2023, she released "What You Wanted"; both featured on her four-track 2 June 2023 EP Go Somewhere Alone.[16] On 5 April 2023,[18] she played flute on Zak Abel's "Dance With You (Comeback)",[19] and on 16 April 2023, she performed at Brick Lane Jazz Festival with Vertaal and Harry Pearce.[20] On 9 June 2023,[21] Wald-Harding[1] co-wrote three tracks on Hak Baker's album Worlds End FM, "Dying to Live", "Almost Lost London" and "The End of the World",[21] and on 13 October 2023, she featured on "Portofino", from Gotts Street Park's album On the Inside.[22]

Artistry

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Wald-Harding is influenced by Michael Brecker's "Pilgrimage", having received it as a Christmas gift;[7] her writing style is influenced by Men I Trust.[23] As of January 2023, she is dating Harry Pearce, a bassist and composer.[24] She is a member of Loud LDN.[25]

References

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  1. ^ a b "PARTHENOPE ANN WALD-HARDING". ASCAP. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  2. ^ "LOUD LDN on Instagram: "LOUD LDN got a guest mix on @abbieabbiemac's BBC Introducing in Kent show! Some of our members summarised what LOUD LDN is and why it's so important to them. Have a listen to see what it's all about 💖 Featuring: @coupdekat @maisimaisimaisi @piri.io_ @matildaacole @theclarabach @parthenope.music @rosie.charles @charlotteplankmusic @molly.burman"". Instagram. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Blue Note Re:imagined sequel offers more modern jazz updates". KNKX. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  4. ^ a b c "WITH VIDEO: Witnessing the birth of a new youth orchestra in York". Yorkpress.co.uk. 20 August 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Welcome Back Project competition winners to have artwork displayed across Leeds". Prolific North. 4 August 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  6. ^ a b c d "Appeal after a 200-year-old violin left on a train at Manchester Victoria". Manchester Evening News. 24 January 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  7. ^ a b c d e "Parthenope: 'I'm interested in simple, super-melodic playing'". Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  8. ^ "Manchester violin is found in lost property". Slippeddisc.com. 27 January 2020. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  9. ^ "Looking Back – The 2020 Monterey Jazz Festival – Virtual!". Jazzpolice.com. 25 March 2021. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  10. ^ "Celeste / Not Your Muse / Credits". TIDAL. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  11. ^ "Sounds of Leeds Conservatoire: Tracks of 2021 | SoundCloud Playlist". Leeds Conservatoire. 12 December 2021. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  12. ^ "Guessing Game by DJ Alex FB". Spotify. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  13. ^ "Again and Again - Single by DJ Alex FB". Spotify. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  14. ^ "Papaya - Single by Pastel". Spotify. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  15. ^ "College Music Presents: Back on Track". Spotify. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  16. ^ a b "parthenope - Discography". Spotify. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  17. ^ "Photo Gallery: Piri & Tommy - Scala, London 08/11/2022". When The Horn Blows. 2022-11-10. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
  18. ^ "Rising Star Zak Abel Reveals New Single 'Dance With You (Comeback)". Allmusicmagazine.com. 5 April 2023. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  19. ^ "Zak Abel / Dance With You (Comeback) / Credits". Tidal. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  20. ^ "Vertaal @ 93 Feet East". Brick Lane Jazz Festival. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  21. ^ a b Worlds End FM, Spotify, 2023-06-09, retrieved 2023-07-10
  22. ^ On the Inside by Gotts Street Park, 2023-10-13, retrieved 2023-10-14
  23. ^ "Under The Influence: Parthenope". Sofar Sounds. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  24. ^ "Jay Phelps ('Ear to the Ground' YouTube Channel)". London Jazz News. 26 January 2023. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  25. ^ "BBC Music Introducing Kent, Live session: In Waves". BBC Music. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
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