Herne Summer Rain

Extract from Indian Time August 18th, 2011
By: Sesi King

Summer Rain was the First place winner at the Franklin County Fair Talent Competition held in Malone on Thursday, August 11. Summer was born with a voice that is amazingly beautiful and she began to sing at the age of 8 with coaxing by her mom Josephine.
“My mom has been my biggest influence and encouraged me to start singing Karaoke,” said Herne. “My brother Marlon Johnson has also supported me in so many ways.” That night at the fair there were 19 contestants in the competition. After the first round it dropped to 6 finalists with Herne still in the running. “They are probably going to choose the tap dancer next to me’ said Herne of her thoughts while the winners were being called and her name wasn’t coming up. All of a sudden her name was announced as the overall winner and she said she felt like her heart stopped. “Oh my God!” is what Herne remembered saying.

Herne was given a monetary prize and she is another step closer to her dream. That night Herne sang a song by an artist named Adele who she really enjoys listening to. Herne likes her singing style that is influenced by the Blues. When she first began singing, Herne started off with songs by Patsy Cline and when people heard her sing, and they were all impressed by her talent.

Herne is 17 years old and will be in grade 11 at Salmon River Central starting this fall. Her music teacher is Mrs. Rubideau who has helped her very much and has worked with her through Herne also travels to Ottawa once a week to receive voice and singing lessons. She has considered writing her own music and has started some lyrics on paper but hasn’t completed them yet. Herne has learned so much already
from her instructors and performances along with learning more as she goes. Herne is currently working on how to use her powerful vocals to change the cover songs into her own style. “Crazy” was a song that marks Herne’s unique bluesy style through her vocal changes. Summer also utilizes her knowledge of her MAC software to record herself as she plays the music without the vocal track and then experiments by singing in various keys to see what sounds best.

Herne’s experiences to date include traveling to Toronto where talent agents wanted to hear more of her talent and ways that she sings. Herne has yet to send the agents a demo, but she does know that she wants to pursue a singing career and she also enjoys photography. Herne’s vocal talent has taken her to other events to sing, like to Ottawa and at the Williamstown Fair. At the Williamstown Fair is where Herne won her first award for singing her rendition of “Crazy”.
“At times if I get sick and don’t feel I can sing at a performance, I get up there and do it anyway and I feel okay after that’ said Herne when asked if she has had any obstacles or discouragement to overcome. She added that she enjoys playing sports at school and will be playing volleyball and that• she has been a team member for swimming.

“She is pretty good and has a powerful voice,” said Herne of another artist that she admires, Christina Aguilera.”
Herne has a budding career as a very good singer at such a young age.