ABOUT: Anastasia Hera is a rapper, songwriter and owner of her own namesake liquor brand, Hera Tropical Rum.
The Texas native’s interest in rap began when her father taught her to deliver MLK’s “I Have a Dream” speech.She also credits being introduced to rap music as a pre-teen when she attended a free program at the Austin Public Library. “A volunteer came in with lyrics printed out on paper, a cassette tape and a boom box. We read and recited the lyrics, learned a bit about recording equipment and technique and the rest is history,” she says. Earlier this year she released her first EP “This is Anastasia,” which she can be found performing around Austin as “Anastasia Hera and The Heroes.” Her first fully self-produced project is slated for 2022. And, she recently partnered with Local Choice to create coconut rum Hera Tropical Rum.
Anastasia says her inspiration for all that she does and writes comes from everyday life, the feelings emotions, ideas and dilemmas which are common to all of humanity. “I put those things into poetry,” she says. “My goal as an artist is to grow beyond genre and classification and simply speak to hearts.” She’s well on her way and definitely one to watch.
WORDS I LIVE BY: What I’ve returned to most consistently over my adult life is the classic poem “If,” by Rudyard Kipling. Concise sentiment, a moral challenge, and not a word wasted! “If you can keep your head…”
WHAT I’M OBSESSED WITH
⁃ Making beats
⁃ Polishing my fried rice recipe
⁃ 80s pop music (always!)
⁃ “The Dark Side of the Ring” (a professional wrestling docuseries by Vice)
⁃ Writing the perfect song
WHAT I’M LISTENING TO
⁃ “Head Over Heels”, Tears for Fears
⁃ “Sultans of Swing”, Dire Straits
⁃ “Hold the Line,” Toto
⁃ “One Night in Bangkok”, Murray Head
⁃ “Need you Tonight”, INXS
INSTAGRAM: @Anastasia_hera_
WEBSITE: https://www.anastasiahera.com/
EP: “This is Anastasia” available on Spotify
WHAT I’M DRINKING: Hera Rum and with coconut water or ginger ale