Donal Hinely
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Reflecting both the Texas songwriting tradition of his roots and the telling influence of artists like Steve Earle and John Prine, Donal Hinely writes "vivid storytelling lyrics peppered with pieces of reality that make each song memorable."(Paste Magazine)
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About
With roots sunk deep in the same storytelling tradition of Texas singer/songwriters like Steve Earle and Townes Van Zandt, Donal Hinely speaks in a voice that is both intimate and authentic. Spinning tales of hard luck, love, missed opportunity and die-hard hope, Hinely writes songs that skirt the outer fringes of country, folk, and straight ahead rock. Dave Higgs, host of NPR's syndicated Bluegrass Breakdown, put it simply: "this is really good stuff--sharp, insightful writing married to memorable tunes."
Born and raised in Denton, Texas, Hinely began writing songs at an early age and honed his craft in several original music projects including a regionally successful college rock band called the Agents of Kaos and the acoustic duo Glasnots. In 1994, he moved to Nashville to join the songwriting community where he has since garnered recognition for his stirring songs and honest performances. His breakthrough CD,
We Built a Fire (2002, Scuffletown Records) established Hinely as one of the premier Americana artists today. Co-produced by David Henry (Cowboy Junkies, Josh Rouse), We Built a Fire features appearances by Grammy nominated singer/songwriter Kim Richey, recording artist Mindy Smith, guitarist Will Kimbrough (Todd Snider, Rodney Crowell), and members of Wilco, the Edwin McCain Band, and Hayseed Dixie. Hinely's 2005 release Giants received significant attention from folk and roots radio, remaining on the Americana Music Association album airplay chart for 11 weeks and debuting at #6 on the Euro Americana Chart. In November 2005, Giants was the most added single in US folk radio according to the FOLK-DJ list survey. Critically lauded by both indie and mainstream press, Giants was nominated for album of the year by the Independent Music Awards, the Indie Acoustic Project, and the Acoustic Music Awards. Hitting all points of the compass in 2006, Hinely was a showcase artist at the prestigious South by Southwest Music Conference in Austin, Texas and the North by Northeast Festival in Toronto, Canada.
Hinely is also a noted practitioner of the glass harmonica and plays a homemade set of 24 water-tuned wine glasses and brandy snifters. As a glass player he has performed for thousands of patrons at festivals and street fairs and has three albums of instrumental glass music to his credit.
News
- 2007 finds Hinely working on a new album to be released in the summer.
Tours & Concerts
- None as of the moment. -- 06:16, 6 February 2007 (PST)
Discography
Albums
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Singles
| Title | Released | Label |
|---|---|---|
| Spring, 2006 | The Ballad of 3 Georges | Scuffletown Records |
Compilations & Live Releases
| Date Released | Album | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Tales from the Edge: 43 Texas Bands on the Rampage | Reel George Productions |
| 1994 | The Met: Winter '94 | Reel George Productions |
| 2003 | Paste Music Sampler #4 | Paste Magazine |
| 2004 | Music Oven Network | Music Oven Network |
| 2005 | Acoustic Rainbow Volume 21 | PoetMan Records |
Other artists
Similar artists
Influences
Reviews
- "A song like Giants is one many of us will be humming to ourselves as we speak up, speak out and march towards voting booths in 2006 and 2008 to turn America around." --Tony Peyser, BuzzFlash.com
- "A great folk/Americana album...Shock and Awe is the best political song I've heard all year." --Greg Grant, Online Folk Festival
- "One of the best albums of the year...all Americana fans must get a hold of this record. 10 out of 10!"" --Andy Griggs, Americana UK
- "Just brilliant...has the rare ability to completely engross the listener and transport him or her to another place and time." --Dave Higgs, host of NPR's Bluegrass Breakdown
- "This Texas songwriter isn't afraid to use a guitar to get his message across...quality song craft." --Paste Magazine
- "One of the best albums I've heard this year...I can't recommend it highly enough to lovers of pure, organic music" --Peter Ashton, Playing Out Loud, UK
- "Compelling and poignant...a brilliant winner of a recording." --Chris Darling, host of "Us Folk"/WMPG-FM
- "To call him literate would be an understatement...Hinely's writing ability earns him a place alongside other Texas luminaries such as Earle, Van Zandt and Keen." --Don Grant, Freight Train Boogie
- "An exquisite storyteller...picture perfect roots rock." --Pop Matters Magazine
- "like early John Prine but the wit is all Dylan” --Indie-Music
- "Cut from the same cloth as great songwriters such as Lyle Lovett, Steve Earle, and Robert Earl Keen, he might just be the next big thing." --Cincinnati Enquirer
- “a considerable new talent” --Folk World
- “one of the best singer/songwriter albums of the year” --Roots Revival
- "a fine eye for the truths of the ordinary and the shadowy sides of life" --Roots66 Magazine
- "a terrific, rootsy slab of Americana" --Santa Monica Mirror
- "Literate, well-sculpted singer-songwriter Americana; countrified poetics, along the lines of Robert Earl Keene, Jr." --Joe Sixpack's Country Music Guide
- “sharply written Americana rooted in the tradition of brilliant blue collar observers like Springsteen and Earle.” --Choice Cuts
- "one of the premier Americana artists today" --Planet Country
- "what really impresses is Hinely's songwriting which is technically very proficient with elegant lyrics fitting into well-constructed musical frameworks." --Country Music People
