Kaya has built renown as an acoustic gem and possibly the hardest working woman in Liverpool where she puts her formula of “working hard, playing hard but not being a particularly hard person” in to practice.

Originally from the north of Norway, Kaya Herstad has made Liverpool her home
since 1999. Since then she has become a well-know name on the local scene and
was chosen as BBC Merseyside ‘Artist of the Month’ for July and as ‘Spotlight Artist’
for Liverpool Acoustic in October 2008.

As a member of ‘Sense of Sound’ Kaya has also performed at the Royal Variety Show, with Ringo Starr at the Capital of Culture 2008 opening and as a finalist of BBC’s ‘Last Choir Standing’.

With her own music, Kaya has played alongside Brett Anderson (Suede), Cherry Ghost, Noah and the Whale, The Wombats, Sandi Thom, Polly Mackey and pretty much the whole Liverpool scene. She has played gigs and festivals all over England, Scotland and Wales in addition to further ashore in France, Poland and even Bosnia; not to mention her native Norway where tracks from her debut album ‘Balloon in a Cactus Field’ have had prime time plays on both radio and TV.

‘Balloon In A Cactus Field’ was released in 2008 on Ultimate Fake Records and is “a collection of beautifully crafted songs with a surprising bite”. 2010 sees Kaya releasing more material and an anticipated tour with the band.

In short, Kaya is a dynamic performer both with and without the band and a prolific songwriter with most of her second album already written.

To listen, view pictures, read reviews and keep up to date with Kaya please visit her MySpace

Kaya CV

Aurora Borealis Music is run by Kaya Herstad, Norwegian native but recident of Liverpool since 1999 when she came over to study songwriting and singing at The Liverpool Insititute for Performing Arts. After she successfully graduated in 2003 and recently completed an intensive 18 month training programme to become an SLS instructor in 2008she is now teaching at the same institution - although she has continued to work in a variety of entertainment industry companies throughout her career.

Directly Relevant Experience (Full CV available on request)

• Singing teacher at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts HE Courses since 2003 now teaching between fifteen and twenty hours term time. Teaching singing individually and in groups from 3 to 30 people and also take part in audition and examination processes.
  
  
• Arranging and direct the majority of the group and A Capella work with my classes.
  
  
• Teaching one to one and group singing lessons through Aurora Borealis Music.
  
  
• In addition to private singing and song writing tuition and vocal coaching one off workshops and courses. Clients include managers, record labels, choirs, schools, colleges and
• Worked with BAFTA winning composer Bill Connor in the Sing Out Project for Liverpool Capital of Culture celebrations. Still run the community choir in Prescot.
• BBC – taught song writing as a part of the BBC Blast Project
• MDA – Singing workshop for workshop leaders
• M-Zone – Singing, song writing and generic music workshops
  
• Workshops for Sense of Sound and am a key member of the Sense of Sound choir. Experiences includes singing with Seal and John Bon Jovi at the Royal Variety Show in 2007, with Ringo Starr at the official Capital of Culture Launch and finalists in BBC 1’s Last choir Standing.
  
  
• Previous employment experience as singing teacher includes LIPA 4:19, Stage & Singing Express, St Francis Academy, Millington College, New Deal for Musicians and Kingsley Community School.
  

Career Progression – ongoing engagements

• I am an active singer and songwriter gigging regularly. Have performed with artists such as Brett Andersson (Suede), Noah & The Whale, Sandi Thom, The Wombats.

• Coordinator of the ‘Make It Break It Awards’, a song writing scheme for young people between the age of 14-19, a collaboration between Yamaha  and LIPA and with EMI, HMV and BME@O2 as Partners. I am head of preliminary judge and coordinator of the National competition, prizes and showcase event, in addition to liaising with and coordinating design and marketing team. Main judges include Chris Martin, Mark Radcliffe, Steve Levine, Harvey Goldsmith and Dawn Joseph.

• Founding member of ‘Liverpool Music Week’ since 2003. I was key organizer in the first years of the festival and although time schedule hasn’t allowed me to be as active since 2005, I still recruit and coordinate the stage management and artist liaison staff, book artists and coordinate the music industry panels and acoustic leg of the festival.

• International coordinator at the Øya Festival (www.oyafestivalen.no) for the past 3 years in Oslo. My duties include taking care of international press and music industry, arranging networking events to bring the Norwegian and International industry together. Directly responsible to the festival management and Music Export Norway.

• Programme manager and founder of ‘The Get Real Academy’; an opportunity for young musicians to train and showcase their music. Initially this was run on a weekly basis under ABM. Since summer 2006 it has been arranged as a summer academy under the LIPA umbrella.
  
• Promoter of several monthly, weekly and one off gig nights, showcases and festivals in Liverpool, London and Norway. Used to liaise with the in house promotion staff, listings magazines/press, print and promotion in addition to the actual event organizing.
  
• Coordinator of the ‘Women’s Music Network’ for the Music Development Agency
  
  
  
  
  Formal Education/Qualifications
  Pending 2011       MA Performing Arts (Education). Finished first year, studying part time.
  
  June 2003,           BA (Hons) Performing Arts Music, songwriting and vocals major. Graduated with 2:1, Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts. My research project discussed “Lifestyle Choices and how they affect the singing voice”.
  
  June 2000,            Diploma in Popular Music & Sound Technology, Merit. Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts

  June 1999,            Diploma in Theatre and Music at Romerike Folkehøgskole.

  1995-1998           International Bachelorate eqv. (Generell studiekompetanse) with Sport Science, Instruction and Nutrition. Completed top in my class, Frydenlund v.g.s. and Rœlingen v.g.s., Norway.
  
  

  Professional qualifications/courses:

  Jan 07 ->               Licensed instructor of ‘Speech Level Singing™’ (Currently) Level 1 in second year.

  October 2006        Incorporation of vocalists in jazz improvisation, Jazz Institute, Belgium.
  
  Spring 2006          CPD Training in Music Technology to fresh up my skills from university.
  
  April 2005             Conference in Social entrepreneurship at the Nevarra Business School, Barcelona

  Sept 2003-04        NVQ3 in Business start up with the Music Development Agency and Blue Orchid.

  2004-2005           CPD Training with M-zone on conflict resolution, risk assessment, child protection, workshop leadership, self evaluation and community music.

  Oct 2003               Business Link Start up course. 6 sessions. Induction to marketing, finance and business law.
  
  1993-98               I also have a series of instruction/coaching courses in general fitness, football, ice hockey, exercise to music and mental training. Details available on request.

   

  Membership of Professional Bodies
  Member of Musician’s Union and University and College Union
  
  Mentor experience

  • Registered mentor with CreativeBias
  • Freelance worker with ‘Activate Arts’ doing vocational arts projects.

  
  

Other Work Experience
As I chose an expensive education I had to fund and have always been encouraged by my parents to work I have had many jobs. I want to stress that have never been fired or quit before a contract has run out, but has explored many work sectors since 1992 which has made me more determined to make a career in music.

Feb 2002-04            Fitness instructor, (Reviva leisure centre, William Anthony Health and Beauty and Spindles/Adelphi gyms in Liverpool and Spenst, Trimland and SATS in Norway.
Previous

Language Skills
I have an interest in linguistics and find languages fascinating.
English:                Speak fluently and write to high a standard. Good vocabulary.
Norwegian:           Mother tongue. Speak and write perfectly with a great vocabulary.
French:                 Good communication skills. Read well, basic writing skills.
I also speak Swedish and Danish fluently and understand some German.

Computer Knowledge
I have had access to PC and Mac since 1988, and used it regularly both privately, in studies and working as a freelance journalist. I am a relatively quick typist (70 w/min) and have high or basic knowledge of a wide range of software’s including:

• The Microsoft Office package - Word, Excel, Access, Powerpoint, Outlook, Publisher
• Several Web browsers – Firefox, Netscape, Internet Explorer, Opera, Safari
• Audio software- Logic, Garageband, Protools, Wavelab, Cubase (and several CD Burning software)
• Adobe Photoshop – I am a keen designer and have good knowledge Photoshop.
• Dreamweaver – Web design package. Also know basic html.

Interests
In addition to music I have many other interests. I enjoy exploring the cultural life, food and wine both where I live and when travelling abroad.
I have always been a keen sports person. I still dance and play football regularly and enjoy outdoors activities like skiing, climbing and hiking. I have done sports to high National level in Norway, played first division football, and was also picked out to train with the National Ice Hockey Team.

I have throughout my youth been part of theatre and drama groups and have been on stage and in films acting both professional and in an amateur fashion.