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"Don’t Play This" was released late 2005, and was enthusiastically received. In December 2005 Hera finished the year with a triumphant concert in one of the most remote places on earth, Amassalik in Greenland, becoming the first solo musician from Iceland to perform there.

Released 2005 - 11 Songs

1) Feathers in a bag
2) The devil and me
3) Chocolate
4) Muddy shoes
5) Deja vu
6) Adrian
7) Don't play this
8) Wings
9) You make me angry
10) Where is your baby
11) To my guitar

Reviews, Don't play this - by Hera

Hera (Iceland)
SXSW World magazine
For many years Icelandic music was synonymous with rocker legend Bubbi Morthens, and no one else. Then the Sugarcubes erupted with eccentric singers Einar Örn and Björk, and after that Gus Gus and Sigur Ros with their made-up language. Now we turn our eyes and ears towards the Icelandic mainstream again, namely Hera. The 22-year-old classical guitarist is one of the most talented songwriters to ever come out of Iceland, and her music is soft, sparse and immensely beautiful.

CollectedSounds.com
http://www.collectedsounds.com/cdreviews/dontplaythis.html
Iceland's Hera Hjartadottir has been making her music for a while and it shows.
The relaxed vibe and impassioned jazzy stylings of "Feathers in a Bag" are instantly appealing. It's more like Rickie Lee Jones than other Icelandic singers one could mention.
"Chocolate" is a sweet little ode to just that, Hera's singing is infectious.
She dedicates a song to her guitar and sings of anger intriguingly. Hera is one to seek out, and her new album is a treat. Do play this.
Posted on March 21, 2007


Scintillating and soaring, acoustically clean with rich images.
cdbaby.com
Hera's music sparkles. Standout qualities on this CD are precise diction, accurate tonal shifts to reflect song mood and an integrated instrumental backing that is acoustic rather than electronic. A variety of influences are detectable in this collection of original ballads composed around life-developing situations, but the musical treatments are orignal and captivating. For this listener the optimistic cast to the songs (and the way it is portrayed), where life's reversals are but stations to the future, is joyous. (The forward looking 'You make me angry' is delightful and Hera's conception of an after-life - in 'Muddy shoes' - really appeals.) And like good ballads, these airs stay in your head. PS: Make sure you catch the hidden piece of whimsy after the final ode to Hera's instrumental confidente and muse.


Fantastic vocals and Power
cdbaby.com
This is a fantastic album from an artist not known much here is the UK. What you get in this album are fantastic vocals (if you like K T Tunstall, Norah Jones, Bjork - you will love this) without any over production and fluff that you might expect. The power and anger on "Don't Play this" and the power of the voice on "Wings" are wonderful, along with the first two songs, "Feathers in a Bag" and "The Devil and Me" which will stay in your head long after they have ended. Add some Calypso with Deja Vu and your enjoyment will be complete. This artist has much more to give and there is more power to come from her recordings. I am waiting for the next album.


Hera melts Iceland’s heart. But her heart is firmly in New Zealand.

Recently named Iceland’s best female artist, singer/song writer Hera has actually been based in New Zealand for the last 10 years - her family lives here, and it is like her second home. She divides her year between family time in the Southern Hemisphere and an intensive European touring schedule where she has been working with big names such as Nick Cave.
In 2003, Hera’s song “Makebelieve” was the 3rd most played song on national radio in Iceland as well as being a finalist track in the in the USA songwriting competition.
Since picking up a classical guitar at age 8 it wasn’t long before Hera had released “Homemade 99” – (released in 1999, and made at home… hence the title :)
Hera has released four solo Cds, the latest “Hafid thennan dag” went gold in Iceland. Her songs have been included on 6 other compilations, one of her songs was used on the soundtrack for “The Sea”
and on tonlist.is – eight of the ten songs on the top ten were Hera’s, at the same time.
It seems that Iceland can’t get enough of Hera, but they are going to have to wait a little longer as she is spending the next year here in Aotearoa...