The musical work worldwide is so broad that it is an impossible task to know everything that is done in this field, although we limit ourselves to "only the best" there will always be something that escapes us. So when entering a new environment there is a great chance that you can find a "gem" (on purpose I use the same term used by curators on Steemit to refer to an excellent post), a talent of which you had not the slightest reference.

I've been in Steemit for about four months and I've been exploring the musical guild that moves around in this network. The results have been satisfactory and I have found extraordinary artists publishing in the blockchain.

But…

There are many levels of quality and there is quality by areas, but when you find someone able to stand out in every conceivable area, one that stands out as a singer, as an instrumentalist (as well as a multi-instrumentalist), as a composer, as a lyricist and also stands out as a painter, illustrator, poet, video maker and more... then you are in front of a "gem". That is the case of Priscilla, who, in addition to everything mentioned, is a very beautiful woman too.

With a very nice, original and unique sound and style that leads you to a fantasy and/or magic world, @yidneth deserves a special place in music around our planet.

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For a project I was developing with @stimu for the Steem blockchain, I interviewed Priscilla, where with extreme humility she told us who she is and what she does. Let's meet her!

Priscilla or Yidneth?

My name is Priscilla Hernández (which is also my artistic name) though “Yidneth” is my nickname in almost every network and also the name of my company and trademark. I was born in La Palma (Canary Islands, Spain) though I'm currently based in Navarre, North of Spain. Both places blessed by amazing Nature.

I am a composer, singer, instrumentalist, illustrator, nature lover and fantasy geek overall. I studied Biology but I'm now fully devoted to art combining my writings, poetry, music and drawings into illustrated music projects. I enjoy collecting music instruments and learning how to play them. I work along with my partner @hedac who helps me as co-producer and part of the project. We both enjoy Nature and filming videos. I love animals in fact all my projects are dedicated to my “animal companions” in life. Kira, my dog, Totonika and my rats (aka. Fufunchis). Yes, I love rats, and probably many on Steemit call me already the “rat lady” :) And I mention because, yes, it's important to know me :) as a person.

How did Priscilla get into music

I have composed since my childhood though I never had formal music training. My brother used to mess with an old keyboard and I used to join him.

I started writing songs at 7 or 8 (though I have a single one when I was even younger I still play), used to record them using cassettes. At 18 I purchased my first proper keyboard.

Somehow I never saw myself as as vocalist, just as a composer. But it was in the early 00s when I started sharing my music online on a platform called mp3.com publishing my first demo “I steal the leaves” in 2002, titled as one of my most popular songs then. In those early years I was offered a fair number of record deals but none were honest with what I wanted to do.

My style is not mainstream, it's a combination of film music, folk instruments, electronic and voices. I would describe it as ethereal, sometimes slightly gothic but overall as “fantasy”.

I have never felt like a voice but like as composer, so I ended up creating my own publishing company “Yidneth” and releasing my first album “Ancient Shadows” in 2006. It won several international awards as independent release and I was invited to perform to several countries, including UK and USA.

I started performing actively with different formations and including fantasy theatrical elements to the concerts, mostly specializing in fantasy and movie conventions.

In 2011 I released my second and most ambitious project so far “The Underliving” an illustrated collection of poems, songs and art (theunderliving.com). Since then we have released digital singles and videoclips, and have collaborated in several soundtracks, but working now on “Fear no More” a continuation of The Underliving, also illustrated by myself.

What does Priscilla really do?

I compose both music and lyrics. I record the vocals and backing vocals and I play several instruments layered up, including piano, harp, dulcimer, kantele, flutes and others. I like to think of my process the one of a storyteller. My art is sort of split in “light” (inspired by Nature) and shadow (inspired by my sleep disorders like sleep paralysis).

But my process is always similar, I usually hum the melody and if it knocks twice I start to build up recording a keyboard structure and then instruments and vocals on top.

My partner @hedac also helps me with additional arrangements, mixing and mastering. Even if I'm the composer we are very much a team producing the final result.

As I mentioned before I think my most important project has been The Underliving (http://theunderliving.com) which was my second album. It was a digibook with almost 60 illustrated project and a conceptual music album as well. Both my published albums nourished from a comic/book I wrote as a teenager, which precisely gave name to my company and nickname “Yidneth” so that story somehow nourishes most of my personal projects.

What's next? What about the blockchain?

I am currently working on several projects, the most important is “Fear no More” that would be my third EP and illustrated music album. In fact I'm plotting it as a book of illustrations with a soundtrack.

I joined Steemit close to three months ago. I had been doing a brainstorming of different ways to fund my third album Fear no More… so I created a Patreon (that I still haven't announced) and started considering doing concerts on Youtube.

There was a time I could live from my art but I never quite adapted into the digital/streaming era. So my partner mentioned Steemit and blockchain and he told me “just do what you do best”. I love to share my work, and I try to keep a consistent feed, and I'm here to build slowly a real engagement. I have my following in other networks but I liked to start afresh here.

Honestly I don't want to feel the pressure of the numbers quite yet, whatever happening welcome be. I particularly enjoy DLIVE because it has encouraged me to broadcast regularly from my studio. It is useful to rehearse and become better at the same time it's engaging and fun. Also as a newbie on Steemit there have been moments I've hold doubts, but somehow on the way I've met so many wonderful friends and communities, and likely I'm around because of their support. In particular thanks to @helpie :) for providing me a Steemit family to belong to.

A little bit more about Priscilla

I grew up listening to movie scores and film music. Though many compares me with Enya and Loreena Mckennit (which I take as compliment) I listened to Tears for Fears electropop.

In almost twenty years as a musician, there have been many sweet moments, lovely features, trips, and beloved memories. There have been too many moments of “connection” to name them all.

Success is definitely not a number. And though humble and independent I have felt it on occasion. There have been moments of synchronicity. For example I have been a great fan of Jim Henson and my favourite movies are The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth. I have performed for people that worked in those movies, and even for Henson's daughter herself. That was really a sweet experience.

Or like when someone travels long distances to go and see you perform… there are many times where a “small” artist feels big. I am grateful for each one of those moments that kept me going.

My goals would be to have more film placement as I love film music. Also to reach a point where my art could fund itself at least to be produced with the level of quality I want. Sadly creating music and videos costs me more than I make back, facing reality is not discouraging but objective, so hope Steemit can make a change so we can release “Fear no More” illustrated project soon, and maybe invest in gear, better lenses and materials to make our art even better.

And I say “we” because I'm a team with @hedac (who is a musician in his own right but also helps me in everything I do)

Let music talk

1.- IN THE MIST: VIDEOCLIP and song included in my second album The Underliving

Related article on Steemit with info/making of https://steemit.com/music/@yidneth/music-video-and-making-of-in-the-mist-with-my-animated-illustrations-original-music-behind-the-scenes-from-art-to-video

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2.- MORNING LIGHT unedited live recording: WINNER OF OPEN MIC WEEK 77

Song: Morning Light live from studio: Open mic Winner week 77

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3.- Video of one of my DLIVE CONCERTS. I usually broadcast once or twice a week. You can watch one here.
https://dlive.io/video/yidneth/ca87195a-38fb-11e8-91c8-0242ac110002

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Finally

If you've already listened to the songs and watched the videos, there's nothing I can add. I'm sure you'll agree she is awesome. If you enjoyed her music, just go and support her.

I let you the links to reach her almost everywhere (on the web, lol).

If you want to look for her CDs or music look for “Priscilla Hernandez” which is her artistic name. Yidneth is her nickname and company but also the easiest way to locate most of her network.