The band “Fool Ascent” was formed in 2009 in New York City by Jean-Jacques L’Héritier (writer/musician) and Hayli Henderson (lead vocals) with the dream of creating new experiences for its listeners. Later joined by Christea Parent (also on lead vocals) and then by guest artists, the band began performing uniquely staged concerts merging multiple art forms. Much more than just a band, Fool Ascent transports its audiences into a dimension of sounds and visual artistry that stretch the boundaries of the imagination. With touches of space and art rock, Fool Ascent is a clear twist on the world fusion genre, but still finds inspiration in artists such as Peter Gabriel, Pink Floyd, and Evanescence.
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Hayli Henderson
Hayli’s first performance as a singer was running around her living room at the age of two singing the theme song to Sesame Street. Though her main focus was classical theatre for the bulk of her young life (she received a BFA in Theatre from Southern Methodist University), singing has always been a big part of Hayli’s life. Then, in 2009, Jean-Jacques L’Heritier approached her with the idea for the band Fool Ascent. As a lead singer in the band, Hayli has thrived in the exciting and challenging styles of Fool Ascent's music and has truly found her place here. Hayli believes that music possesses an incredible power to heal and inspire and is itself a form of prayer. Hayli is a lover of art in its many forms - most especially literature, poetry, music, and theatre. Hayli hails from Texas, grew up in Saudi Arabia, and now resides in New York City.
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Jean-Jacques (J.J.) L'HéritierJean-Jacques is a composer and songwriter. He has studied at l’école de Jazz de Chambery, France, at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in NYC. Since a young age Jean-Jacques has performed as a drummer and keyboardist in France and then in the U.S. including at Madison Square Garden NYC. He was a lead in one of the largest live show produced in Europe seen by millions of people. But, JJ’s true passion is in writing music by thinking outside of the box and creating new worlds for his audience. His latest effort was seen in the live performances of “The Giver Of Dreams” in Manhattan and in the writing and producing of the album of the same name.
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Interviews
1. Where were you born?
Hayli
I was born in Plano, Texas just north of Dallas. We stayed in Texas for the first six years of my life before moving to Saudi Arabia just after Operation Desert Storm. It was an incredible experience. My childhood was filled with adventurous travel experiences and friends from all over the world. As one could imagine, there are also some difficult aspects of living in a place like Saudi Arabia, especially if you are a woman. We were somewhat sheltered from a lot of that, but to this day the women’s rights situation in Saudi is very important to me and I follow it closely. I can say without a doubt that the experience of growing up abroad has been instrumental in shaping how I see the world and my place in it.
Christea
I was born in Upper Heyford, England while my family was stationed there with the United States Air Force. Only stayed a couple of months, though, and I’ve been in the States ever since. I was almost not let on the plane to America - I had gotten the chicken pox the day of our flight!
Jean-Jacques
I was born in a small town in the French Alps where I grew up until I moved to the States in my early 20’s. I lived in Southern California for a short while, which I really liked, but I love living in New York City.
I was born in Plano, Texas just north of Dallas. We stayed in Texas for the first six years of my life before moving to Saudi Arabia just after Operation Desert Storm. It was an incredible experience. My childhood was filled with adventurous travel experiences and friends from all over the world. As one could imagine, there are also some difficult aspects of living in a place like Saudi Arabia, especially if you are a woman. We were somewhat sheltered from a lot of that, but to this day the women’s rights situation in Saudi is very important to me and I follow it closely. I can say without a doubt that the experience of growing up abroad has been instrumental in shaping how I see the world and my place in it.
Christea
I was born in Upper Heyford, England while my family was stationed there with the United States Air Force. Only stayed a couple of months, though, and I’ve been in the States ever since. I was almost not let on the plane to America - I had gotten the chicken pox the day of our flight!
Jean-Jacques
I was born in a small town in the French Alps where I grew up until I moved to the States in my early 20’s. I lived in Southern California for a short while, which I really liked, but I love living in New York City.
2. When did you start to sing / play?
Hayli
Probably straight out of the womb! No, but seriously, our home videos would suggest that I was definitely singing by the age of two. My family is really big on singing. We would sing in the car all the time, and around the house as well. I used to think this was incredibly normal until a friend of mine was riding in the car with us in high school and after everyone in the car finished belting to Three Dog Night’s “Joy to the World” she paused and said, “Wow. You guys sing a lot.”
Christea
Singing has been an essential and irremovable element of my life. I remember always singing, even before I started to do it in front of people. Like many budding young performers I got my start making plays with my friends and doing karaoke in the basement when I thought no one could hear me. Eventually I decided to go public, and the rest is history.
Jean-Jacques
I was messing with old instruments as a young kid and even then was already interested in creating music (I can’t call it composing though lol!) but did not get serious until my early teens when my dad took me to my first piano lesson. I also started to play the drums in my mid teens but kept my piano interest as I always wanted to write music. After my drum teacher (who became a friend and a mentor), died in a car accident, I slowly went back to playing keyboards only, until this new project came along.
Probably straight out of the womb! No, but seriously, our home videos would suggest that I was definitely singing by the age of two. My family is really big on singing. We would sing in the car all the time, and around the house as well. I used to think this was incredibly normal until a friend of mine was riding in the car with us in high school and after everyone in the car finished belting to Three Dog Night’s “Joy to the World” she paused and said, “Wow. You guys sing a lot.”
Christea
Singing has been an essential and irremovable element of my life. I remember always singing, even before I started to do it in front of people. Like many budding young performers I got my start making plays with my friends and doing karaoke in the basement when I thought no one could hear me. Eventually I decided to go public, and the rest is history.
Jean-Jacques
I was messing with old instruments as a young kid and even then was already interested in creating music (I can’t call it composing though lol!) but did not get serious until my early teens when my dad took me to my first piano lesson. I also started to play the drums in my mid teens but kept my piano interest as I always wanted to write music. After my drum teacher (who became a friend and a mentor), died in a car accident, I slowly went back to playing keyboards only, until this new project came along.
3. Who are your influences?
Hayli
Patty Griffin is my all time favorite female artist and has had a huge impact in the way I sing. Her lyrics are both gut-wrenching and beautiful and her voice is like no other. Folk music just speaks to my soul and my voice is very suited for it. Now, how a lover of folk music ended up in a Frenchman’s rock band is beyond me, but it works somehow and it’s a total blast! As for my other influences, Brandi Carlile rocks my socks off. She’s a brilliant performer, positively infectious, and the emotion that pours out in that incredible voice of her’s inspires me and gets me jazzed up and ready to sing. My last great influence dates back to my childhood and my love for The Sound of Music. I’ll admit it - I still want to be Julie Andrews when I grow up.
Christea
For music: Nina Simone, Radiohead, Billie Holiday, Janis Joplin, Lauryn Hill, Spoon, The Beatles. For acting: Steve Wangh, Jim Carrey. For life:
my parents.
Jean-Jacques
I grew up listening to Barclay James Harvest, an English band; they are not known in the U.S., but they’re just the best songwriters, with beautiful melodies and mellifluous voices so they had a huge influence on my writing early on. I also like very creative artists who beat to their own drum like Peter Gabriel, especially his earlier live performances, Pink Floyd, and in a totally different genre I also like Pat Metheny.
Patty Griffin is my all time favorite female artist and has had a huge impact in the way I sing. Her lyrics are both gut-wrenching and beautiful and her voice is like no other. Folk music just speaks to my soul and my voice is very suited for it. Now, how a lover of folk music ended up in a Frenchman’s rock band is beyond me, but it works somehow and it’s a total blast! As for my other influences, Brandi Carlile rocks my socks off. She’s a brilliant performer, positively infectious, and the emotion that pours out in that incredible voice of her’s inspires me and gets me jazzed up and ready to sing. My last great influence dates back to my childhood and my love for The Sound of Music. I’ll admit it - I still want to be Julie Andrews when I grow up.
Christea
For music: Nina Simone, Radiohead, Billie Holiday, Janis Joplin, Lauryn Hill, Spoon, The Beatles. For acting: Steve Wangh, Jim Carrey. For life:
my parents.
Jean-Jacques
I grew up listening to Barclay James Harvest, an English band; they are not known in the U.S., but they’re just the best songwriters, with beautiful melodies and mellifluous voices so they had a huge influence on my writing early on. I also like very creative artists who beat to their own drum like Peter Gabriel, especially his earlier live performances, Pink Floyd, and in a totally different genre I also like Pat Metheny.
4. One obscure interesting fact about yourself.
Hayli
I once won an award at Girl Scout Camp for cleaning the portable toilet until it was spotless. No joke.
Christea
I have a tooth that grew in sideways. Nobody really finds this interesting except for me and my dentist. One of my brothers also has a tooth that grew in sideways, but on the other side of his mouth. Neat, huh?
Jean-Jacques
My mom died when I was 7 years old and since then I have been dreaming of other worlds. That’s probably why I have written a couple of science fiction screenplays and also why I always wanted to move to America!
I once won an award at Girl Scout Camp for cleaning the portable toilet until it was spotless. No joke.
Christea
I have a tooth that grew in sideways. Nobody really finds this interesting except for me and my dentist. One of my brothers also has a tooth that grew in sideways, but on the other side of his mouth. Neat, huh?
Jean-Jacques
My mom died when I was 7 years old and since then I have been dreaming of other worlds. That’s probably why I have written a couple of science fiction screenplays and also why I always wanted to move to America!
5. If you were trapped on a deserted island and could only take one album with you, which would you take?
Hayli
One album? Yikes. This is so stressful. I’d have to go with Patty Griffin’s Downtown Church. It’s missing all of her classics, but it’s so hopeful. I think I’d need that if I was trapped by myself!
Christea
Radiohead’s 2007 album In Rainbows - probably the most important album to my musical development. For me it was a big turning point in how I feel about and listen to music - I had never heard anything like it and had never been stirred so alarmingly as I was with this album. I also discovered it during my first year of college so I have a lot of great memories associated.
Jean-Jacques
Tough question!... I think I would have to go with Peter Gabriel’s “Secret World Live.” I never get tired of it and I just love live music. Manu Katché on drums is simply amazing and with Tony Levin on bass they really make Peter’s music so powerful. I absolutely love Peter’s writing.
One album? Yikes. This is so stressful. I’d have to go with Patty Griffin’s Downtown Church. It’s missing all of her classics, but it’s so hopeful. I think I’d need that if I was trapped by myself!
Christea
Radiohead’s 2007 album In Rainbows - probably the most important album to my musical development. For me it was a big turning point in how I feel about and listen to music - I had never heard anything like it and had never been stirred so alarmingly as I was with this album. I also discovered it during my first year of college so I have a lot of great memories associated.
Jean-Jacques
Tough question!... I think I would have to go with Peter Gabriel’s “Secret World Live.” I never get tired of it and I just love live music. Manu Katché on drums is simply amazing and with Tony Levin on bass they really make Peter’s music so powerful. I absolutely love Peter’s writing.
6. What attracted you about The Giver of Dreams project?
Hayli
When Jean-Jacques first approached me with his idea for The Giver of Dreams, I was working in a financial office and looking for an artistic project to be involved in. At this point in my life it was really important to me to work on a project that was challenging and one who’s message I could really get behind. I wanted to sing, and being a part of The Giver of Dreams from its idea to the realization of that idea has been an incredible experience that has stretched and grown me enormously as an artist. I am forever changed by it. The people are what really make it though. The entire team is stocked with such solid good talented people. It’s an absolute delight to create alongside them.
Christea
I originally got involved by answering a casting call for backup singers for a new faith-based experimental rock opera. I was cast (hooray!), and as development continued I found myself getting more and more involved, taking on a larger role, and working with Jean-Jacques and Hayli to craft and refine the show. I found that I loved working with the team and was excited to help create something new, innovative, and with a good message.
Jean-Jacques
The idea of The Giver of Dreams project has been in the back of my mind for long time but it’s not until 2009 that it became really clear to me that it was the right time for it. I love the concept of something stronger than ourselves pulling us to another dimension, a place opposite from everything we know, from the world we live in, a place where there is only beauty and love. So writing about that journey and creating that dimension through music and live on stage was absolutely irresistible to me! I’m a little out there... sorry about that...lol. As Hayli and Christea mentioned, working together has been so wonderful and I'm so grateful to have such beautiful and talented artists in my life.
When Jean-Jacques first approached me with his idea for The Giver of Dreams, I was working in a financial office and looking for an artistic project to be involved in. At this point in my life it was really important to me to work on a project that was challenging and one who’s message I could really get behind. I wanted to sing, and being a part of The Giver of Dreams from its idea to the realization of that idea has been an incredible experience that has stretched and grown me enormously as an artist. I am forever changed by it. The people are what really make it though. The entire team is stocked with such solid good talented people. It’s an absolute delight to create alongside them.
Christea
I originally got involved by answering a casting call for backup singers for a new faith-based experimental rock opera. I was cast (hooray!), and as development continued I found myself getting more and more involved, taking on a larger role, and working with Jean-Jacques and Hayli to craft and refine the show. I found that I loved working with the team and was excited to help create something new, innovative, and with a good message.
Jean-Jacques
The idea of The Giver of Dreams project has been in the back of my mind for long time but it’s not until 2009 that it became really clear to me that it was the right time for it. I love the concept of something stronger than ourselves pulling us to another dimension, a place opposite from everything we know, from the world we live in, a place where there is only beauty and love. So writing about that journey and creating that dimension through music and live on stage was absolutely irresistible to me! I’m a little out there... sorry about that...lol. As Hayli and Christea mentioned, working together has been so wonderful and I'm so grateful to have such beautiful and talented artists in my life.
Guest Artists
Here are some of the artists who have performed with Fool Ascent
Nance Dance L'Héritier (Dancer, Choreographer)
Danielle Stopek (Flute, Bassoon, Sax, Keyboards, Piano)
Gadi Caplan (Guitar)
Jordon Cunningham (Piano, Keyboards)
Rob Watkins (Drums)
Chris Trimboli (Singer)
Dina Lucchesi (Singer, Mime)
Kathryn Connors (Singer, Dancer)
Lauren Gismondi (Singer, Dancer)
Natasha McKoy (Singer, Dancer)
Karen Moulton (Singer)
Kelly Moulton (Singer)
Danielle Stopek (Flute, Bassoon, Sax, Keyboards, Piano)
Gadi Caplan (Guitar)
Jordon Cunningham (Piano, Keyboards)
Rob Watkins (Drums)
Chris Trimboli (Singer)
Dina Lucchesi (Singer, Mime)
Kathryn Connors (Singer, Dancer)
Lauren Gismondi (Singer, Dancer)
Natasha McKoy (Singer, Dancer)
Karen Moulton (Singer)
Kelly Moulton (Singer)