Hedda the band, featuring the progressive power metal music of Jamie Mac, Kent Herman, Jef Jaeger and John Swenson
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HEDDA came into being in the spring of 2007 when bassist Jamie Mac was contacted by guitarist
Kent Herman, shortly before Kent’s departure from
the progressive metal band DIMENSION X - a group Mac left in the spring of 2001. During their time together in DX, (1998-2001), Kent and Mac found themselves as the main writers for the band, and it was immediately clear that they complemented one another as a writing team. Mac and Kent had diverse musical backgrounds and their tastes in music varied dramatically, but they shared a strong passion for music that was melodic and powerful. They began writing songs for an album that would illustrate a unique blend of melody, harmony, power and concept.

As 2007 came to a close, Mac and Kent had written and arranged material for over a dozen songs, but to take the next step, they needed to fill the vacancies in the band. Mac had worked with vocalist John Swenson some years before, during which time they discovered a mutual respect and cemented a solid friendship; John was an easy choice as the lead vocalist of HEDDA and began working with the band in early 2008.  2007 and 2008 saw some set-backs for the HEDDA project: punctured eardrums, a broken wrist, the loss of a family member…and HEDDA was still in need of a drummer.


Enter percussionist Jef Jaeger, another ex-DX guy (2003-05).  Kent had worked with Jef in several projects including DX and made it clear that Jef was his first choice to fill the drummer’s seat.  Unfortunately, Jef was involved in other projects and was unavailable to do the HEDDA thing.  Over the next months, Kent and Mac continued to HEDDA "The Storm" CDrefine the tracks that would become the band’s first album (“THE STORM”), simultaneously seeking out a drummer that would fit the band’s dynamic.  After looking in countless cities in 3 states to no avail, and with the writing for the record done, it was time to beg, borrow or steal a talented drummer and begin rehearsals.  Well, apparently good things come to those who wait;  months after initially being asked, Kent called Jef a second time; after a short conversation it was evident that Jef’s circumstances had changed.  Jef Jaeger became the drummer of HEDDA and began rehearsing with the band in the summer of 2008. The recording sessions for the four song EP release, “The Calm Before…”, began in the summer of 2008 and was finalized in the Spring of 2009.

In the summer of 2007 Jamie Mac and Kent Herman set out on an expansive journey to write a thought provoking and sonically powerful album. The fruit of that labor is in your hands, and with your assistance and imagination, that journey now continues…