Hedera | Sterretje | She's Sweetest When She's Naked

The first tune that Hedera performed for us in the FolkEast Squash Court this year is 'Sterretjie' (pronounced "ste-ri-kee"), composed by Maisie Brett. Brett wrote this piece while living in a small South African fishing village last year, where she was collecting data for her entomology PhD. To maintain her musical inspiration and stay connected, Brett and Tamsin Elliott engaged in a tune-writing exchange via WhatsApp voice notes. 'Sterretjie' is one of the beautiful results. The tune is named after the local term for the tern seabird, which translates to "little star."

The second tune was an impromptu and unplanned performance of 'She's Sweetest When She's Naked', a piece thought to describe the ideal way to enjoy whiskey. Although widely considered a Scottish tune, the earliest written reference is believed to be from Northumberland. Tamsin, who typically plays it on the harp, took to the box for this spontaneous rendition, adding a fresh twist to the performance.