Drinks Issue 2021 – Austin’s Anastasia Hera Makes Her Own Music and Tropical Rum: Inspired by nights at Flamingo Cantina, the rapper/singer finds her spirit – Food
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Courtesy of Hera Tropical Rum
In an effort to expand her musical reach into advertising, established rapper / singer Anastasia Hera from Austin released “Changin ‘Lanes” last February in collaboration with a local commercial truck driver school.
The unexpected collaboration with Hera at the wheel of an 18-wheel worked. The artist soon joined in, signing a management deal with So Bold Entertainment of South Carolina, which she linked with Charleston’s Striped Pig Distillery to launch her own liquor brand. During the week of our conversation, Hera shot her first commercial for the HERA Tropical Rum to be published – supported by, yes, her own tropical accompanying jingle.
“In my first conversation with [distillery owner “Pixie” Paula Dezzutti], she asked me about my favorite spirit, “says Hera.” I’m not a big drinker, but back then it was always a Malibu or some coconut rum and cola. In between and the nights at the Flamingo Cantina with the mix and blend of music I grew up with, a tropical rum just felt natural. “
Dezzutti’s company Local Choice Spirits previously released beverage brands with musicians like country act Tyler Boone and rap artist Boosie BadAzz. They hope to have bottles of Hera’s banana and coconut rum available this fall, with more flavors. The first HERA Tropical Rum can be enjoyed straight, on the rocks or frozen – with the recommended mixers made from coconut water or pineapple juice.
Anastasia Hera (Courtesy Hera Tropical Rum)
“Just like with music, I want to present it to people who are like me,” says the creator. “I’m not a party girl out there every weekend, but I like to have fun sometimes and let go. I like the idea of drinking it with something softer like coconut water because the flavor is enough to hold its own.”
Growing up in Austin, Hera said the only tropical places she visited were “in my head through the music”. Adult trips to Belize and Puerto Rico as well as the longstanding love for Bob Marley inspire her current creation. “I love what artists like [Marley] managed to get along with their niche and it touched the whole world, “she says.” That’s what I’m trying to achieve here, from my own little corner of Texas: and how can I make it accessible to everyone? “
She will be releasing her HERA Tropical Rum commercial soundtracks as singles, signaling a change in her music making following the release of This Is Anastasia in May. (Appropriate for Inselvibes, the EP included the aquatic track “Big Tuna” with a big fish-in-a-small-pond metaphor.) That year, the singer began producing her own tracks for the first time in her career, as well practicing with a new band as Anastasia Hera & the Heroes.
“The last part of this summer was just me, locked in with my computer and making my own beats,” says Hera. “So far I’ve only used the music of other producers to make my music. Now that I’m confident enough to put my own compositions together, I want to show people.”
The artist also found wider audiences after signing with So Bold Entertainment’s manager Douglas Lofton, including a distribution deal with Sony Orchard. This fall, she plans to carry her bottles with a palm frond logo in bars and hotels in the area. She mentions the always solid idea of bringing a life-size cardboard cutout.
“I’ve put out great music before, but nobody outside of Austin really heard it,” she adds. “Now I have another reason for people to pay attention. I think, ‘Guess what? I’m not just the pretty face holding this bottle. Listen to this album – you’ll be touched.'”
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