In an interview with Guitar Center, Gabriella Wilson lounged on an empty windowsill beside someone's picturesque vision of a Hollywood hills mansion's garden. Wilson, known professionally as H.E.R., strummed and sang alongside her signature Stratocaster as she described her relationship with music and Fender's iconic instrument. For H.E.R., the Strat summons images of Hendrix, Clapton, Mayer, and Prince. The Fender Stratocaster is an iconic instrument for iconic players, so it only makes enough sense that H.E.R. might pursue that same distinction.
The Origin Story
From the beginning, H.E.R. wanted to perform, wanted to excite. Her musical upbringing was decorated with fantasies of Alicia Keys, living room performances of her father's cover bands, and her mother's affinity for karaoke. Music, clearly central to her identity, propelled the young Wilson into early notoriety through her early R&B releases, shoutouts from Usher, Wyclef Jean, and eventually, her labelmate Alicia Keys. The H.E.R. brand of music entered the cultural zeitgeist with self-expression, showmanship, and authenticity as main tenets.
The Secret Sauce
Were it ever Wilson's drive to perform, you'd have to imagine her busy schedule is as fulfilling as you'd think. Collaborations with Fender for her own signature Stratocaster, Grammy, Emmy, and Oscar wins, and a surprise appearance during Usher's Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show have brought her to just about every relevant stage you could come up with for a modern musician. A gravitational pull to the stage and a clearly exercised work ethic make H.E.R. one of today's most prolific performers.
Our Call
As one of the highest-profile champions of Fender guitars, we are lucky to have H.E.R. as a modern-day guitar ambassador. Her endless drive towards the next big performance, her focus on authenticity, and her showmanship that seems to know no end makes her worthy of any modern guitar hero conversation. Where do you go after a Super Bowl Halftime Show? Is it all in the rearview after that? For H.E.R., we'll never say for certain.