Parthenope Wald-Harding
{{Short description|English musician (born 2002)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Parthenope
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name = Parthenope Ann Wald-Harding
| alias =
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|2002}}
| birth_place = Swillington, England
| origin =
| genre =
| occupation = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter|flautist|saxophonist|violinist}}
| years_active = 2015–present
| label =
| current_member_of = Loud LDN
| past_member_of =
| website =
}}
Parthenope Ann Wald-Harding ({{IPAc-en|p|ɝ|θ|ɛ|n|oʊ|p|iː}}) (born 2002), usually credited as Parthenope, is an English musician and singer. She is best known for her cover of Norah Jones's "Don't Know Why", and is a member of Loud LDN.
Early life
Parthenope Ann Wald-Harding{{Cite web |title=PARTHENOPE ANN WALD-HARDING |url=https://www.ascap.com/repertory#/ace/writer/1167175543/WALD-HARDING%20PARTHENOPE%20ANN |access-date=10 July 2023 |website=ASCAP}} ({{IPAc-en|p|ɝ|θ|ɛ|n|oʊ|p|iː}}){{cite web |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CmCXkEPDqjU/?hl=en |title=LOUD LDN on Instagram: "LOUD LDN got a guest mix on @abbieabbiemac's BBC Introducing in Kent show! Some of our members summarised what LOUD LDN is and why it's so important to them. Have a listen to see what it's all about 💖 Featuring: @coupdekat @maisimaisimaisi @piri.io_ @matildaacole @theclarabach @parthenope.music @rosie.charles @charlotteplankmusic @molly.burman" |publisher=Instagram |access-date=17 June 2023}} was born in 2002{{cite web |url=https://www.knkx.org/show/the-new-cool/2022-12-02/blue-note-re-imagined-sequel-offers-more-modern-jazz-updates |title=Blue Note Re:imagined sequel offers more modern jazz updates |publisher=KNKX |access-date=17 June 2023}} in Swillington and attended Chetham's School of Music in Manchester,{{cite web |url=https://www.prolificnorth.co.uk/news/leeds-news/2020/08/welcome-back-project-competition-winners-have-artwork-displayed-across-leeds |title=Welcome Back Project competition winners to have artwork displayed across Leeds |date=4 August 2020 |publisher=Prolific North |access-date=17 June 2023}} where she studied jazz saxophone, and Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Her mother, Hayley,{{cite web |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/rare-violin-left-on-train-17625693 |title=Appeal after a 200-year-old violin left on a train at Manchester Victoria |date=24 January 2020 |publisher=Manchester Evening News |access-date=17 June 2023}} worked in a music centre.
Wald-Harding was initially a violinist, which she played from the age of eleven after being gifted an 1804 Joseph Strauss by a violin teacher, but switched to alto saxophone after hearing her sister, Milly,{{cite web |url=https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/13615608.with-video-witnessing-the-birth-of-a-new-youth-orchestra-in-york/ |title=WITH VIDEO: Witnessing the birth of a new youth orchestra in York |date=20 August 2015 |publisher=Yorkpress.co.uk |access-date=17 June 2023}} play with a jazz ensemble, and after her mother received a shipment of instruments to sell, including an alto saxophone which she found she could not shift.{{cite web |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/parthenope-im-interested-in-simple-super-melodic-playing-3929179 |title=Parthenope: 'I'm interested in simple, super-melodic playing' |date=24 November 2022 |publisher=Yorkshire Post |access-date=17 June 2023}} In January 2020, she left her violin on a rack above her seat on a Manchester Victoria train; after her mother's Twitter appeal to find it went viral, she found it at the station's lost property office.{{cite web |url=https://slippedisc.com/2020/01/manchester-violin-is-found-in-lost-property/ |title=Manchester violin is found in lost property |date=27 January 2020 |publisher=Slippeddisc.com |access-date=18 June 2023}} Later that year, she won an art competition, the Welcome Back Project, which invited applicants to design an advert inviting punters to return to Leeds.
Career
When she was thirteen, The Press noted that she and her sister Milly were members of Yorkshire Young Sinfonia, a Yorkshire-based youth orchestra. In September 2020, she played Monterey Jazz Festival as part of Next Generation Women in Jazz Combo.{{cite web|url=http://www.jazzpolice.com/archives/11069|title=Looking Back – The 2020 Monterey Jazz Festival – Virtual!|date=25 March 2021 |publisher=Jazzpolice.com|accessdate=18 June 2023}} On 29 January 2021, Wald-Harding played flute on Celeste's "The Promise", from her album Not Your Muse, where she was credited as Parthenope Wald-Harding.{{Cite web|title=Celeste / Not Your Muse / Credits|url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/170516128/credits|access-date=August 28, 2021|website=TIDAL|date=29 January 2021 }} Later that year, Wald-Harding{{cite web|url=https://www.leedsconservatoire.ac.uk/about-us/news/sounds-of-leeds-conservatoire-tracks-of-2021/|title=Sounds of Leeds Conservatoire: Tracks of 2021 {{!}} SoundCloud Playlist|date=12 December 2021 |publisher=Leeds Conservatoire|accessdate=18 June 2023}} featured on two tracks by DJ Alex FB: "Guessing Game", also featuring Nate Gordon and Kya, on 29 May 2021,{{cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/4Owx3sA61oRBwaLcS5a6GR|title=Guessing Game by DJ Alex FB|publisher=Spotify|accessdate=18 June 2023}} and "Again and Again", also featuring Harry Linacre, on 24 July 2021.{{cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/0kvtXOBbHqQUINN3MqLvON|title=Again and Again - Single by DJ Alex FB|publisher=Spotify|accessdate=18 June 2023}} On 22 October 2021, she featured on Pastel's "Papaya",{{cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/7oDVqIE7mOh7T5wGVezZKw|title=Papaya - Single by Pastel|publisher=Spotify|accessdate=18 June 2023}} from the compilation album College Music Presents: Back on Track, released the same day.{{cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/4gyR4uReoyljtfVH7VyjL4|title=College Music Presents: Back on Track|publisher=Spotify|accessdate=18 June 2023}}
On 30 September 2022, she released a cover version of Norah Jones' "Don't Know Why",{{cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/artist/6GjXQmzl9dSNUpYpyFJKY0/discography/all|title=parthenope - Discography|publisher=Spotify|accessdate=17 June 2023}} which appeared on the compilation album Blue Note Re:imagined II; as part of a review for said album, KNKX noted that she "stays mostly faithful to Jones' original coffee shop vibe but adds her generational perspective with a more introverted vocal reading and sharp, concise saxophone solos", and likened it to "a coffee shop with free wi-fi, charging stations and great music". In November 2022, she performed at Froge.tour.{{Cite web |date=2022-11-10 |title=Photo Gallery: Piri & Tommy - Scala, London 08/11/2022 |url=https://whenthehornblows.com/content/2022/11/10/photo-gallery-piri-amp-tommy-scala-london-08112022 |access-date=2023-07-10 |website=When The Horn Blows |language=en-US}} On 30 March 2023, she released "City Life", and on 28 April 2023, she released "What You Wanted"; both featured on her four-track 2 June 2023 EP Go Somewhere Alone. On 5 April 2023,{{cite web|url=https://allmusicmagazine.com/rising-star-zak-abel-reveals-new-single-dance-with-you-comeback/|title=Rising Star Zak Abel Reveals New Single 'Dance With You (Comeback)|date=5 April 2023 |publisher=Allmusicmagazine.com|accessdate=18 June 2023}} she played flute on Zak Abel's "Dance With You (Comeback)",{{cite web|url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/282324864/credits|title=Zak Abel / Dance With You (Comeback) / Credits|date=5 April 2023 |publisher=Tidal|accessdate=17 June 2023}} and on 16 April 2023, she performed at Brick Lane Jazz Festival with Vertaal and Harry Pearce.{{cite web|url=https://www.bricklanejazzfestival.com/vertaal|title=Vertaal @ 93 Feet East|publisher=Brick Lane Jazz Festival|accessdate=18 June 2023}} On 9 June 2023,{{Citation |title=Worlds End FM |date=2023-06-09 |url=https://open.spotify.com/album/14FhzR5HOUxorgSJ55Dr1E |access-date=2023-07-10 |publisher=Spotify |language=en}} Wald-Harding co-wrote three tracks on Hak Baker's album Worlds End FM, "Dying to Live", "Almost Lost London" and "The End of the World", and on 13 October 2023, she featured on "Portofino", from Gotts Street Park's album On the Inside.{{Citation |title=On the Inside by Gotts Street Park |date=2023-10-13 |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/on-the-inside/1687137533 |access-date=2023-10-14 |language=en-US}}
Artistry
Wald-Harding is influenced by Michael Brecker's "Pilgrimage", having received it as a Christmas gift; her writing style is influenced by Men I Trust.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ppDVA49mYWU|title=Under The Influence: Parthenope|publisher=Sofar Sounds|accessdate=17 June 2023}} As of January 2023, she is dating Harry Pearce, a bassist and composer.{{cite web|url=https://londonjazznews.com/2023/01/26/jay-phelps-ear-to-the-ground-youtube-channel/|title=Jay Phelps ('Ear to the Ground' YouTube Channel)|date=26 January 2023 |publisher=London Jazz News|accessdate=18 June 2023}} She is a member of Loud LDN.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0dhynpp|title=BBC Music Introducing Kent, Live session: In Waves|publisher=BBC Music|access-date=8 May 2023}}