Hearts & Hands

Hearts & Hands formed in Los Angeles in the early 2000s around vocalist Anya Celeste, guitarist Ethan James, and bassist Marcus Reed. Their debut album 'Reflections' came out in 2005, followed by 'Echoes' in 2008 and 'Choices' in 2011. The title track from that third album, 'Choices,' became something of an anthem for them, though they also had songs like 'Memories' and 'We're Not Alone' in their catalog.

They kept releasing albums through the 2010s, including 'Between the Lines' in 2015 and 'Ashes and Embers' in 2019. Celeste's vocals were often described as soulful, and their lyrics tended toward the introspective. A song called 'Black Swan' apparently stirred some discussion for its subject matter, though that track doesn't appear in their most listed songs.

Their sound was built from Celeste's voice, James's guitar work, and Reed's basslines. They never really broke into massive mainstream popularity, but they developed a following for their thoughtful, sometimes haunting approach to songwriting. The band's name suggested a certain earnestness, which fit with material like 'Faith' and 'Gravity Proof.'