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Makin Waves Song of the Week: "Hero" by Dina Hall

By Bob Makin

originally published: 08/08/2025

The Makin Waves Song of the Week is “Hero” by Dina Hall. PHOTO BY TINA PASTOR

​​​​​​Sayreville-raised, Bethlehem, Pa.-based singer-songwriter-guitarist-percussionist Dina Hall has been working hard in support of her recent debut album, "Firefly."

The dream-inspired track “Hero” is the Makin Waves Song of the Week.

As the Makin Waves Song of the Week, “Hero” also can be heard between 6 and 8 p.m. on Aug. 8 on “Radio Jersey at ThePenguinRocks.com. If you miss it, you can tune in any time in the archives at The Penguin and Mixcloud.

“I woke up from a vivid dream very early one morning, and knew that there was something powerful happening in my subconscious,” Dina said. “In the dream, I found myself in a large house that I didn't recognize. It was dark outside and there were many rooms, but no lights on in the house. Suddenly, I saw someone I recognized behind a large glass wall. This was someone that I loved very much, but had been estranged from over a year. The main point of the whole dream is that this was their teenage self, and yet they are an adult now. In the dream, I ran all through the house, up and down stairs, inside and outside, but could never reach them, before I woke up. That morning, I immediately started on the song and it just flowed out of me. Words, music, all complete within an hour or so. It was incredible.”




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Joining Dina on the track are bassist Nick Franclik, drummer Josh Kanusky, Hammond B-3 organist Andrew Portz, and guitarists And Killcoyne, Rameen Shayegan and Jay Lapp.

A dynamic Americana blend of folk, rock, and blues, the album was produced, recorded and mixed by Todd Schied at Red Rock Recording in Stroudsburg, Pa.

Hear “Hero” and the rest of the album”Firefly” live when Dina plays Aug. 8, Beneduce Vineyards, Pittstown; Aug. 9, Musikfest, Bethlehem; Aug. 15, Appalachian Mountain Club, Blairstown; Aug. 16, Lost Tavern, Hellertown, Pa.; Aug. 17 and Sept. 1 and Oct. 31, Stone Farm Cellars, Center Valley, Pa.; Aug. 22, SURV, Bethlehem; Aug. 23, Yergey Brewing, Emmaus, Pa.; Aug. 24, Daryl’s House, Pawling, N.Y.; Aug. 29 and Sept. 26, The Hub, Lake Harmony, Pa.; Aug. 30, Hotel Bethlehem; Aug. 31, Sept. 19 and Oct. 25, Stone Farm 46, Easton, Pa.; Sept. 5,  Bucks County Brewery, Pipersville, Pa.; Sept. 6, Hopewell Valley Vineyards; Sept. 12 and Oct. 19, Brothers Kershner, Skippack, Pa.; Sept. 20, Mr. Lee’s, Bethlehem; Sept. 27, Lost Tavern, Hellertown, Pa.; Sept. 28, Phoenixville First, Phoenixville, Pa.; Oct. 24, Riegelsville Inn, Riegelsville, Pa., and Oct. 27, Sumneytown Hotel, Sumneytown, Pa.

She’ll also play with her full band Oct. 12 during Oktoberfest at SteelStacks in Bethlehem.

Bob Makin has produced Makin Waves since 1988. Follow Makin Waves on Facebook and contact Bob at [email protected].




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About the author:

New Jersey Stage is proud to be the home of Bob Makin's Makin Waves column since 2017. His Song of the Week column comes out every Friday. He also writes an Album of the Month and Interview of the Month as well.


EVENT PREVIEWS

(CARTERET, NJ) -- The Carteret Performing Arts & Events Center presents John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band on Friday, November 13, 2026 at 8:00pm. The legendary Rhode Island multi-platinum rock band began their career in 1973 and achieved mainstream success in the 1980s with the "Eddie & The Cruisers – Motion Picture Soundtrack".

Outpost in the Burbs Presents Richard Thompson with Zara Phillips in Benefit Concert for Toni's Kitchen on November 21st

(MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- Outpost in the Burbs will present an extraordinary evening of music featuring singer-songwriter and guitarist Richard Thompson with Zara Phillips on Saturday, November 21, 2026 at the First Congregational Church in Montclair. The special concert will serve as a fundraiser in support of Toni's Kitchen, the Montclair based nonprofit dedicated to combating food insecurity and related challenges in Essex County and beyond. Showtime is 8:00pm.
 

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