✦ Balloon – Digital Single: 2014

Heroine December’s shimmering pop single, subtly reshaped by Prince through chord rewrites and arrangement tweaks.

✦ — SUMMARY

Released on February 14, 2014, “Balloon” is a digital single by Heroine December, the duo formed by Maya and Nandy McClean. Prince’s involvement was confirmed at release as “rearrangement”, but the full extent of his contribution became clear in 2021 when Maya McClean revealed that Prince helped rewrite the song, adjusting chords and transitional sections during the recording process.

The track also features Sheila E. on congas, believed to be one of her final contributions to a Prince‑associated studio recording, though the exact session date remains unverified. “Balloon” stands as a late example of Prince’s behind‑the‑scenes mentorship of the McClean twins, who had been part of his live shows since the mid‑2000s.

✦ — HIGHLIGHTS

• Released February 14, 2014 (digital)

• Artist: Heroine December (Maya & Nandy McClean)

• Prince credited with rearrangement

• Maya McClean confirmed in 2021 that Prince rewrote chords and transitions

• Sheila E. performs congas

• One of the last known Prince‑related tracks featuring Sheila E.

• Prince’s involvement sourced from Prince Vault

• Represents Prince’s ongoing mentorship of the McClean twins

✦ — TRACK DETAILS

Digital Single – 2014

Artist: Heroine December

Songwriters: Maya McClean (with likely contribution from Nandy McClean)

Rearrangement / chord rewrites: Prince

Additional musician: Sheila E. — congas

Key Notes

• Prince suggested structural and harmonic changes during rehearsals and recording.

• Maya McClean:

“He re‑wrote one of the songs that me and my sister released called Balloon… maybe you can do a little bit of a change here and a little bit there… we used his chords in some of the transitional parts.”

• Prince’s role was uncredited beyond “rearrangement,” but his musical fingerprints are present in the harmonic movement.

✦ — REISSUES & DIGITAL VARIANTS

• Original digital release (2014)

• No physical formats

• No alternate mixes or remasters

• Streaming availability varies by region

✦ — PRODUCTION AND CONTEXT

• Prince acted as mentor, arranger, and creative advisor to Heroine December

• His chord substitutions and transitional rewrites shaped the final version

• Sheila E.’s conga performance is believed to be one of her last contributions to a Prince‑related studio track

• The McClean twins were long‑time Prince collaborators, dancers, and vocalists

• “Balloon” reflects Prince’s interest in developing side projects and supporting artists in his orbit during the early 2010s

✦ — SINGLES RELEASED

Digital only

• Balloon — Feb 14, 2014

✦ — ALT TEXT (SEO)

Heroine December promotional imagery featuring Maya and Nandy McClean, associated with the 2014 digital single “Balloon.”

✦ — DISCOGRAPHY

Free Urself — 2015

Balloon — 2014

Ruff Enuff — 2016 (related Escape‑era activity)

✦ — PRINCE ERA MINI‑TIMELINE

2013 — Prince begins mentoring Heroine December

2014 — “Balloon” released with Prince’s rearrangement

2015 — Free Urself digital activity

2016 — Ruff Enuff sessions at Paisley Park

✦ — GLAM FLASHBACK

“Balloon” floats in as a delicate pop moment shaped quietly but unmistakably by Prince. His chord changes and structural tweaks give the track its lift, while Sheila E.’s congas add warmth and pulse. A small release, but a revealing one — showing Prince still guiding, shaping, and elevating the artists around him.

✦ — COPYRIGHT NOTICE

All images, artwork, logos, and related materials referenced or displayed in this entry remain the property of their respective copyright holders. They are included strictly for historical, educational, and archival purposes under fair‑use principles.

✦ — SOURCES

Prince Vault

Heroine December interviews

Maya McClean (2021 interview)