Well I think it’s safe to say I’ve broken my own personal best for the longest time between
blog posts! (Woops!) My apologies (once again) for the delay! It’s been for a good reason
though and that’s because a lot has happened in the last few months that in all honesty I’ve
been putting off doing this post as there’s so much to recap on and talk about.. But no more
procrastinating, I hereby give you my latest blog post! And it’s a monster…
So where did I leave things last time? Wow ok ‘Behind Your Eyes’ was yet to be released as
digital download!! Well I’m happy to say it has been released and so far, so good! I have
been really pleased with the overall reaction and support I’ve received for the single. It feels
like I released this song a year ago but it’s only been a few months!? It’s been getting good
radio play, Phoenix FM are great supporters, especially Michelle Ward from the ‘Eat My
Brunch’ show in the mornings who had ‘Behind Your Eyes’ on her ‘A- Playlist’ on rotation,
which I was really happy and appreciative of! I’ve also had support from Basildon Radio, who
is a new supporter, plus EGH Radio on their Unsigned Madness Show. RocRunna Radio in
NYC have also been very supportive throughout as well as Chelmsford Community Radio on
the Shakeys Sessions show. UGM Network have also been great supporters and have
been playing ‘Behind Your Eyes’ on their fab new radio show UGM Radio. I’ve also started
working with Deuce Radio and Rob Saunders regarding radio promotion and have been
pleased to see ‘Behind Your Eyes’ being picked up by different indie and FM Radio stations,
such as The Spread Show on https://twitter.com/WRFN1025,
https://www.facebook.com/TheMondayMix, http://169.45.193.182/~blowupra/main.html,
http://www.radiovest.dk/, The Alternative Club Time 107.5 FM www.time1075.net, as well as the
latest Deuce Show https://soundcloud.com/deuce-show/ as well as others! As I said in my
last blog post, I was really happy when it was picked up by BBC Essex Introducing too.
I’ve also found ‘Behind Your Eyes’ had been added to a few cool playlists by music bloggers
such as Angry Baby Music (links are on my ‘Reviews and Press’ page), Flo is a brilliant
blogger and I always value her support, plus Big Jim Cambo’s ‘Alternative Fridays’ music
blog for May, Jim is also a contributor and moderator for ‘Fresh On The Net’. I also chatted
to Gavin Watson from a ‘Music Blog Yea?’ who took the time to check out ‘Behind Your
Eyes’ and said the following; ‘’I liked the track, thought it was heading off perhaps in a
theatrical direction at first but as it kicks in it’s a nice slice of twisted pop and soul’… safe to
say I loved his description! You can tell he’s a writer hey! I really appreciated the time he
took to listen to the track and for his feedback, I hope to keep in touch and send him my next
EP when it’s ready!
I’ve done a few gigs and showcases between this time, I did a set at Asylum Chelmsford
with Darrel Mayhead on guitar with me, which went well! I also made it down to the Piano
Works in London for the first time to do a couple of songs for the open mic, organised by Luc
Floreani, who is fab artist manager and manages Dan Olsen, who is a great artists and they
are both lovely! It was a new experience for me, it was stepping out of my comfort zone,
getting up on stage with no rehearsals doing a couple of covers with Eddy Smith on piano,
who is a total pro and very talented. It was great to meet a new bunch of like-minded people
and I really enjoyed it. Luc and I have discussed me doing a showcase slot with them in
time, which would be fab and I plan to do a few more of the open mics there too in the
meantime. I also gigged at The Old New Inn, Colchester in April plus Acklam Village in
Portobello Road, Notting Hill with HotVox Promotions for the first time and absolutely loved
it. I got a great reaction with Adriano on guitar, I was in a pub later on that day and a lady
recognised me and complimented my voice and performance, which really made my day. I
have been asked back since, which is great and I hope to get there as soon as I can. I also
did a set at The Headgate Theatre in Colchester in support of The National Trust, which
Crazz performed with me. It was nice to be working with him again. I took the opportunity to
have some photos done of us by Robert Watts Photography, who I’ve worked with on my
music videos. Check out my gallery to see some! I also did a fab showcase at The Finsbury,
London 2nd June, with Emerald Live raising money for Kori http://www.kori.org.uk . I was
alongside a fab lineup supporting upcoming artist BXRBER. Adriano joined me on guitar at I
really enjoyed the night. We had some photos and a live video done of our performance
which you can check out on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZwSanosjWU.
I also did a set at The Bull, Colchester again and Darrel did guitar with me. It was great to be
back! I also performed at Apples & Pears Bar, Brick Lane, London with Who Run The World
Promotions, who I’ve been involved with before. I really love their message and the platform
they give for female artists and female fronted bands. #GirlPower.
The world learnt of the shocking news that Prince had sadly passed away. My wife (well not
really my wife but one of my best friend’s, we nickname each other wife.. It all started in
sunny Ibiza 6 years ago.. It’s a long story, so moving on! Lol.) Anyway, Prince was wife’s
idol/favourite artist and I couldn’t help but immediately think of her devastation before my
own once I heard the news. Prince was really up there with the greats but I feel he was
slightly overlooked sometimes! His artistry and talent was iconic and his loss was felt across
the world. It was especially fitting and touching when in fact it did snow in April. It was great
to see so many tributes and footage emerging, which I had never seen before.
I’ve also been doing more writing these last couple of months, I just got hit with the
inspiration stick again and I wrote a few new songs and some new hooks. I’ve been in talks
with a couple of producers regarding co-writing and I also wrote to a brilliant piece by a local
muso Louis Takoree, who is super talented and works closely with a local singer/songwriter
James Burrage who is also a great talent and just a lovely guy, who is doing well and great
to see! Writing to music (rather than putting music to a top-line I’ve already written) is a new
concept for me, as it’s usually the other way round, so I felt a bit unsure of whether I’d come
up with anything half decent but luckily Louis seemed to be happy with what I’d written. The
piece is really haunting and beautiful, I’m looking forward to developing it further and
recording it! Louis and I are looking to co-write together further and he will also be joining me
on some future gigs and performances, which I’m looking forward to! I’m also hoping to do
more with Elliot Richardson, who I’ve been working with, in terms of co-writing. Song-writing
is a great passion of mine, it’s such an outlet for me, I find it very therapeutic as well as
singing and I really enjoy working with others to bring something to life! A big aspiration of
mine is to forge a career as a song-writer. I’m aiming to build a catalogue of material behind
me as well alongside my own EP’s as an artist in my own right. I’m going to go with the flow
and see where everything takes me.. However, song-writing is definitely a big focus for me,
I’ve written so many songs and I’d love to develop as many as possible and co-write further.
I attended the Ultimate Seminar Live at The Notting Hill Arts Club, which was a new concept
put together by the awesome Cre8ing Vision and Ultimate Seminar Team. There was a great
showcase of artists and it was good to see Kwame and the team again. Naturally.. I bagged
a place right by the front of the stage (well people can see over my head, whereas I
definitely cannot see over other people’s.. #tinybutmighty haha!) It was a great night and I
hope they do another, I would definitely attend again.
I also had a mini reunion with my New Skool Rules fam! If you read my blogs (and I hope
you do ;-p), you’ll remember I went to Rotterdam last year with my friend and fellow
singer/songwriter Leanne Louise. We teamed up with the mighty Call Me Unique and
Danieal whilst out there and were often asked if we were in a girl band! (LOL!) I had an
audition with the awesome Henca and Greg, who are the founders of New Skool Rules to be
in with a chance to be involved with their exchange opportunity and/or have a showcase slot
at the next conference they have, which would be amazing! I raved about this conference
last year and I’m still raving about it now! Fingers crossed something comes from it!
We also, between the last blog and this one, lost yet another legend – Muhammad Ali, who’s
wisdom, courage and determination is just an inspiration to everyone. 2016 has surely got to
be one for the records?!
I also somehow managed to escape for a few days to Pollenca, Majorca with family, which
was a great break.
July is quite a busy one for gigs! Check out my gigs and live shows page for more details!
I’m also excited to say I’m back in the studio to record another song (I’m hoping possibly 2
more songs) for my EP starting from 1st July, which I’m really looking forward to! I can’t wait
to finally show you all what I’ve been working on this past year, however, all good things
come to those who wait as they say and hopefully I won’t disappoint! It’s not something I
want to rush, however, I have a goal in mind which I’m aiming for so I’m on track.
I will also be releasing ‘Guys Like You’ on SoundCloud soon, which I recorded with Elliot
Richardson and will also be releasing the cover I did, which was recorded by him also!
So I think that pretty much concludes all that I’ve been up to the last couple of months or so!
To all those who continue to show me their support, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
I never take anything for granted in this tough old industry. I also honestly love to see people
doing well, it’s exciting and motivating to see, especially when they’ve worked so hard for it.
I’m looking forward to the next few months! I can’t wait to have my EP finished soon and
working on building a team to work with in order to help take it forwards and putting it out to
the world!
Until the next blog post – stay classy! As always, just a gentle reminder that you can keep
up-to- date with my goings on via my social media (all links are on this website), don’t forget
to like, follow, subscribe etc etc!
Peace & Love – Helen xXx.
Thank you for reading!