Dressed as an eagle outside a pizza shop may not seem like a fitting role for the winner of the 2013 Telstra Road to Discovery songwriter of the year Award but it is one of Helen Shanahan’s jobs before becoming a full-time musician.
We could manipulate the situation a little and suggest that there is a reference point here in this particular job in that Helen is a bird, not an eagle although her career is soaring but a song bird with an incredibly beautiful voice
I had an opportunity to speak to Helen recently. The name Helen means ‘sun ray’ and Helen is indeed a ray of sunlight. A delightful young lady that tells me her memories of Tasmania are from a decade ago when she arrived here as a high school student with her family on her dad’s business trip. Of that time she only remember Salamanca market but she will have a chance to reacquaint herself with the state when she attends a good friends celebration at the end of the year and also hopes to do some gigs with friend and Tassie singer/songwriter Christopher Coleman.
Helen describes herself as a nervous person and can’t believe she completed a Uni degree in theatre. She decided a career in that area was not for her. Instead deciding on becoming a folk indie artist. Helen says she is not traditional folk but enjoys Joni Mitchell and how Joni’s music has evolved. In her music Helen enjoys storytelling with a melody. She is folk but with the pop song criteria of ‘a catchy melody that people will remember.’
Helen’s writing process consists of keeping a journal of thoughts and observations which in time might take form in her music. Writing the journal Helen says, is very therapeutic. Helen’s day job is a music teacher and she loves helping her students see the possibilities and realise that they too, can have careers as musicians.
Helen’s new single ‘Across the Sea’ from the new EP ‘Finding Gold can be seen here:
View the clip: Across The Sea: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQy3gZspweQ
You can catch Helen live at the following dates and venues:
TUES 14 JULY | THE NEWSAGENCY, MARRICKVILLE NSW | 18+
Tickets available at the door, or www.thenewsagencyvenue.com
FRIDAY 17 JULY| THE SPOTTED MALLARD, BRUNSWICK VIC | 18+
Tickets available at the door, or www.spottedmallard.com
Paula Xiberras
