Helena Deland is the kind of artist that makes you want to smile. Her ability to convey raw emotion through her heartbreaking lyrics is a talent only found in the truest of songwriters. Hailing from Montreal, Ontario, Helena has been making waves in music through her experimental use of synthesizers coupled with folk tunes. Currently on a US–tour, with a stop in Philly on April 4th, I got the chance to chat with the singer–songwriter about her shift in musical processes, new solo performances, and even got some details about potential collaborations she has in the works.
Street: With your music that you have recently been putting out, there has definitely been a shift from Tori Amos style to Zero 7 where you are using a lot more synths. What is producing this shift?
Helena Deland: It is definitely what I’ve been listening to and the time I’m in the studio when I’m jamming to songs with the band. I’ve been more and more into electronic music, and my interest for techno happened super recently so I guess it shows in the gradual change in the music. It’s really exciting, but it is hard to predict what the next thing I will record will sound like.
Street: In a world of music where people are coming out with multiple projects a year, you’ve stayed quiet, releasing a total of eight songs over the past year and a half. Why don’t you feel this pressure to constantly produce like your peers?
HD: Well I think I’m very well surrounded. The people I work with who represent me, the music industry, the label I have in Montreal, the label I have in the states, and my manager, are all so respectful of me that I don’t feel the rush. I decided a while ago that I wouldn’t release anything that I wasn’t super excited to share. Seeing how I’m still easing in to the whole process, it just takes time. I wouldn’t be surprised if I produced music at a quicker rhythm later, but for now I think it is good to take my time and really choose what comes out, and stay well surrounded.
Street: Quality over quantity.
HD: Totally, yeah.
Street: ”Perfect Weather For A Crime” is an excellent song. It’s lyrically detailed, has a super jumpy–catchy tune and with a great title. What inspired this song?
HD: Okay, to be very honest, it was end of summer mood and I was kind of in a relationship that wasn’t very serious and we kind of felt we were only together to kill time. Like it had been a summer romance, it was at that point that we thought “What should we do about this?” but you are so used to the summer attitude towards love and relationships I guess. It’s about not knowing how much someone actually means to you outside of context, if that makes any sense.
Street: I saw one of your shows online that you did a while ago at Sofar sounds in Montreal. Now that you're performing in front of much larger audiences, how have these much more intimate opportunities influenced your career?
HD: Good question. I think Sofar is a great platform that has a lot of visibility and offers both artists and people in the audience opportunities to perform or see a performance that is more intimate. I really cherish those moments as it is a different kind of thrill, but a thrill nonetheless, to play in front of less people. The most stressed out I’ve been for shows has been for small shows in front of my family and friends. It’s much more intimidating and personal than playing in front of 1000 people. It’s an opportunity to evolve.
Street: What makes your solo sets a unique experience from playing with your band?
HD: I think the fact that I’m a woman alone translates something powerful to the audience and I’m very proud of that. The band has this huge energy, and I prefer playing with the band, but I still think that it is pertinent to my music to do the solo sets as well because that’s how the songs are before jamming them with the band or recording them. They always start off guitar/voice, so it’s an insight on the song’s most basic versions. I think that anyone playing solo is kind of interesting for that reason.
Street: Outside of music, what other art inspires you?
HD: What other art am I in to? I read a lot, I think that definitely is how I spend most of my time consuming art outside of music: reading fiction. There have been so many moments where I’ve read a sentence in a novel and had been like, “Well I want that to be the title of my album” or “I want to write a song about that idea.” Both are very close for me.
Street: How do you transfer the art that you enjoy reading into your music?
HD: I think that for me, fiction is the easiest way to see the world through anybody else’s eyes. Sometimes it’s just that feeling where you’re reading something and you’re so satisfied because you just read a sentence that you knew you thought, but hadn’t put words on. When that happens, it’s kind of fun to try and find your own way to say the same thing. That’s music for me.
Street: If you could write a song with any artist, who would it be?
HD: Oh my god, too many options. I just came back from SXSW and I met a woman there called Holly whose project is called Tiny Ruins and it’s really beautiful. We had this really weird moment where I was watching her show and I had been a fan of hers for a few years, and I was super moved by her show. So I went to see her afterwards and we started talking and I felt like I was, how can I put it, I was confirming the feeling I had as being a fan, that we would get along together. So yeah, I’d want to write a song with her and it could even be possible.
Street: Sweet or savory breakfast?
HD: Definitely sweet. I had cinnamon roll french toast this morning as proof of that answer.
Street: Beach or mountains?
HD: Mountains if I have to choose one, but sometimes you can get both at the same time.
Helena Deland is performing April 4th at Boot&Saddle with London-based group Superorganism.
