Helen's on the brink of stardom

9:26am Thursday 28th August 2008

A SINGER to watch out for this autumn is Helen Boulding, who has just performed at the Caffe Nero in Bath.

Depending on your musical tastes, you might know Helen from her work with other artists. On the other hand you might just have heard her last two singles ‘Breath’ and ‘Copenhagen’, both from her album which was Radio 2 album of the week in February, and she briefly sang on The One Show, to Marc Bolan’s ‘Life’s A Gas’.

Still no hit - and still not heard of her?

She was co-writer with Fame Academy winner Alex Parks on her number three hit in 2003 ‘Maybe That’s What It Takes’ – the first single made by the Cornish singer after her TV success. Helen appeared on the show while they were writing the song together at the piano.

She has also written with Pink Floyd’s Rick Wright, and American hit maker Billy Steinberg, who wrote such classics as ‘Like A Virgin’, ‘True Colour’ and ‘Eternal Flame’.

But she has also sung with other artists, more recently DJ Schiller, and has toured with Bryan Ferry, Cara Dillon, Ronan Keating and John Mayer. You name it she’s done it.

So, why, I hear you say, haven’t you heard of her that much as a leading artist? Well that, I hope, is all about to change.

During her years in the ‘background’, for the last four of them she was quietly working away on tracks for her debut album New Red Dress. That was released in February and I cannot recommend it highly enough. Take my word for it but wait – sorry Helen! - don’t buy it just yet.

Helen, an endearing, friendly and approachable performer, told me she has a new single out in October. I asked if it was from the album and no it isn’t BUT, it is to be added to the album which will be re-released at the same time so that is the time to buy! If you can’t wait, then buy it now because the talent of this lady is immense.

She was in Bath as part of her tour as Caffe Nero artist of the month – well, two months actually. She was approached by a man earlier this year who said he wanted to buy the album for his wife and he later contacted her to say he was ‘blown away’ by the album. “I’d like you to be artist of the month at my café.”

Little did she know that café was a chain – he was the owner of Caffe Nero and singing in his restaurant involved an arduous, but exciting, two months’ tour through July and August visiting 77 cafes throughout the country, including Bath, sometimes in two different venues on the same day.

“It was a bit of a new thing, coffee with live music during the day – you take music to the people. People find you who probably wouldn’t normally hear you singing, and it is a fantastic experience.

“The most difficult part has in fact been finding parking spaces – but apart from that it has been brilliant. Playing and singing with no PA is a wonderful experience to express yourself.”

There was a hiccup at Bath; we knew there was something wrong because Helen didn’t get off her mobile for ages, and Matt Chandler - who accompanied her on acoustic guitar and also helps her to bring in the kit - was finding it difficult to get a cable to Helen’s keyboard.

A mix-up meant there was no publicity for the gig – no posters or boards outside, no flyers being handed out to let people know Helen was here – today!

Eventually, this was sorted and the material was found tucked away somewhere so Helen and Matt had to hand out the leaflets before their mini show. But the audience that might have been just wasn’t there – just a handful of us, and it’s their loss, unfortunately!

“It can be hard work in that some people won’t know you are coming, but others bring in their albums to be signed,” said Helen. “It is harder work than doing a proper gig. But we usually sell a few albums and we take people’s e-mail addresses to let them know when we are coming to play a concert locally.”

Music was always in the family for Helen. She didn’t have the same tastes as her friends at school – something she puts down to the fact that her father loved country and folk – James Taylor and Rita Coolidge – and her mother rock – Jimi Hendrix and The Stones - and she used to listen to all their albums in her bedroom.

Her uncle Tom has an Irish pub, Fagan’s, in Sheffield and it was the favourite haunt for family do’s. Everyone used to drop in at live music sessions and sing along – often with stars - so singing was “second nature to me”.

In her teens she came down to London twice a week for singing lessons with Annie Lennox’s vocal coach. Her reputation caught the attention of Chris Difford (Squeeze) who invited her to one of his famous songwriting sessions in Devon.

“I started out always wanting to be an artist, and by accident I fell into writing for other people, but I always wanted to do my own thing.”

About four years ago she started putting her life into words and collecting songs for the release of her first album, New Red Dress, on her own independent label Maid in Sheffield. “We were going to release it last year but it became too close to Christmas so we held off until February.

“It’s the story of my life over the years - I always write from the heart, even when writing for other people.”

She sought out Martin Glover – known as Youth – to produce the album. Good pedigree here as he was producer of the year for Verve’s classic ‘Urban Hymns’ album back in the late ’90s and has worked with countless other top artists.

Youth later introduced Helen to The Orb and she co-wrote and performed vocals on the title track of their latest album. And she also sings on Schiller’s latest single ‘Everything’, which she co-wrote.

Back at Bath, Helen sang a set which included beautiful ballad ‘Blue’, then four tracks from the album – ‘Way To Go’ (the lyrics include the title of the album), ‘What a Fool’, ‘Copenhagen’ and ‘Sleepwalking’ – accompanying herself on organ with Matt Chandler on acoustic guitar. The five tracks truly portray her full range of classic British female pop-rock songs, from a voice that is full of beauty, melody and emotion, just right for her feelgood songs. Canadian rock star Bryan Adams was so impressed when he heard Helen’s singing that, as an accomplished photographer who holds international exhibitions, he offered to take the photos for the album cover and publicity material…. more name dropping!

Her new single, ‘It’s You’, will be out in October and is currently featured on the PDSA advert on TV. Four of the songs above are featured on YouTube as is ‘Blue’ and another single ‘Breathe’, a beautiful ballad.

“We’ll be doing a tour around the single so look out for us,” said Helen.

That’s a great way to finish the interview – so do as she says and look out for this 27-year-old because there’s plenty more to come from the girl yet!