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Last update: November 2005 |
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The Essex Chronicle interviews Helene, May 2005What's the new album like?It's gonna a bit more focused and integrated than "Postcard", have a bit more of a signature "sound" if all goes according to plan. I think it's maybe a bit sweeter and hopefully a bit more upbeat...well, as upbeat as we're ever gonna get! Simon Raymonde is involved - what does he bring to the Helene sound? He's not anymore! I don't know if i'm supposed to say but basically the Cocteau Twins are sort of reforming and he's really busy with all that just now. We're a bit sad about it because I think there was definitely a kindred spirit thing there, but we have an excellent alternative producer lined up which I don't want to discuss just yet as these things are never final until they're final, easily jinxed etc (as with Simon...) What have you been up to since your last album? Writing, living....I think it's fair to say that Graham and I are quite anomalous in music in that it's not the only thing we can do, we've got a few other strings to our bows and live quite rich lives outside of music/the band. We're both quite creative in other areas and are always nurturing other projects, musical and non-musical. Actually that's true of the whole band. Shall I compare thee to Mazzy Star? Or... Please don't. I don't mind them, I had the first album when I was about 13...but with hindsight I find them quite generic, very heavily derivative, drawing on a very specific genre of music. I've always seen us as being a bit more musically ambitious. I do think I'm a far better singer than her, though I'll concede she has a nice sounding voice - I'm being strictly objective of course! BR> Coolest place you've played? I'm not sure what you mean by that...I'm not sure we've played anywhere particularly cool now you come to mention it. After all these years, do you two have artistic tiffs? If so, who wins? We actually don't have many artistic differences...we have learnt the difficult art of compromise quite well over the years. On a personal level, it's a whole other story; Graham and I are genetically programmed to wind each other up - it can get pretty ugly. Has PJ Harvey so much to answer for? I'm quite sure she has, but as for influencing us, not at all. I don't know where that comes from, it's really lazy and based I think on the sad fact that she seems to be the only female canonical figure around (well, maybe with Bjork) over the past few years. I respect her completely but we're so different it's not worth talking about. And for the record, Graham and I did NOT meet at a PJ Harvey gig - I don't know who made that up, it's not even interesting! Inspiration for songs? My inner life, which is so huge and throbbing and vital I almost have no need to exist outside of it, and which may or may not always stretch it's tentacles into reality. I guess it sounds a bit cheesy but I'm totally ruled by love and the stronger emotions, hate, revenge, desire, pain. Song you wished you'd written? Loads. "Hurt" by Trent Reznor pretty much sums up my life, but i couldn't pick him out of a line-up - I've only heard the Johnny Cash version, which is sublime. Right now I'm overawed by Sufjan Stevens, the exquisite arrangements on his "Seven Swans" album are really inspiring. Heroes? I love Lou Reed, he's the musician I most identify with although he may have been even more horrible than me at his horriblest! Some of those old anecdotes about his nastiness just make me laugh so much, but i like his fierce sense of self, his sense of rightness about what he was doing. Plus his unashamed intelligence - so many boys try to copy the walk without paying any attention to the talk, it's so sad and dumb. Laura Nyro is a sort of immaculate eternal-feminine figure in music. I think she's so important in the way that she approached music in such an individual, and particularly female, way without being soppy or pat. She was so prodigious and bursting with ideas and effortless ability - she really makes music that sounds elemental. I don't think anyone matches her for that. I know I am so far below her, but that's strangely not depressing to me! Not seen you down the Bitterscene night @ The Bassment in Chelmsford lately....haven't forgotten your Essex fan-base have you? No, we're happy to come along and play whenever we're invited, if we can. Hopefully quite soon! What does success mean to you? Success means....um, the ability to have personal contentment and peace, and not to have to compromise in any way outside of the band unit itself.....playing to bigger audiences, who I know would appreciate us if we only had the chance to reach them!....the ability to continue making music to a larger number of people without having to be a cartoon celebrity..... Describe your music to those who've never had the pleasure... You know that's impossible; you do it! (without mentioning M**** S*** or P J H***** I dare you!) If Helene ruled the world you would...??? I would be a terrible despot; I would probably initiate a vicious, bloody culling of stupid people and celebrities. I'd force everybody to watch Wes Anderson films on rotation, and Seinfeld. I'd ban all cars except Citroen DSs. I'd be overthrown very quickly I imagine. Come the revolution...who'd be first against the wall? I really hate unfounded arrogance and pretentiousness - currently perfectly embodied by Johnny Borell out of Razorlight, he really makes me want to smash things - his band just sound like some naff FM radio bollocks from the 70s - Jackson Browne or something!! Unbelievably bland! He went to Highgate Boys, and he's getting treated like some fucking guttersnipe genius! So depressing. Can music save your mortal soul? I do believe it can. Who/what keeps you motivated? Graham does, actually. He pokes me with a big stick and goads me into musical action every time I feel it just isn't worth it anymore. He always uses the tactics he knows will get me - scurrilous threats, appeals to vanity etc - I'm such a simple creature it always works! Logo interview, May 2004. Fanzine interview, 2003. Postcard is available from Amazon, Tower and all good record stores. |
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