"Don't push it , don't put nothin in it unless you feel it, it'll go up by itself"
Nina Simone.
Influences
My mother played the cello and sang, and my Uncle Alex Lindsay was an accomplished classical violinist and conductor of the New Zealand National Orchestra, so my background at home was classical. I joined the school choir and learned to sing there and sang along with songs on the radio. All of my older sisters were into rock and roll and pop music.
Growing up in a small town in New Zealand we listened to the radio a lot, and the rock and roll music I heard there just blew me away, well actually it saved my life.
It gave me somewhere to go, it gave me goosebumps all over my body. Rock and roll became the drug of my choice. It really was all about the music.
There is so much music in Southland, in fact New Zealand at large.
It was what we did, small pubs, local church halls, we hung out listened to local bands and danced all night long. The radio ruled and on the sunday request session they played everyone from Elvis, to Patsy Cline and Hank Williams, to Irish traditional songs. It is a rural population, I guess that is how some of that country music seeped into my veins. I loved Motown and Soul Music and later Reggae, partly because of the Maori and South Pacific influences in New Zealand. I like folk music, songs that tell stories. Bob Dylan, Lucinda Williams, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Waits, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Chrissie Hynde, Van Morrison, Marianne Faithful, Ray Lamontagne, Emmylou Harris, Rickylee Jones, Steve Earl. The Beatles, and the Stones, The YardBirds, The Who, The Animals, Led Zeppelin, The Small faces , Traffic, Blind Faith , Nick Drake , The Byrds, David Crosby, The Allman Brothers, Crosby Stills Nash and Young, Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt, Sandy Denny, Joan Armatrading, Annie Lennox , The Band, Tom Petty, The Eagles, Bob marley ,The Beachboys, Jimmy Hendrix, The Cowboy Junkies, Mazzy Star, Cold Play, Norah Jones, Etta james, The Doors, Patsy Cline, Elvis.
Ray Charles , Aretha Franklin, Howling Wolf, Memphis Minnie, Billie Holliday , Muddy Waters.... I heard John Prine first in Australia and that changed me as a songwriter. Here's to Sheryl Crow , Shawn Colvin, Daniel Lanois, Ron Sexsmith, Ben Harper, U2, New Zealands own Split Enz and Crowded House, Dave Dobbyn , Neil and Tim Finn.
These and many more, are the artists that influenced me and I can only aspire to do them justice. I feel lucky to have grown up in New Zealand, a country that listens to and loves such a wide range of music.
Helen Henderson, LA based singer/songwriter from New Zealand
This is the official Helen Henderson myspace page.
Please note that Helen Henderson is not associated in any way with Rosetta Stone Music and Rosetta Stone Music does not have the legal authority to represent Helen Henderson.
Called a "Kiwi Siren" by the Los Angeles Times January 2002, New Zealand born singer / songwriter , Helen Henderson hails from Southland, New Zealand. Helen started her musical career in England, where she signed with London based Ensign Records, the label of Bob Geldoff and The Boomtown Rats, Sinead O'Connor, and the Waterboys. Later she followed the West Coast sounds she loves, to Los Angeles , Southern California.
Helen Hendersons' album "Sonora Sessions" was recorded in Los Angeles and released to critical acclaim in 2000.
Her new record, yet to be released, was recorded at FAME Studios, Muscle Shoals, Alabama, fondly referred to as "the cradle of rock and roll." Amongst the greats that made records in Muscle Shoals are The Allman Brothers, and later The Rolling Stones, who recorded "Sticky Fingers" as part of the English Rock and Roll invasion to America and the Blues. It is a southern musical tradition that drew this songstress all the way from the South Pacific to the cottonfields of Alabama. Simple and raw, this record captures a moment in time and some tantalizing soul from a "Kiwi Siren."
The album features stunning new material played by some of the finest musicians in the U.S. Doug Pettibone( Lucinda Williams, Jewel, Ray Lamontagne)), David Hood, (Etta James, Aretha Franklin, John Hiatt, Duane Allman, Rod Stewart), Brian Owings ( Shelby Lynne,Tony Joe White, Buddy Miller,),Larry Byram ( Steppenwolf), Spooner Oldham (Bob Dylan, Neil Young, JJ Cale, Linda Ronstadt, Jewel), Gia Ciambotti(Bruce Springsteen, Joe Walsh), engineer Jimmy Nutt, Matt Downs and Dave Raven. Dusty Wakeman (Lucinda Williams, Dwight Yoakum,) produced two tracks at Mad Dog Studios in Los Angeles. The record rocks, it is a powerful, haunting collection of songs which showcases Helens alluring voice and songwriting skills.
Howdy Helen! I wanted to drop you a note to thank you for taking the time to accept us as your friend, and listening to our music. We appreciate the gesture and are grateful that you enjoyed our tunes enough to add us to your community of friends. After all, having people connect with our music is why we do this. I hope you'll come by often to say hello and let us know what's happening with you, and when you have a spare moment, please visit our brand new webpage at www. crosstimbersbluegrass. com there you can listen to more of our music and find out more about us. Feel free to sign the guestbook! (And if you have any ideas about how we could improve the webpage, be sure to let us know)
All my best and thank you again, Matt (the bass player) Cross Timbers
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Hey Friends! I am in the home stretch of an online talent contest! I would really appreciate your votes so I can make it all the way to THE TOP! The voting begins on Tuesday March 18th! You can vote once a day until the contest ends.
Voting for this new round ends April 1st. Top 5 is announced that day and voting ends April 8th when they announce the winner of $10,000.
All top 5 winners get this prize package:
* Placement in a Billboard Magazine ad * A round-trip ticket on Southwest Airlines * Choice of an A&R critique or a GuitarCenter gift card Thank you in advance for your support and your votes!
