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, singer/songwriter from New Zealand
Helen Henderson hails from Southland, New Zealand. Helen started her musical career in London, and is now based in Los Angeles. Her first CD "The Sonora Sessions " was recorded in Los Angeles, and had excellent reviews. "Henderson matches her powerful backing with confident originals and a convincing mid American voice ..... but it's the folk demons of her Southland childhood that she returns to in "The Ballad of Minnie Dean." Nick Bollinger, The Listener. "She carries these songs on the strength of her songwriting which is right out of the Southern traditions.... a highly convincing introduction to someone we could happily hear more from." Graham Reid, The Herald.
Her latest CD "Twisting Wind" was recorded at F.A.M.E.Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, fondly referred to as "the cradle of rock and roll." Powerful and raw, this album, captures a moment in time, and some tantalizing soul from a "Kiwi Siren."
The CD features stunning new material played by some of the worlds finest international musicians. Doug Pettibone: Guitar,Pedal steel, ( Lucinda Williams, Jewel, Ray Lamontagne) David Hood: Bass Guitar, (Etta James, Aretha Franklin, John Hiatt, Duane Allman, Rod Stewart) Brian Owings: Drums ( Shelby Lynne,Tony Joe White, Buddy Miller,Ray La Montagne) Larry Byram: Guitar, Mandolin, Synth, ( Steppenwolf) Spooner Oldham: Keyboards, (Bob Dylan, Neil Young, JJ Cale, Linda Ronstadt, Jewel), Gia Ciambotti: Backing Vocals, (Bruce Springsteen, Joe Walsh). Mixed by Grammy Winner: Helik Hadar, (Herbie Hancock) Mastered by Grammy Winner: Gavin Lurssen, ( Oh Brother Where Art Thou, Alison Krauss & Robert Plant ,Lucinda Williams) Engineered by: Jimmy Nutt. Matt Downs: Guitar and Synth (LA) Dave Raven on Drums (LA) Dusty Wakeman: Producer/Bass Guitar, (Lucinda Williams, Dwight Yoakum) produced two tracks at Mad Dog Studios in Los Angeles. The CD rocks. Helens soulful voice and haunting songs lure you to the rocks, tempt you with the promise of dry land, and leave you wanting more.
Dear Friend I haven't heard from you in a while. I invite you to stop by the site and take a look around. I've added pictures of our Grand Canyon Shows.Drop by and leave a comment! Jeff
I really appreciate your friendship and ALL your awesome support! Check out my blog for a FREE Memorial Day Weekend Download! Hope ya tell your friends to join us here on MySpace!!!!
Hi Helen, Enjoying your songs today. Do you ever want to come home to NZ and do a show? I just added a new track; 'Paris Evening,' check it out. Katy X
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