Helen Austin

Artist Information

Biography

John Lennon Songwriting Contest Grand Prize Winner 2012
Female Songwriter and Artist of the Year - Vancouver Island Music Awards 2011

Helen Austin is a prolific singer/songwriter from the UK now living on Vancouver Island, BC, Canada.

She is no stranger to the stage and has worked as a professional performer for over 20 years. After her previous life as an award winning stand-up comedian, she brings her quirky humour to her musical performances, as well as the ability to tug at your heart strings with her more serious songs.

With her self-produced music videos getting over a million viewers online, she has been earning accolades and acquiring fans from around the world. Her music is now getting regularly licensed in Network TV shows such as '90210', 'One Tree Hill' and 'Ghost Whisperer', along with many MTV shows and ads, including a European Nivea ad campaign.

"From hearing her material, I would want to see her live, buy a shirt and become part of her base community. She doesn't need a record label, she just needs to keep building what she's building and they will come..... "

Helen has written music and lyrics for specific occasions such as her song "Relay", written to raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society’s Relay For Life event, which is now played at Relay events all over the world. She also donated a song for the Helping Hearts website, an organization that helps families with sick children.

"Helen's words and notes are real in the way the best moments in life are real, and she is sincere in every phrase without losing one precious moment of quirkiness." - Indie Music Reviewer Magazine

From April 2009 Helen wrote, produced and uploaded a new song each week onto her website as a free download. Thirteen of those songs are on her album, 'Song of the Week' which was nominated for 5 Vancouver Island Music Awards of which she won two. She was also a top 10 international finalist for the Mountain Stage Newsong competition, has been nominated for several Hollywood Music Media Award and was a John Lennon Songwriting Contest Grand Prize Winner.

"Helen has a beautiful distinct voice and that will always open doors for her all on its own. She reminds me a bit of a female Elliott Smith or Paul Simon"

Helen has several self produced album releases and has a new kid's album out this year. She has also just finished working on a new album with renowned producer, Bleu in LA, which will be out in 2013.

"Every track on this project represents the awesomeness that is Helen Austin the
artist, musician and songwriter." - I Am Entertainment Magazine

Instrumentation

Helen Austin - Vocals/guitar

Discography

2012 - "Always Be A Unicorn" LP

2011 - "Song of the Week 2" LP

2011 - "Treehouse" LP

2010 - 'Song of the Week' LP

2009 - "Home' LP compliation - 'No Plans'

2009 - "Perfect Girl" EP

2009 - "One Eye On The Door" LP

2007 - "Things You can't Undo" LP

2005 - "Music For Hope" EP - Relay For Life

2004 - "Cumberland Christmas Album' LP compliation- 'Wishing'

2001 - "Release Candidate One" LP with Smithers

1999 - "Today" LP

Official Website

http://www.helenaustin.com

Links

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Last.fm
• MySpace

Audio

• HelenAustin_Take_Me_Away
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• HelenAustin_Nearly_Dry
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• Happy
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• HelenAustin_When_We_Were_Young
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• HelenAustin_Fall_Apart
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• HelenAustin_Love_Is
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• HelenAustin_Everybody
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• One Eye on the Door
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• HelenAustin_So_Stay
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• All The Letters
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Lyrics

• Ordinary Girl
• When We Were Young
• All The Letters
• So I Sing To You
• One Eye On The Door
• Take Me Away
• Fall Apart
• All The Letters

Video

All The Letters

Photo Gallery

Press

• Featured Indie Acoustic Artist [+ Show ]
  

  There is a much sought after trait in a musical artist; the ability to transport the listener's emot...There is a much sought after trait in a musical artist; the ability to transport the listener's emotions to another world. In this regard, Helen is a magician. When she sings, "I can make you smile without even trying" on her album Treehouse, she isn't lying—her musical emotions are purely contagious. When she is happy, you are happy. When she is sad, you are sad. Lucky for us, Helen Austin is usually very happy.
  
  Like the very best acoustic performers, less is more for Helen. Without the bells and whistles, Helen's full personality is let out to shine as bright as a sunny spring day. The opening song on Treehouse, "Everybody," shares a life philosophy in simple affectionate terms that wrap around the listener's heart like a warm hug. The closer, "Wonderful Day," is the theme song you've always wished was playing whenever you go out for a stroll.
  
  With a sweet bobbing voice and lyrical playing, Helen's sound fits right in with the likes of Kimya Dawson and the plethora of bands starring Kimya Dawson, but without the sense of ironic detachment. Helen's words and notes are real in the way the best moments in life are real, and she is sincere in every phrase without losing one precious moment of quirkiness.
  
  A mother of two, Helen Austin is able to look at the world in child-like wonderment, but also has the maturity to reflect on and articulate that wonderment. Her songs, like her album's namesake song "Treehouse," where she suggests to herself, "I gotta get out of my head," are reminders that there is a world out there to explore.
  
  Helen is not all rainbows, though, or at least, she knows that oftentimes rainbows have to follow dark clouds and heavy rain. The songs "Don't Ask Again" and "Something to Cry About" delve into the darker side of the emotional spectrum, and in "It Takes a Lifetime," we travel with Helen into true tragedy. Whatever the feeling, Helen helps us feel it.

• Helen Austin [+ Show ]
  

  WOW...Helen Austin is an incredible artist whose album, TREEHOUSE, is proof that this young lady can...WOW...Helen Austin is an incredible artist whose album, TREEHOUSE, is proof that this young lady can sing her behind off. Helen takes a less is more approach to the music on this project keeping it simple by using her acoustic guitar and her voice as the foundation of every song.
  
  "Just Thirteen" is a fun and honest song about that awkward phase in life that every girl experiences when she's "not grown up, just in between." In the song, Helen states that "Naiveté was good to you and me..." summing up how being oblivious to the realities of life can sometimes be a blessing in disguise. For most 13 year olds, ignorance is bliss and this song is the perfect example of that. Great songwriting and singing.
  
  Other great songs by Helen include: Everybody, Treehouse, You and I, and Wonderful Day. Every track on this project represents the awesomeness that is Helen Austin the artist, musician and songwriter.
  
  Overall, TREEHOUSE is a great project that offers 13 incredible songs by one of the most talented singer-songwriters I've heard since first hearing the wonderful work of Alanis Morisette. I am officially a fan of you, Ms. Helen Austin!

Setlist

My sets are usually in 45 minute chunks and are mainly originals (depending on how many sets I am performing). The covers I chose are an interesting mix of popular (recent & past) and obscure.

Basic Requirements

Calendar