Backstage At Lollapalooza With Helena

helena

Lollapalooza wasn’t only for the big stars. A lot of up and coming new bands and new artists made their collective big time festival debut at the event. One such artist is Helena. The India-born, Los Angeles-based 21-year-old newcomer has a lot to say. Her unusual life so far has provided heartfelt lyrical grist for the songwriting mill, inspiring the fanciful, synth-driven pop songs she’s conjuring up with producer Sandy Chila for her debut album for Warner Bros. Records. We caught up with her before her set at the BMI stage to see what she had planned for the festival, her album and the method behind her writing.

How excited are you to be playing at your first Lollapalooza?

I can’t really put it into words. Everything just looks fun and it’s outside and the weather is great. It’s awesome.

Have you played at any other show where the heat has been as unbearable as this one?

I spent a lot of time in India so it’s hot there. Actually performing, I just did my first small festival, BloomfestLA, which was in downtown L.A. That was pretty hot and I was wearing all black and now I’m wearing all white. Hopefully that will help.

What do you have in store for your set?

I’m going to be doing “Sunlight,” which is our first digital release. After that, all original songs and a cover of Miike Snow’s “Black & Blue.”

Why did you pick that song?

I never was into covers before and they said I should do a cover because it’s really fun and it’s something familiar. I like Miike Snow and a lot of bands from Sweden and that area.

What would be a creative way to describe your sound?

It’s film for your ears.

What does that mean

My music is cinematic. What I see I transcribe it and put it into poetry and it’s emotion that makes an image.

So what you’re saying is that there are a lot of metaphors and similies.

A lot of imagery. I’m inspired by a lot of myths and folklore, so that kind of inspires it a lot, like personal challenges and weaving them into gold.

How’s the album coming along?

It’s really awesome. It’s like my first gift to the universe. Hopefully next year it will be out. It’s like a baby, you feed it and give it water, then it gives back to you.

What are you looking forward to doing in Chicago while you’re in town?

There’s a place called The Violet Hour, which is a dresscode/cocktail bar that’s kind of Alice In Wonderland-y. Also, this really cool bookstore called Myopic I’d like to check out. I want to go to Wicker Park and Buddy Guy’s Legends, which is a jazz club here that he actually hangs out.

What does the rest of 2012 hold for you?

It’s just starting now. I can only hope that things will grow and hopefully a lot more songs will come out so people can hear them.