Helen – GO (2021)
Bringing together the sounds of old-school R&B and contemporary alternative pop, Helen’s sound lies somewhere between Sade and Ariana Grande. Obscure and intriguing, the US-based singer-songwriter began writing songs as a teenager and now, in her mid-twenties, enjoys co-producing the tracks. Influenced greatly by the likes of Rina Sawayama and Billie Eilish, Helen’s music is unique but with a refreshing familiarity in modern-day pop. The latest addition to her discography is the single ‘GO’.
Following her sultry electro-pop single ‘Forgive Me’ (read our review here), ‘GO’ has a more upbeat and jovial sound to it. I hate comparing singers to other artists, but for the sake of genres, I liken Helen to Billie Eilish. With a childish wistfulness, the latest single represents a carelessness ignoring the grittiness of reality. In fact, Helen shares that “lyrically, the song is light and written from the perspective of someone young exploring newfound love” – as I said, wistfulness. Yet, the track also displays a maturity in the conceptual theme of self-discovery.
Penned approximately two years ago, ‘GO’ has been on the back-burner for some time. Helen explains that “…the words and melody honestly just came to me then and they weren’t lyrics that derived from a particular or personal experience. Fast forward to 2021 I…came across ‘GO’ again and while listening to it I was reminded of the person I was at the time two years ago. It was interesting to me because this song that didn’t have much of a meaning back then now held previous memories and meaning to me.”
Produced alongside Jamie McArdle, ‘GO’ has a kaleidoscopic ambience with a nostalgic reflection to it. Her surreal vocals complement the high-paced instrumentation adding to the sense of lighthearted cheer. The thing is, while there is a whimsical otherworldliness to ‘GO’, Helen is able to integrate a delicate sentimentality in the innocent tune. Sophisticated and superbly arranged, I can see this track being our song of the summer.
For more from Helen check out her official website, Instagram and Spotify.
