Helvissa
I write poems, my boyfriend is a musician, I can sing a bit.
He wears a black leather 1960s New York policeman's jacket, I bouffant my hair and wear too much eyeliner.
Out now: "Laundrette Love Songs"
Featuring all the tracks you can find here plus a cover of The Velvet Underground's "Femme Fatale". Please contact me for details if you'd like this seven track demo cd.
Tell me about your history? How did you get where you are now?
When I was 14, I was in a heavy metal band called 'Carrion' (oh dear). My job was to write lyrics and make the tea. Except none of the lyrics were heavy metal... I've sung in school and church choirs, and when I was 16, was in a one-woman band, which I wanted to be a female version of The Small Faces and The Who. I ran a fanzine for 4 years which was once Record Collector Fanzine of the Month (wooh! Break open the bucks fizz!).
G. has been in many bands, usually involving loud guitars.
Have you performed live in front of an audience? Any special memories?
No - not yet, there's only two of us doing ALL the music!
Your musical influences
My influences are The Smiths, Suede, Blur, The Divine Comedy, Pulp, Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra & Las Vegas Lounge and 60s girl garage punk.
The boyf's are the B-52's, The Jesus & Marychain, Kraftwerk, The Velvet Underground, the experimental pop band, Tompaulin, Blue Note jazz and surf instrumentals.
Feedback, distortion, minor scales!
Mix it all together and you get HELVISSA!
What equipment do you use?
Korg poly61,Crumar Composer/Roadracer analogue synths(ie - real ones made with wood and are very heavy), Hammond organ, Hohner bass, gibson SG guitar with very heavy gauge strings and a microkorg.
Anything else?
I write most of my poems in the library where I work, or on the bus.
My ego is vertiginous.
