Scott Helman relaxes back into the green room couch before his Portland show, and a friendly smile fills his face. He jumps right in, talking about his adventures around the city earlier in the day. Exploring new cities around the world on tour is a passion of his, he later explains, but he loves coming back to his favorite spots if it’s a return trip.
The well-traveled singer-songwriter is only 23, but his music career is far from new. Signed to Warner Music Canada at only 15 years old, Helman has made waves in the Canadian music scene. Headlining tours in Canada, four JUNO award nominations, shows around the world, and a certified platinum song only scratches the surface of it.
He is currently on the last leg of this spring tour, supporting Canadian pals Mariana’s Trench on their Suspending Gravity US tour.
Helman talks about being raised on British pop and 80s hits but found a passion for the music of singer-songwriters in his teens with his guitar and a notebook by his side. He started writing and was quickly immersed in the industry.
Back home, Helman plays headlining shows to masses of fans but remains an opening act in the US. While he explains the different tour lives can be challenging to adapt to, he enjoys the chance to come back to the states and “go back to what I was doing at 15,” hustling to gain new fans in this second start. “It keeps you grounded and keeps the dream alive,” he says.
“There’s always a chance to reinvent yourself and I feel like artists forget that”
Reflecting on his career so far, he’s grateful for the slow climb that has followed his early start. With plenty of great mentors by his side, urging him to be authentic and take his time, it never felt out of control; “I’m going to look back and be grateful that I always had something to strive for,” Helman says.
Helman’s strong belief in authenticity shines through in his music but also his interactions with supporters through social media. He shares how grateful he is and strives to reciprocate the love that his fans give to him. “There’s a really special chance to make your relationship with your fans a community,” he explains.
With new music in the works and more connections with a US label, Helman is looking forward to the opportunity to tackle a larger project and reach more people in the future.
Helman put on a fantastic set with lots of energy and his trusty uke. Crowd interaction and places to sing along popped up in nearly every song. Halfway through “Machine,” a slow acoustic track released back in 2014, he paused to step away from the mic. His voice resonated through the venue as he sang the chorus under a single spotlight in the silence of the crowd. The intimate moment came and went before Helman was back jumping around the stage to his catchy pop hits.
Mariana’s Trench shocked me, but in the best way possible. I had no idea what to expect, but their set was high intensity, passionate, and had the loudest crowd I have ever heard at the Wonder. Singer Josh Ramsay even paraded through the venue up to the balcony during one song, dancing with fans the entire way.
Check out the gallery below to see photos from Scott Helman and Mariana’s Trench at the Wonder Ballroom!
Comentarios