Helena Deland

Helena Deland
Deland playing guitar and singing into a microphone
Deland performing in 2019
Background information
BornVancouver, British Columbia
GenresArt pop, indie folk
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • bass
  • piano
LabelsLuminelle Recordings, section1, Chivi Chivi
Websitehelenadeland.com

Helena Deland McCullagh[1] is a Canadian singer-songwriter. To date she has released five EPs: Drawing Room (2016[2]) and From the Series of Songs "Altogether Unaccompanied" Vol. I, II, III & IV (2018) that she has written and composed. Her first full-length album Someone New was released on 15 October 2020. Her second full-length album Goodnight Summerland was released on 13 October 2023. Deland is currently signed to Luminelle Recordings (label founded by Gorilla vs. Bear & Fat Possum Records) for the world as well as Chivi Chivi for Canada. She has toured consistently since the beginning of her career in Canada, United States and Europe.

Biography

[edit]

Born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Deland spent the first years of her life in Summerland, British Columbia before moving to in Quebec City where she grew up. Deland currently lives in Montreal. Her native languages are French and English; however, she primarily writes and sings in English.[3] She began playing piano and guitar as a child and started singing when she moved to Montreal.[4] Deland's inspirations are diverse,[5] including Jessica Pratt, Joni Mitchell, and Sea Oleena.

Deland's musical upbringing is partially rooted in her Québécois heritage, particularly on her father's side. Family gatherings were characterized by the performance of traditional call-and-response songs, reflective of old Québécois customs. In addition to these cultural expressions, Deland's familial musical environment also featured a love for The Beatles, showcasing the influence of the late '60s and '70s on her musical tastes.[6]

Deland studied literature at the Université du Québec à Montréal, an experience that significantly influenced her approach to songwriting [7]

Deland is featured on "Free the Frail", a song from JPEGMafia's third studio album All My Heroes Are Cornballs.

Her 2020 album Someone New was longlisted for the 2021 Polaris Music Prize,[8] and was a Felix Award nominee for Anglophone Album of the Year at the 43rd Félix Awards.[9]

In 2021, she formed the electronic act Hildegard with Canadian producer Ouri. Their eponymous debut album, recorded over eight days, was released June 4, 2021.[10]

In 2022, Deland toured Europe with Andy Shauf and Leith Ross.[11]

Deland released her second solo album, Goodnight Summerland, on 13 October 2023, under the Chivi Chivi label. Intentionally steering "Goodnight Summerland" towards a more acoustic direction, Deland collaborated with New York-based singer-songwriter Sam Evian, known for his work with artists such as Cass McCombs and Big Thief.[12]

In an interview, Deland shared the emotional journey encapsulated in Goodnight Summerland. The album stands is a tribute to her late mother, delving into the complexities of grief and the challenges of navigating life after loss.[12]

The album was a longlisted nominee for the 2024 Polaris Music Prize.[13]

Discography

[edit]

Studio albums:

EPs: 2016: Drawing Room Drawing Room is Helena Deland's first EP released on 26 August 2016 under Montreal label Chivi Chivi. Produced by Jesse Mac Cormack, it includes four songs written and composed by Helena.

No.TitleLength
1."Aix[14]"4:12
2."Black Metal[15]"3:42
3."Baby"4:29
4."Drawing Room[16]"4:15
Total length:16:38

This series of four volumes, produced by Jesse Mac Cormack,[20] was meant to be released as a complete album. The songs were so varied in genre that it was decided to release them separately with the objective of gathering songs that were similar in their themes and sounds.[21][22] The singer's inspirations have a common theme: human relationships.[23]

Vol. I & II were released on 2 March and Vol. III & IV were released on 19 October 2018 via Luminelle Recordings and Chivi Chivi.[24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32]

On February 8, 2022, Deland released a new single titled "Swimmer", which later appeared on Godnight Summerland.[33]

Videos

[edit]
  • 2016: "Baby"[34]
  • 2018: "Claudion"[35][36]
  • 2018: "Take it All"[37]
  • 2018: "There Are a Thousand"[38]
  • 2020: "Someone New"
  • 2020: "Truth Nugget"
  • 2020: "Comfort, Edge"
  • 2021: "Jour 2" (Hildegard)
  • 2020: "Jour 1" (Hildegard)
  • 2020: "Jour 3" (Hildegard)
  • 2020: "Jour 8" (Hildegard)
  • 2022: "Swimmer"
  • 2023: "Spring Bug"
  • 2023: "Strawberry Moon"
  • 2023: "The Animals"

Heland also did live sessions for La Blogothèque and CBC Music's First Play Live.[39]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "A STONE IS A STONE". ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  2. ^ Robinson, Collin (3 August 2016). "Helena Deland – "Aix"". Stereogum. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
  3. ^ Werner, Mackenzie. "INTERVIEW: A conversation with Helena Deland" Archived 7 March 2019 at the Wayback Machine, Hooligan Magazine, 15 December 2018. Retrieved on 6 March 2019.
  4. ^ Kidwell, Zoe. "Getting personal with Helena Deland"[usurped], Milk Agency, 19 October 2018. Retrieved on 6 March 2019.
  5. ^ Finn, Rachel. "Get to know… Helena Deland", DIY Mag, 28 August 2018. Retrieved on 6 March 2019.
  6. ^ Deland, Helena. "Reference Library: Helena Deland Was Inspired by a Latent Memory".
  7. ^ Côté, Émilié. "Helena Deland : s’inventer une version confiante de soi".
  8. ^ David Friend, "Daniel Lanois, Savannah Ré, Charlotte Cardin make long list of Polaris Music Prize". The Globe and Mail, June 16, 2021.
  9. ^ Louis-Philippe Labrèche, "Les nominations du Premier gala de l’ADISQ 2021". Le Canal Auditif, September 22, 2021.
  10. ^ Yara El-Soueidi, "The debut album by Montreal duo Hildegard, track by track". Cult MTL, June 6, 2021.
  11. ^ "Canadian Singer-Songwriter & Artist Leith Ross Unveils New Single 'Orlando'". www.thesoundcafe.com. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  12. ^ a b Philippe Renaud, "Helena Deland chante ce qu’elle n’a pu dire". Le Devoir, October 14, 2023.
  13. ^ "2024 Polaris Music Prize long list: the Beaches, Tobi, Elisapie, Beverly Glenn-Copeland and more". CBC Music, June 11, 2024.
  14. ^ Spill New Music. "Spill Music Premier: Helena Deland – ‘Aix’", The Spill Magazine, 26 August 2016. Retrieved on 5 March 2019.
  15. ^ Thérien, Valérie. "Ecoute intégrale : Helena Deland Drawing Room (EP)". Voir, 19 August 2016. Retrieved on 5 March 2019.
  16. ^ Rayner, Ben. "Your New Favorite Thing: Helena Deland", Toronto Star, 17 February 2017. Retrieved on 5 March 2019.
  17. ^ Lu, Leah. "Stream Helena Deland’s entrancing new EP, ‘From The Series of Songs ‘Altogether Unaccompanied’ Vol. I & II’", Uproxx, 3 March 2018. Retrieved on 5 March 2019.
  18. ^ Hmood, Zahraa. "Helena Deland, Altogether Unaccompanied Vol. III & IV ", Exclaim!, 16 October 2018. Retrieved on 5 March 2019.
  19. ^ Lelièvre, Nathan. "Helena Deland: vive, intime et singulière sur Altogether Unaccompanied Vol. III & IV ", Ici Musique, 19 October 2018. Retrieved on 5 March 2019.
  20. ^ Editorial Staff. "10 new Canadian artists that ruled 2018", CBC Music, 7 December 2018. Retrieved on 6 March 2019.
  21. ^ Powell, Aaron. "On The Rise: Helena Deland". The Line of Best Fit, 9 October 2018. Retrieved on 6 March 2019.
  22. ^ Lindsay, Cam. " Helena Deland Discusses Montreal Community, Gorilla Vs. Bear and Making Day Music or Night Music", Exclaim!, 18 October 2018. Retrieved on 6 March 2019.
  23. ^ Lu, Leah. " Canadian Songwriter Helena Deland On The Friendships That Inspire Her Meditative Synth-Pop", Uproxx, 17 October 2018. Retrieved on 6 March 2019.
  24. ^ Johnson, Tom. "Helena Deland, There Are a Thousand", Gold Flake Paint, 2018. Retrieved on 5 March 2019.
  25. ^ Jetté, Elise. "25 chansons queb qui ont marqué 2018", Journal de Montréal, 27 December 2018. Retrieved on 5 March 2019.
  26. ^ MacDonald, Sarah. "Helena Deland's "Take It All", Noisey, 15 February 2018. Retrieved on 5 March 2019.
  27. ^ Israelsohn, Sophie. "Stream Helena Deland From The Series Of Songs "Altogether Unaccompanied" Vol. I & II", Stereogum, 1 March 2018. Retrieved on 5 March 2019.
  28. ^ Murphy, Sarah. "Helena Deland teases two new EPs with ‘Claudion’ ", Exclaim!, 25 July 2018. Retrieved on 5 March 2019.
  29. ^ Pareles Jon, Caramanica Jon and Russonello Giovanni. "The Playlist: Cardi B Hits Pay Dirt, and 11 Mor New Songs ", New York Times, 26 October 2018. Retrieved on 5 March 2019.
  30. ^ Gordon, Holly. "Premiere: listen to Helena Deland’s hypnotic new song ‘Lean on You’ ", CBC Music, 19 September 2018. Retrieved on 5 March 2019.
  31. ^ Wang, Steffanee. " Helena Deland’s "Claudion" will make you love synth-pop", The Fader, 25 July 2018. Retrieved on 5 March 2019.
  32. ^ Powell, Aaron. " Helena Deland shares hypnotic ballad "Rise" ", The Line of Best Fit, 22 August 2018. Retrieved on 5 March 2019.
  33. ^ "Helena Deland Shares Heartbreaking New Single, "Swimmer"". 26 January 2022.
  34. ^ Marvel, Emillie. "Feature: Helena Deland’s Video for ‘Baby’", idobi, 6 October 2016. Retrieved on 5 March 2019.
  35. ^ Blais-Billie, Braudie. "Helena Deland shares new “Claudion” video: watch", Pitchfork, 29 October 2018. Retrieved on 5 March 2019.
  36. ^ Deland, Helena. "Vision Quest: Helena Deland on the Video for ‘Claudion’ ", Under the Radar, 12 November 2018. Retrieved on 5 March 2019.
  37. ^ Gore, Sydney. " Helena Deland Is Ready to “Take it All” ", Highsnobiety, 7 June 2018. Retrieved on 5 March 2019.
  38. ^ Manning, Emily. "premiere: helena deland’s new video is part David lynch, part 80s power ballad", i-D, 12 March 2018. Retrieved on 5 March 2019.
  39. ^ Editorial Staff. "First Play Live: Helena Deland, From the Series of Songs “Altogether Unaccompanied” Vol. III & IV", CBC Music, 15 October 2018. Retrieved on 5 March 2019.
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