Helen J Hicks 'Helen J Hicks' album

Helen J Hicks launches her highly anticipated eponymous debut album with the release of ‘Be Myself’, an upbeat stylish pop anthem with a hint of jazz, a touch of folk and a dash of bluegrass. Both a singer songwriter, entrepreneur and label boss - she launched Loud Mouth Music in 2003 - Helen J Hicks has blazed her own trail.

Hicks - a choral scholar and Cambridge graduate - went from writing songs whilst living in Africa, to signing a five-album deal with Decca Records, fronting jazz outfit HoneyRiders. Their debut album was a success, but Helen missed running her own label and the artistic control of being a label boss. She wanted to make albums for herself once more, and so decided to part ways with Decca Music.

In January 2007, Helen was free to record new material, and Helen J Hicks’ eponymous debut solo album was born. Having come full circle, the new album is about rediscovering who you are, how to love again and most importantly how to be yourself. Released May 28th, debut solo single ‘Be Myself’, with vocals reminiscent of the great Carole King, and an essence of David Gray, is an extremely poignant release for Hicks. “I wrote ‘Be Myself’ when I went on a voyage of self-discovery and allowed myself to be me and to fall in love. Even though it’s hard to be so open and vulnerable with someone, with this person I could, and that’s when I knew I loved him.”

The whole album is poignant to Helen. She wanted to be a little more experimental with her first solo material so, whilst the new album is more folk based than the last, Helen has also introduced her own brand of poetry called “Folk Rap” - spoken word set to music.

The Sunday Times describes Helen’s sound as, “a Joni Mitchell on the cusp between folk and Jazz” and adds, “Helen is as easy on the eye as her songs are easy on the ear.” Harpers and Queen remarked, “Except perhaps for Sinéad O’Connor there has not been a singer/songwriter from the British Isles worth getting excited about since Kate Bush. Helen J. Hicks manages to mix an infectious kinetic mix of bluegrass, jazz, country and funk and sings like a woman who is having a very, very good time”

’Be Myself’ was written by Hicks, and the album ’Helen J Hicks’ was produced, arranged and recorded by Dave Cooke. This collection of songs, plus Helen’s positive outlook on life will prove that this girl has the talent and drive in abundance to be a major international star.

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Helen J Hicks - Helen J Hicks