Johnny Helm: Press

#1

ISLAND SOUNDS
Helm's intensity clear on folk-blues 'Divide'
Johnny Helm is back with a folk-blues collection of personal observations.

Distinguishing notes: Singer-guitarist Johnny Helm's newest CD, which hits stores on Tuesday, represents his music and mindset, circa 1996-2006. It includes the previously recorded "Breathe." Delivered in his simple troubadour style, the song reflects his earnest, eloquent and easy-going attitude toward life. The opening track, "Staring Up Trees," is as good as it gets: a folk-form ditty about isolated moments of observation and reflection. "Haunted Wind" displays a mood-setting raspy vocal stance and some mild rock instrumentation, in the first of two (the other is acoustic) versions.


The outlook: Helm's music has the intensity and imagery of a poet; if you like John Mayer, you'll admire Helm's artistry.

Our take: This one should win him new fans and satisfy the thirst of those who already know him.

#2

In The Mix

New album may do it for Johnny Helm
COULD the third time be the charm for Johnny Helm?
After taking a listen this week to an advance copy of his new album, I wouldn't be surprised to see his recording career finally take off after a decade of hard work.

"This album is actually a collection," he explained. "I originally finished it about a year ago, but I didn't like it."

So Helm went digging in his archives, pulling out unreleased tracks from 1996, 2000 and 2004 to compliment the new songs. He hopes to release "The Divide" in August, and is in the process of negotiating a deal with a mainland-based company to help promote his work to a larger audience.

Working with Armstrong Interactive principals Paul Marshall and Chuck Armstrong will allow him to remain based in Hawaii, which is important to Helm after spending a year as a starving artist in New York back in 2004.

"I have a fanbase here," he said. "It would be silly to release it on the mainland where my fanbase is much smaller."

You can get a taste of the Hoku Award-nominated musician on Saturday, when Helm plays with John Cruz at rRed Elephant starting at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $22.50 at the door; call 550-8457 to order by phone ...

#3
"Johnny Helm is with out a doubt one of Hawaii's alternative jewels. His video proves it!".......Honu @ Large

Check out his Video

Johnny Helm is probably one of the hottest Gen X artists in Hawaii, but you don't know it. Nominated for Rock Album of the Year for the Na Hoku Awards in 2003, Johnny has been endlessly performing and looking at the road in the Mainland. His tracks have a production that pulls at your soul as well as clean guitar voicings and playing. Matched with a great quality voice, Helms performs his melodies effortlessly. "Real edgy and raw. Goes to show you that home baked goods can turn heads and put the spice of creativity back into music......" Honu @ Large.

#4
Posted on: Sunday, December 22, 2002
ISLAND SOUNDS
Singer, guitarist debuts with pleasing originals



It's a mixed bag this week a prolific new singer-guitarist debuts, a pioneering local band returns and a hot urban soul duo continues a hot streak.


"A Random" by Johnny Helm (John Helm Records)



• Genre: Pop, folk, blues.

• Distinguishing notes: Johnny Helm is an enterprising and prolific singer-guitarist who helped finance this debut CD with "pre-sale sponsors," fans who bought home-burned CDs ($20 pricetag) at a gig at Coffee Talk. Over 10 originals, his vocal manner clearly is easy to take, particularly on ballad expressions such as "Breathe" and "Calling All the Angels," which typify his prowess in relating life's simple moments and thoughts into mini-tales of relationships, about love and life. There's a tinge of the blues on "Colors of the Night," which sounds terrific after dark.

• The outlook: Nothing random here; Helm's crisp, clean sound and production elements reflect a professionalism rare for a maiden voyage. If you like Jack Johnson or Ben Harper, you'll love Helm.

• Our take: Think of this one as the CD equivalent of an "indie" film — a modest work with maximum pleasures. Go, Johnny, go.