Selected as one of NPR Tiny Desk Concert Contest's favorite California entries, she recently toured as an opening act for Patrick Sweany (Dan Auerbach, The Black Keys), as well as in Europe with her dear friend Jonah Tolchin (Thousand Mile Night, Clover Lane). Her song 'Glory Be' will be featured in the critically acclaimed film Driver X.
Helen lives in New Orleans, and she plays the plays the tenor saxophone. She also worked in the service industry to pay for studio time, and to pay the musicians she knew had to play on her album. It was during this time that she was able to create the musical landscapes that formed the foundation of Trouble Holding Back.
Personnel
Marvin Etzioni -Producer & Player (Mandolin)
Jonah Tolchin - Guitar
James Gadson-Drums
Jeff Peters- Engineer
Ben Peeler - Steel Guitar, Lap Steel, Guitar
"The future ain't what it used to be. Stand back, lean in she wears your heart out with her voice and saxophone playing. She is a wonder to behold. After all, she is... HELEN ROSE."
MARVIN ETZIONI (PRODUCER, LONE JUSTICE)
Key Songs
"Love & Whiskey"
"Marvin played me a demo version of 'Love & Whiskey' that he and Tammy Rogers (of the Steel Drivers) recorded a while back. I related to the song as I had just gone through some heartbreak, and it was an uplifting song to record. My dear friends Jonah Tolchin & Danny Roman also kicked ass on guitar. We've been playing music together since high school. I was happy to squeeze a sax solo in there. I tried to channel Clarence Clemons. Deep down it is a sweet song about love and caring for each other when life gets a little rough."
"Oh Glory Be"
"The song is featured in the Film Driver X is as the main character, played by Patrick Fabian (of 'Better Call Saul') former record store owner turned DriverX (a similar service to Uber) has a moment to himself in the car. The hook pays a great tribute to Creedence Clearwater and has a sort of gospel tone to it, which lends the opportunity to let out a different part of my voice."
"A Dangerous Tender Man"
"It came to me as I was on a walk in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. I was talking to my mom on the phone, and she said about no one in particular - that he's a dangerous tender man. I immediately went home to start working on the song. Marvin played me Isaac Hayes 'Hot Buttered Soul,' and that song triggered the production goals, we got some strings on there by Stevie Black and some percussion by David Leach - he nailed it."
"Mississippi Moon"
"There is a beautiful break in there for a solo that is fun for the band to engage when we play it live - once we play that one we know we're hot and ready to go. The version that made it onto the album almost takes me back to an old western movie. The way Ben Peeler shapes the pedal steel brings a whole other element to the track than the original version we started off. Maybe I'll release the original version at some point, but this one fits the story of the record better."
"Love on Arrival"
"When Bernie Grundman cut the lacquer, he said, "well...that leaves you in some kind of mood." He said,"it's a good thing," I look at as a huge compliment. The song is just Marvin on a kickboard and the Telecaster and myself on vocals and sax. We felt that's all we needed. It was also my first time recording with Jeff Peters, who in turn became an essential role in the album's production and completion, he just understood what we needed."
"Flatlands of North Dakota"
'Flatlands came to me as a long-term fascination regarding a story of strip-mining. I then saw a documentary about the oil boom and the remarkable gap between genders in the oil camps. I wanted to pay tribute to all the hardworking women out there, that are working difficult jobs just to survive. I was also listening to a lot of Bobbie Gentry at the time, and loved her understated, heart-wrenching performance and production on 'Ode To Billy Joe.' I called my friend Dylan Cooper to come in and play his trashcan drums. That's where you get that booming retro metallic sound."
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