Rebecca Helen On the Making Of “This Place”
What inspired you to write the lyrics/music for "This Place?"
I was inspired to write this song after losing my Dad and trying to find ways to deal with the grief and process his loss. He was very musical and a huge inspiration to me and also my biggest supporter so his death hit me hard.
How does "This Place" differ from your previous work?
This song is a ballad while my previous songs were all vibey dance pop bangers. The feel of the song is more intimate, raw and emotional than my previous singles.
How did you work with the producer or engineers to bring your vision for this song to life?
When I brought the song to my producer Sasha, (who is also a musician) he was moved to immediately pick up his guitar and play the chords on it. I had originally written this song on the piano so he arranged the chords to fit into a more indie pop style with guitar which was the sound we were going for, with the piano synth gently supporting underneath.
How did you get started in music, and what inspired you to become a singer-songwriter?
My Dad was a concert pianist and music teacher who taught piano and singing. He entered me into my first singing competition at age 7 and from the moment I sang for an audience I knew I was born to perform and be on the stage. I started writing songs in my 20’s and created a band with two of my sisters called 3dimensions. We recorded our first song together in 2012 and thereafter I embarked on a solo career in 2019, releasing my solo album in 2020.
How do you balance crafting relatable stories with maintaining your unique voice as a songwriter?
Working with other musicians and producers who have encouraged me to keep my authenticity and explore while celebrating what makes me unique, for instance my soprano voice and being able to sing certain melodies then jump an octave (8 notes up) and repeat the melody makes adding harmonies easier and adds a different dimension that takes my music and artistry to a new level.
