Today we’d like to introduce you to Helene Alexandra Jæger.
Hi Helene, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
So, in the beginning, I was obviously a baby like everyone else…! (And it wasn’t easy…!) I was born with the Moon in Scorpio, which tends to bring introspection and a fascination with mystery and darkness.
If the gothic or heavy rock mythology/iconography were a star sign, they’d be Scorpio. Black leather, snakes, pyrotechnics, the occult, ravens, the moon, nighttime are all in that realm…
In other words, although I seemed like a quiet and calm child, like other Scorpio placements, there’s an inner world you may not realize is there straight away.
I always wanted to be a wolf or a vampire when I was a child. I loved creating, drawing, painting, and making things. For a while, I was in a punk band as a teenager, not too far from like a female Ramones or The Runaways.
Then, as I grew up, I pretended to be like “regular people” and got a degree, started a serious job and so on… but whenever I wasn’t creating, performing or making music, it felt like there was something big missing in me. Things felt empty and depressing.
Now, I’m very careful with this because I’ve realized how numb and depressed you get when you deny who you really are or try to live life the way other people expect.
It’s a shame that music and art isn’t valued more in today’s world, because it could definitely be easier for creative people to reach into their potential if there weren’t so many obstacles.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has definitely not been a smooth road, but that’s part of the Scorpio/Pluto thing as well. It’s about transformations, and that’s not always easy. Having said that, I’m fully aware that if life had always been easy, I would probably not be creating very interesting music or writing. It’s a cliche, but even on the most beautiful roses, there are thorns. I read a quote somewhere that said, “You need the dark to see the stars.” Looking back on when I started, the irony is that most of the difficulties I experienced were because of my perspective on things. One of the bigger challenges for me was to choose between trying to adapt to being a commercial pop artist, which was an offer I had from a major label and a top-tier manager who felt I could do well at that… But it didn’t feel right. Or rather, something in me self-sabotaged, so it didn’t work out, and through that, I opened to a much deeper and more interesting expression. Music that I would personally want to listen to, and writing I’d want to read. So, in the end, it was heaven-sent in a different way than I expected at the time. It pushed me in a direction I hadn’t been aware of.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m an alternative artist, musician, and writer. I create dark, atmospheric, organ-based rock, which some people have referred to as “funeral pop.” It’s dark music, in the sad girl vibe, flavoured with the gothic.
Some of the key achievements or honors I’ve experienced as an indie artist are to be featured several times on BBC Radio 1, being an official showcasing artist at SXSW three years in a row, playing at other major festivals like NXNE, CMJ, and most recently releasing my debut book, an experimental poetry collection in the vein of my lyrics, called “Epicedium.”
I’m truly grateful it’s been doing really well.
In terms of what sets me apart as an artist, it’s quite unusual to make rock music based around vintage organs like Hammonds, Fender Rhodes, Farfiza, Optigan, and psych/prog era instruments, rather than with guitars. It creates a very atmospheric, dreamy vibe that I really enjoy. My music has been referenced to David Lynch a lot, in particular his cult tv show “Twin Peaks” (which is a huge compliment for me, as I love his work).
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up.
My father had a huge collection of vinyl records, and there was usually music on in the house when I was growing up. Later, I realized who the bands and artists were, but as a 4-year-old, it just seeped into my unconscious, I guess! I know some of the artists that were played the most were Led Zeppelin, the Who, Burning Spear, and what was then called “world music,” like Arabic, Greek, and West African music. My parents were – are – very interested in culture, so I was lucky to grow up with a lot of music, books, art and so on.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.holyboyaudio.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holyboyaudio
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/holyboyaudio
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/holyboy_audio
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@holyboyaudio
Image Credits
Bode Helm
Dylan W Long
