By Mark Tavender | Photography by Wayne Bordoli Photography
There is such a rich seam of musical talent along our stretch of the coast that it is impossible to get to see or hear it all. Fortunately, word soon gets round about who’s currently making waves and who you should be next on your list of acts to see.
One such talent is Hels Pattison.
Ever since she was a little girl, Hels, along with her twin sister, Charlie, has been impressing audiences with her silky vocal tones. If you had asked her then what she wanted to be when she grew up she would have said ‘Country music star!’ without a moment’s hesitation.
She would do the occasional gig with her sister – ‘An incredible guitarist,’ Hels is quick to point out – and even went as far as releasing an album which garnered positive reviews from The Crack Magazine. But as they grew older, decisions were made and off they went to University. Her sister ended up qualifying as a mechanical engineer and, without her sister to collaborate with, Hels decided to go to Canada and carve out a life there. Apart from the occasional karaoke performance, writing and performing took a back seat.
But then, as is true for so many, Hels life changed again in 2020 when the pandemic swept in. She decided to move back to the UK and Tynemouth.
By 2022, she was working at The Ticket Office in Whitley Bay and soon realised she was surrounded by like minded creatives. Her passion for writing music and performing was re-ignited.
‘It was impossible to not start writing again. I had watched other people who were acoustic singer/songwriters doing incredible stuff and thought I can do that! But I couldn’t play.’
Hels taught herself to play guitar and threw herself into the local scene doing open mic slots.
She was honing her craft all the time but was aware that many of her songs were too similar.
‘Quite a lot of my songs had the same strumming pattern and the same rhythm because it was the only thing I could do. But then I met Zac.’
Zac, an accomplished musician, had moved to the North East from Portsmouth and they moved in the same friendship circles.
‘He gave me the confidence to believe in myself.’
Her songwriting went up another level and after an open mic slot at Alfie and Fin’s in Tynemouth where she performed her brilliant song ’Ruby,’ she was encouraged to record it as a track and was offered a spot at this year’s Coast Fest, courtesy of local music promoter John Peacock.
It is a song that has become a firm favourite for local gig goers and has received radio play on BBC Introducing.
‘It’s a bit awkward really because it is about someone who is actually called Ruby. I never really thought it would catch on,’ she says. I ask if she knows whether Ruby has heard the song?
‘Yeah!’ says Hels. ‘She turned up at one of my gigs!’
It wasn’t long after meeting Zac that other members were recruited into the band – Alex Ferry, the bassist, was already friends with Zac and Anneka Johnson followed not long after as the band’s drummer. There was an immediate connection.
Although ‘Ruby’ remains a fan favourite, Hels is eager to showcase her versatility. Her debut EP delves into a more ambient country folk style, offering listeners a fresh take on her music.
The first track ‘Better Person’ will be released on 4 October 2024. It’s a song about how meeting Zac gave her confidence in her songwriting again, something she says she had not had since the days when she used to perform with her sister.
That will be followed by ‘On The Horizon’ on 9 November before the full EP ‘Just What I Do’ is released in January 2025. For those who cannot wait to hear the new songs, she will be performing an acoustic set of the full EP at The Lost Wanderer in Newcastle on 21 October 2024.
Hels and her band have other gigs lined up too;
8 November 2024 – Pilgrimage To the Islands Festival
23 November 2024 – The Cumberland Arms (supporting Lost Lot)
It’s already been a busy year for Hels Pattison but her music career remains on a firm upward trajectory.
With a growing fanbase and a bright future ahead, she is poised to become a major player in the North East music scene. Catch her live at one of her upcoming gigs and experience the magic of her music for yourself.
Find out more here:
Insta: @HelsPattisonMusic
