Scott Helland has recorded and appeared on over 25 records including his 7 solo CDs. He has music in several independent films and mentions in numerous indie music books including American Hardcore A Tribal History, and Goth Craft. Obsessed with music as a kid Helland spent every penny he had on records. His first was 'Rocket to Russia' by the Ramones and after hearing it, he knew he was going to be a musician. At 12 years old he borrowed a bass guitar from a friend until, pennies saved, he bought his own and was off learning riffs from 'Blitzkrieg Bop' to 'Smoke on the Water.'


Scott in Westfield, MA 1982

During the hardcore punk explosion of the early eighties Helland started his first band, Deep Wound, with Lou Barlow and J Mascis (who later went on to form Dinosaur jr and Sebadoh/Folk Implosion). Around the same time he started playing in Outpatients, another seminal Western Ma hardcore punk band, with brother Vis Helland. Both bands released several critcally acclaimed recordings.


Scott live in Easthampton, MA 1984 with Outpatients, Mike in back on drums


Deep Wound circa 1983 /Lou, Scott, Charlie and J

 

Scott's journey as a acoustic guitarist/songwriter started in 1995 after 13 years of touring in the US, Canada and South America playing bass with punk and metal bands. Mixing his musical past with inspiration from movie soundtracks and medieval/renaissance music, he immediately started writing instrumentals and soundscapes... "visceral mood music".

He released his first solo CD in 1996. Like the photo collage within the CD, 'hellBOX/Mood Rings' was an intoxicating mix of acoustic instrumentals and lo-fi industrial metal soundscapes, a musical collage mixed with real phone messages. His second CD,1998's 'Deep In It', had a more accessible folk/rock sound with lyrics and singing. Always a humorous element to his records, the cover showed Scott in a NYC trash can. A photo shoot that took several hours. With his next record 'Motion Sickness' released in '99, he went back to the instrumental moodscape idea. In 2000 he released the etheric ambient guitar CD 'Space Age Tranceology' that features cover artwork from future Gypsy Nomads percussionist, singer, collaborator, Samantha Stephenson. This would be Scott's first foray into the soundtrack world, with songs that were featured in several independent films including 'Riders' which appeared on the Sundance TV channel in the US.

With more of the renaissance flavor coming out in the music, 'Earthbound', released in 2002, was a song writing triumph for Scott which landed him air time on NPR stations and in the New Age Voice top 100 radio charts. Scott performed over 100 shows to promote the record. His next CD, 'Brocade', released in 2004, saw Helland do his first solo tour across the US appearing in cafes, festivals and at intimate instore gatherings. 'Brocade' delved even more into the medieval/renaissance sound with some celtic inspired melodies and percussion while still retaining Scott's rock roots. In keeping with his 'commitment to creativity' the CD was adorned with original pen and ink artwork by Helland and also features an enhanced portion with a video and a 'dance' remix of the song 'Fire, Bow and Brimstone'.

In 2005, Scott joined forces with long time collaborator Samantha Stephenson and formed The Gypsy Nomads. Visit The Gypsy Nomads website for more info. www.thegypsynomads.com

More Info On Deep Wound and Outpatients