Hellz| Women of Metal and Rock
Interview conducted on Feb. 07, 2020
by Dan Locke
Rising star, Australian singer Hellz is proud to announce that she has signed a label agreement with R.I.N.D Records. Hellz is looking forward to a great year ahead working with the R.I.N.D Records team to further develop her future within the music industry. R.I.N.D Records is a Multi National Recording and Label Company. CEO/ Thomas Hooks describes the label as having a family like atmosphere that embraces a fresh unique approach looking at artists based on their abilities to grow and develop. “We look at talent and help them grow to their full potential with new marketing strategies, allowing artists the time to produce a quality product that we all can be proud of.”
Dan Locke: Tell me about your up bring?
Hellz| I was born in Auckland, New Zealand. My parents met there in the ’70s after they both immigrated to New Zealand from the UK. Dad was a session drummer and worked in many rock bands, weekends were always blessed with vinyl concerts of Led Zepp, Black SABBATH, Yes, Judas Priest and many more great influential artists. We moved to Australia when I was 7. I never really fit in well with a lot of kids in Australia. I was chubby and witchy and never wearing cool brand names and took a lot of disrespect off others for it. I never really cared about labels
I was ‘different’ and was always encouraged to just be myself by my parents and if people didn’t like me it was their problem. Not mine.
How did your dance teacher, helped with your development of music?
Ross Hutchinson was fabulous, Our dance group was on every Saturday morning and only cost $2 to go. Even kids from not so well off families could afford to go. It was held in an underground nightclub, I was 8 years old and I would take myself there every week… it was a dance group but I went there to sing while everyone else would dance! The club smelt of alcohol and the floor was always sticky. There was a break at lunch where they run a small talent show on stage each week. It wasn’t long before I was on stage singing and I got my chance to start a lifelong dream. Ross Hutchinson saw that and he encouraged me to perform solo singing on that stage every week.
Since he worked with the likes of Liza Minnelli, Sammy Davis Jr., and Benny Hill. Did he ever tell you any good stories?
He told us it was a lot of fun, but when you get the dance wrong you get shoes thrown at you! Ross was very talented and had a wonderful career.
You have a five-octave range. How did you learn to sing like that?
Recently this was moved to just over 6 octaves!
I taught myself. We didn’t really have the money for fancy singing lessons. I started singing opera with my nanna around the house when I was 2. When o realized I wanted to sing I got a Bangles album and listened to it over and over until I could replicate all of their voices, breathing technique and delivery… I then continued to do this my whole life with countless vocalists including, Robert Plant, Pat Benatar, Freddie Mercury, Shakespeare’s sister, Dave Mustaine, Axle Rose, Celine Dion.
How did you get your name?
Hellz! Well, I sing a great AC/DC for a start. While working in a few cover bands AC/DC seemed to be an audience favorite. Hellz became an alter ego, the flip side of Lisa. Hellz takes no shit from anyone. As many people have also experienced… I have taken a lot of blows in my life but there is a spirit within me that will never give up that is Hellz. Rather than taking people to Hell, Hellz is here to bring them back.. she is strong, she is courage.
How did you get the name “Lady of Rock”?
I’m really not sure lol… it’s something that I just seem to have been called a few times now. I do think the boys need a strong female contender to take them on though hahaha and I’m sure I can.
How is session work in Australia?
Rock really isn’t an easy genre to be in Australia. Especially a female rock voice. There really isn’t enough support for independent musicians here unless you know someone or can pay someone. Australia is after a certain type of pop voice and more often than not cliche pop song’s. I never fit that description and was always told at countless auditions… sorry, your great, but your just not what we want when I would sing in my rock comfort zone. I did, however, pick up some work as a session vocalist recording vocals for dance tracks but I wasn’t happy as it wasn’t my passion.
What is your brand of Mic?
I have stuck with Shure and AKG microphones my whole life. I have an extremely powerful voice these mics always handle my vocal hurricane well!!
How is your fundraiser coming alone?
It’s going really well! I am so thankful for the amazing people that follow me. They truly are inspiring to me to keep going after my dream. I am hoping to raise enough money to allow me to visit a few more cities while I am in the USA this summer. I have a massive amount of requests to visit and I would love to get to everyone!!
What are some of the peaks people get if they give your kickstart project?
If people help out over $20 to the fundraiser I have some personal gifts I will be sending out to them. I am so thankful for every bit of help I received. I am also working on a future release with R.I.N.D records where all proceeds made from sales will be donated to charity as a way to give back to our beautiful community.
Tell me about your song “Best Friends”? It sounds like it is radio-ready.
Best Friends was a song I wrote many years ago as a farewell to my band members of 10 years. We had some amazing times but we needed to slow down. I recorded this live at home. It’s not often that you will hear any fancy editing on my vocals on a record and I will NEVER use auto-tune, what you hear on the record is what you will hear live, my voice is old school and I’m super proud of that.
Your first release was Sinner. And the second was Desire. Is there a theme with the releases?
Well, there is always a ‘reason or an experience’ behind the songs I write. Sinner was about Hellz (the flip side of Lisa) It’s for the person who has dealt with a lot and takes no crap as a result. Desire is about never feeling like your enough, giving your all for nothing in return, wanting to be wanted..
How soon will your EP be released?
Hopefully, the EP will be finished early 2020.
Tell me about your Valentine’s release Fire to the Sky?
The single boasts a massive rock vibe, intertwining the heavy signature bass lines of Gorka Alegre
It’s heavy!!! I am in love with this song. The song is about picking yourself up and laughing in the face of everyone who ever tried to put your light out, or throw you under a bus. As the lyrics say “My light doesn’t go out, so go on and try, cause I’ll just set fire to the sky.” it’s about RISING in the face of ridicule. It’s the war against negative people and events and this is the song we will march to as we fight that.
Have you tried to put out your video “We are the Champions” to raise money for the Fires?
There are so many videos and songs being written which are raising funds for Australia right now. I just wanted to record a simple thankyou to the firefighters (worldwide) that have been our hero’s during this tough time, I wanted them to listen and feel that they indeed are champions and raise awareness of the courage, empathy, and passion it takes to do the job they are doing to help. I am hugely thankful for all the fundraising efforts that are out there!!
How are the Fires affecting you?
We were within 20 to 30 minutes of the fires in many directions.. it rained black leaves and embers for weeks on end and was extremely smokey. I live at the foot of the Blue Mountains in Sydney. Right now they seem to have control over them and have even put a lot of them out. It has been an awful summer. We had birds dying out in the street as the heat was almost 50 degrees Celcius here on many days.
Did you see the Super Bowl?
I saw bits of the half time show!!! I think I want to be in that next year haha!!
What is the Stop the Violence Tour?
Stop the violence is a Festival that I am headlining at in Western Australia. I am passionate about fighting domestic violence on behalf of both Female and Male victims. I have been through mental and physical abuse myself. It is a long road to recovery and the mental effects continue long after the abuse has stopped. I hope to be an ambassador within this charity.
Did you hear about Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler Donates $500k to Open Home for Abused Women and Girls?
Steven Tyler is an amazingly talented human using his gift to help others in need he is an inspiration. I hope to be able to help in his leading fight against abuse.
What cities are you planning to tour in once you get to the United States?
I want to go to them all!! New York, Texas, Las Vegas, Florida, Chicago, Wisconsin.. the list goes on and on! I’m even hoping I get to see NA.. I’m looking for an American home town 😉😉
Are you more an acoustic or metal girl?
Metal!!!!!!! Haha alot of my songs start acoustic before they are worked into metal songs. You can’t beat the idea of stomping around on stage biting bats heads off hey.. never done that acoustically haha
How was it to join forces with Jeff Young?
it was a great learning experience. I realized just how powerful I am. I took a lot from our short partnership. I was introduced to America and I am so thankful for that.
How do you see yourself in 5 years?
I see myself as hopefully being a worldwide name. I hope to be recognized for everything I have been born to achieve. I hope I have helped many through my songs to heal, smile, laugh and cry… I hope my message is being heard globally.
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