Arriving with a fresh sound, local country star Hels Pattison releases her new single “Better Person” as the first step in her new EP launch. She talks to Damian Robinson about the upcoming EP and future live dates.
Congratulations on your debut EP and upcoming single “Better Person”. Could you tell us a little about the song and where its origins came from?
The song was inspired by my early days with my current partner and lead guitarist, Zachary Savage. It openly contrasts the mistreatment I faced in past relationships with the compassion and support Zac gives me. I wrote it in September 2023 during a two week job induction in London. Zac joined me and turned the trip into a holiday, and spending that time together, despite being in a new relationship, was invaluable. It was basically a lightbulb moment of realizing, “Oh, this is what a healthy relationship feels like” and I think the song captures that feeling really well.
“Better Person” is the first single from your debut EP which has a strong theme. Can you tell us a bit about the EP and the part “Better Person” plays in the whole story?
The band and I spent a lot of time deciding which songs to record. We had a shortlist of around eight songs that spanned different genres and sounds, and each of us had our favourites, so it was challenging to choose. Ultimately, I selected four songs that I felt would work well together and form a cohesive story of; loneliness, hope, and the cyclical nature of relationships. Each song was written about real experiences but from different times in my life. “Better Person” captures the hopeful ‘honeymoon’ phase of meeting someone new, setting the stage for the journey the EP takes you on.
Is “Better Person” a good indication of the sound of the EP?**
In the lyrical sense, yes, all the songs are very honest and exposing. I think this is the essential kind of storytelling that epitomizes traditional country music . “Better Person” is definitely the most upbeat track on the EP, so in that sense, it’s unique. Each song captures a different emotion, but they’re all bound by my country-sad-girl-indie sound.
In terms of the future release, will we see another single or is it straight to the EP?**
Yes! The next single is a bit of an older song of mine and a fan favourite. I can’t wait to share it with everyone, but I’ll keep the details under wraps for now.
“Better Person” and your EP were recorded at Polestar and Blank Studios. Could you give us a sense of how the recordings went and how you created the sound and mix of the EP?
Recording this EP was an incredible journey. Alex, our bassist, is a home recording wizard, so we had a head start there. It was amazing to hear the songs evolve from rough phone recordings to fully polished tracks. Each layer added new life, and the transformation was incredibly satisfying.
In terms of the rest of 2024, what’s next and where can we catch you?
We’ve had a short gigging hiatus and have exceptionally itchy feet to get back on the stage. On the 21st of October, we’ll be headlining an intimate acoustic show at the Lost Wanderer. We’ll be doing a HMV “live and local” set on the 16th November. Then, on the 23rd of November, we’ll be supporting our amazing friends Lost Lot at the Cumberland Arms. At each show, we’ll play through the whole EP and tell the story live.
“Better Person” is out now.