Helen Shanahan

Helen Shanahan is a somewhat reluctant and accidental star in the making.  She never meant to perform the songs she’d written. They were personal and private reflections – written only because they naturally flowed from heart to lyric to guitar.


“I never really thought I’d play my songs to anyone – I would just hide in my room and play. My friends encouraged me to play for them and then when I started performing I just loved it,” Helen said.


Helen’s songs ride the joys and sorrows of love and life and draw the listener into an articulate and heartfelt world of story, melody and guitar, through her eyes.
“My songs sum up how I feel about certain things – they are stories about relationships, observations and my reflections. Often they are words I wish I could tell someone,’ Helen said.


Helen’s thoughtful observations and introverted reflections of everyday situations are beautifully captured in her music, which can best be described as contemporary folk/pop with a strong acoustic feel.
“I’m not a very open person – and music is an outlet to express myself. It’s scary sometimes when I’m performing my songs as I am then telling people what I’m feeling.”
“I keep a journal and write all my lyrics in it. I constantly write things down and turn my thoughts into lyrics. Sometimes I don’t even remember writing a song – it’s like it has always been a part of me.”

While sharing her personal music is “nerve wracking”, performing comes naturally for Helen who has comfortably taken to the stage since primary school to act, sing and dance. She graduated from Curtin University in 2009 with a major in performance through her degree in Communication and Cultural Studies.

Helen is now studying voice at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts while honing her confidence and skills in the Perth pub and festival circuit. She is doing the rounds of ‘open mics’, busking opportunities and private events, and gathering a strong following of fans who identify with her authentic style and lyrical storytelling.

Helen’s song ‘ He Says’ was nominated in the 2010 WAMi ‘Song of the Year’ competition and she has recently supported Australian group ‘The Basement Birds’ whose members include Kav Temperly (Eskimo Joe), Josh Pyke, Kevin Mitchell (Bob Evans) and Steve Parkin.

Her music is available at www.helenshanahan.com, www.myspace.com/helenshanahan or on iTunes.


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