Helen Austin – Working Songwriter, Performer and Mom

Helen Austin is a singer-songwriter based in Vancouver Island, Canada. Helen’s music can be heard on MTV, CW’s One Tree Hill, and most recently on a Korean Dunkin’ Donuts commercial. She has been described as singer-songwriter with the DNA of Simon & Garfunkel and CSN&Y clothed in Iron & Wine and a folkier Feist. In the following Serve The Song interview, Helen discusses her journey into commercial music and offers candid advice to anyone who wants to successfully place their songs in film and TV projects. Learn more about Helen Austin at http://helenaustin.com.

1. How does a classical flute player become a stand-up comic turned singer-songwriter? In other words, tell us a little about your background.

My classical fluting took me to do a performing arts degree where I learned to sing and did some comedy classes and ended up in a singing acapella comedy duo. But music was always my my passion, so when I moved to Canada I saw it as a chance to do what I had always wanted to do.

2. What prompted your move from the U.K. to Vancouver Island in 2002?

We wanted a quieter place to bring up kids and loved to ski which brought us to Vancouver Island.

3. How many instruments do you play and perform live?

Let’s see, vocals, guitar, ukelele, flute, piano and I dabbled in stand-up bass!

4. You are a performance and promotional machine, with a busy performing schedule, a website chock full of videos, music awards, community service, song placements and new music releases. Oh, AND you’re a mom. How and when do you find the time to write new material?

I write fast! Not having a lot of spare time makes you do the things you want to in a more efficient way… so if I have a spare 30 minutes before school pick up I will start a song.

5. What is your songwriting process like?

Like I said… fast. I tend to start and idea and see it through to the end before I lose the idea. If I don’t like the end result I shelve it, but I try to get from first idea to finished song quite quickly.

6. Do you record everything at home? What is your studio setup like?

Almost everything. If something needs a fuller production then I use a guy called Scott Feldman in L.A. I use a Mac with a Mackie interface, Joe Meek preamp and Logic.

7. What are the best and worst parts of being a self-contained singer-songwriter?

It doesn’t feel like there are any bad parts. I have been in bands and duos and I have discovered that I really like doing it all myself. That way I only have myself to blame if it’s not good. I love the solitary nature of being at home writing and recording. I get so much input and noise in my life from my family that I really enjoy the contrast of the 2 worlds.

8. You’ve spent much of the last few years getting your songs placed in film and TV projects. How long did it take between the time you decided to go for it and getting your first deal?

I decided in September of 2008 when my youngest went to school full time, to work at getting my songs placed. I got my first placement in September of 2009 and then in 2010 it really started ramping up.

9. Once you got that first deal how long did it take to get paid?

A few months.

10. How many placements do you have now?

30+.

11. What is the one promotional vehicle that has worked best for getting your music heard?

Some of the MTV shows have really brought people to my music… especially The Real World.

12. How important is the use of social media to your success?

Very. I use it to follow music supervisors on Twitter, get my news out to people who want to hear it and to generate interest in my music.

13. How do you plan your time between writing, recording, performing and promoting your music?

I don’t really plan. The kids go to school and I just do the next thing that has to be done. If my publisher sends me an email asking for a song about “Sunshine”, which they did the other day, then I do that. If there is nothing urgent then I look around the web for the next step, or send emails to music supervisors or look through the Taxi listings. When I get stuck, I clean the house

14. How have you been able to do all of this and raise a family?

I have been able to do it because of my family. I have a great husband with a normal job and kids that inspire me every day. I love both aspects of my life so much and look forward to each of them every day.

15. What are your plans for this year and beyond?

I am going to keep doing what I am doing, writing, recording… and I may tour a bit. I take each thing as it comes along. I believe very much in being prepared for opportunities.

16. What’s the best advice you could pass along to someone getting started as an independent singer-songwriter?

Treat it as a job and not a hobby. Get up early, work hard and keep going if you really believe that this is what you are supposed to be doing.

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