Exciting to have shared a new EP Rhythm Rising on 5th November which you can listen to here on soundcloud. And was chuffed that Tom Robinson was complimentary about the first single off the EP, Out of My Hair (I've done a blog post about it!). If you liked my earlier releases you'll probably find this right up your street!

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Leslie Tate kindly interviewed me about my first year as a musician and also my journey with cancer, promoting music (and lots of female artists in particular), confidence and people undermining you and more, in this far reaching interview that spans two mixcloud episodes. You will find the chat from 20m mins to the first link and the whole of the second hour !!

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Thank you to Neil March for sustained and enthusiastic support for my creations over the last year. Very much appreciated.

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Nature's Grace was ALBUM OF THE MONTH from Across the Universal Soundscape! (August 2021)

The Little Things is TRACK OF THE MONTH from Donald Strachan on Views from the Edge broadcast on Mad Wasp Radio and TD1 Radio. Interview will air 31st August '21.

Reaction to the tracks on social media and on air:

"Well wasn’t that lovely? our very own Ian McMillan reading his own poetry, wonderful to hear his voice. It’s poetry he wrote especially for Helen Meissner and she composed the music and mixed it together with that birdsong.

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She’s calling herself a late starter, she was 54 years old before she even started thinking about writing and promoting her music. Well we’re pleased you did and thanks for sharing it with us. It really is never too late to start. So inspiring.The field recordings, she tells us, include church bells, chickens, lambs, a chaffinch and geese, all captured near her home.

 

The track is called Teaching Darkness How To Fly, we could definitely do with more of that, and Helen records under the name Helefonix.“

Elizabeth Alker BBC Radio 3

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Had the pleasure of chatting to Andy Bungay on Riverside Radio which was broadcast on 9th October 2021.

You can hear us chatting about my technophobia, starting late in life, ageism (or not)... and Andy played Blackbird Has Spoken, The Little Things, Out Of My Hair and Maids of the Mer from 1hr 3mins in! Click here to listen :) 

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Thank you to Brian Player for having me as guest on his Acoustic Cafe show on Wey Valley Radio on Tues 21st September 2021! The video starts at the point where I was chatting and I also come back at 21 mins after Saskia, in case you'd like to have a watch.

Saskia also has a lot to say for more mature artists, over 50, so well worth a watch to find out more about her Talent is Timeless competition and community.

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INTERVIEW: There's a rather nice interview here from 33 mins thanks to Peter Lewis in NCCR Radio about the album, how I first became involved in music and why I started making music last year.

Please click here to hear, it plus tracks The Storm, (Teaching Darkness) How To Fly and Song Thrush Serenade) 

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REVIEW AND INTERVIEW: Thank you to Teri at Moths and Giraffes for this eloquent feature about Nature's Grace which really makes the album sing! Click here to enjoy it :) 

 

'It's beautiful' Anna Phoebe, Soho Radio (Maids of the Mer)

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"How lovely was that! Loved hearing your grandparents voices, their wisdom and outlook on live, incredible and what an amazing way to keep their memories alive! They’d be so proud of you right now, congratulations.

Love what you’re doing Helen, keep on keeping on" Andy Sharman on twitter (heard on Mad Wasp Radio)

"Helefonix has created such a beautifully crafted album. It’s been such a joy to listen all the way through and have the sounds of nature effortlessly move through the kitchen" @withsunmusic

These comments were about (Teaching Darkness) How To Fly:
 

"I loved this music/poetry combination this morning. I’ve been listening on @BBCSounds. Listened twice, noted the time (0814) and added the track to my @Bandcamp wish list, ready for when I refresh my music favourites.  Looking forward to exploring more of your work."  (Wendy Bryant) @DrWMB

 

"What a beautiful piece of music, completely stopped me in my tracks! (Sandra Buttigieg) @Sandra4760

Ian just heard you & @helefonixon Radio 3; it was very beautiful" (@Whit_nic)
 

"Wow. That was beautiful. Always think @IMcMillan has voice that sings to you - whatever he says. Setting his words to music is stunningly rich combination". (Nigel Price) @prixsalop
 

"That was lovely. 'How To Fly' what a wonderful thing!" (Guy Mitchell) @GuyAMitchell
 

"What a wonderful thing" @IHeathHuxon
 

"SO beautiful! Just heard the birdsong...the cello...then what sounded like Ian McMillan’s voice...the sound of sheep...a piano...I was making my cup of morning tea. I was listening to Breakfast on Radio 3. I stopped and listened more intently." Daisy Rose on soundcloud

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"Heard this on Radio 3 this morning. A beautiful way to start the day." Russell on soundcloud

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"a gorgeous tune, that combines strings with the sounds of nature that we became so familiar with over a few months last year... a country idyll in Spring that is not only beautiful but also extremely calming. Like a walk in countryside it is a way of finding your peace with this world."  Dave Pearce reviews

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