Western Australia indie folk singer-songwriter, Helen Shanahan's latest song pays tribute to Tim Minchin's stirring acoustic ballad 'The Aeroplane'.
A graduate of the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, and winner of WAM's Folk Song Of The Year in 2018 (for the song 'I Only Hide'), the last few years has seen Helen embark on a motherhood journey while maintaining her creative outlet.2021 saw the birth of her first child Bonnie as well as providing backing vocals for Tim Minchin and Missy Higgins, before releasing her sophomore album 'Canvas' the following year. Last year saw another nomination for WAM's Folk Act Of The Year, while 2024 has seen Helen touring with Peter Garrett and writing for ARIA Award-winning duo Vika & Linda Bull.
Originally written for season two of Minchin's Australian series 'Upright' (check it out if you haven't watched it, but have the tissues handy: for happy and sad tears), it was Helen's connection to Tim that laid the foundations for a cover of 'The Aeroplane'.
Shanahan's achingly raw vocals strike the soul, a warmth encasing the lyrics infused with a love that billows with unbridled joy demonstrating an unfazed level of support – emotional, strength, unconditional – that blankets the song with soul.
Helen also incorporates a tempo-change mid song, showcasing a vivid, lavish unveiling of the song's spirt and the themes of undivided love. "The song holds a special meaning for me, especially now with my second baby due just weeks after its release," Helen says.
"The lyrics, 'any fuel or any fire will do / I will fly to you', speak to the idea of being there for the people you love, no matter what." It's a rendition Tim has declared "absolutely gorgeous".
Ahead of the song's release tomorrow (4 October), today scenestr is thrilled to premiere 'The Aeroplane'. Enjoy.
"Originally from Tim Minchin's beautiful TV show 'Upright', the song is stripped back, featuring acoustic guitar, piano and vocals," adds Helen. "I wanted to honour that simplicity, but when playing around with it at home, a different guitar tuning brought out a surprising tempo change toward the end.
"This shift felt right – it reflected my own feelings about the song and added an uplifting finish, emphasising the message of unwavering support. I was careful not to stray too far from the original in the beginning, as I didn't want to upset Tim's fans.
"Hopefully, I've done the song justice! It was such an honour when Tim suggested I use it, even if he may have meant it as a throwaway line when I was complimenting the song's beauty. I'm proud of what the band brought to the track, and so relieved Tim loved our version too."
