With winsome Americana hues and heartfelt delivery, the new single and music video My Hamartia out today from Perth singer-songwriter Helen Shanahan also heralds the upcoming arrival of her anticipated third studio album Hamartia, set for release in February 2027 – available to presave now.
Sharing its namesake with the concept of a fatal flaw, Helen’s latest track My Hamartia charms with warm arrangements, buoyant twangs and resonant vocals, ultimately building into a sublime conclusion, complete with a gospel choir. Equally stirring and invigorating, My Hamartia, and the broader forthcoming album, were produced, engineered and mixed by award-winning songwriter and producer Dylan Ollivierre (Meg Mac, Holy Holy, Tia Gostelow), with mastering courtesy of Brodie Stewart. And, as Helen reveals, it was the creation of her new single out today that also proved to be a pivotal starting point for the album as a whole. “It feels incredibly exciting to finally be releasing My Hamartia,” Helen shares. “This song really opened the door to the whole album and its concept, so it feels like the perfect place to begin. The album explores the idea of ‘hamartia’, a fatal flaw, or the part of ourselves that can sometimes contribute to our own undoing.”
“I’ve lived with these songs for a long time now,” adds Helen, “so finally getting to share the first piece of the record feels equal parts exciting and nerve-racking!”
Via the accompanying music video, Helen teamed up with director Lorena Bongiovanni to fortify My Hamartia’s introspective and vulnerable qualities, ultimately emerging with a visual journey that mirrors the lyrical themes. “The video clip was developed with director Lorena Bongiovanni and follows a journey from isolation and self-reflection through to connection and ultimately embracing vulnerability,” says Helen. “It begins with me alone backstage in an old theatre, preparing to perform, before I’m confronted with myself in the dressing-room mirror and eventually step onto an empty stage. As the song builds, the space gradually comes alive – the lights rise, the band and choir appear, and the empty theatre begins to fill with people.”
“I love that the visual journey mirrors the emotional arc of the song: starting in this very internal, vulnerable place and gradually finding freedom and connection through music and performance.”
Releasing her debut EP Driftwood in 2012, Helen Shanahan went on to win the national Telstra Road to Discovery songwriting competition in 2013 which in turn led to performances across Australia and North America, including BIGSOUND, Canadian Music Week, the Tamworth Country Music Festival, Nashville’s Americana Festival and New York’s iconic The Bitter End. With her magnetic signature blend of contemporary folk-meets-pop sound, Helen also potently threads heartfelt storytelling with rich melodies and an acoustic sensibility, all of which translate into a spellbinding experience in a live setting.
A graduate of the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), Helen signed with Mushroom Music Publishing in 2015 following the release of her EP Finding Gold, paving the way for her debut full-length album, 2017’s Every Little Sting. And with accolades that includes taking home the WAM Song of the Year Award in 2018 for I Only Hide, Helen has also performed backing vocals for Tim Minchin, toured alongside Passenger, Matt Corby, Missy Higgins, Jackson Browne, The Waifs and Peter Garrett, collaborated with acclaimed composer and producer Elise Reitze-Swensen (Feels) on the Matrescence project, featured on Carus Thompson’s album Everything Is New, had Vika & Linda record her song What A Beautiful Thing for their ARIA #1 album Where Do You Come From, and continues growing The Songwriters Café, a monthly songwriter showcase she founded and curates in Fremantle.
With the forthcoming release of her new album Hamartia in February 2027, Helen will also take to the stage for a special album launch next year, with more details to be announced soon.
“The live show will bring the world of the record to life with a full band and the warmth and storytelling that sit at the heart of my music,” Helen reveals. “I love creating shows where the audience feels part of the stories behind the songs, so people can expect plenty of storytelling, harmonies, dynamic arrangements and, of course, songs from Hamartia.”
A sonically flawless step into a brand new chapter, Helen’s latest single My Hamartia ultimately offers fans a tantalising first glimpse into what lies in wait on album #3 next year. “My Hamartia is the first taste of my forthcoming ten-track album Hamartia,” shares Helen, “a concept record exploring the idea of our ‘fatal flaws’ – the qualities and patterns that make us human, but can also trip us up.”
“The record marks a new chapter for me sonically and creatively, leaning further into folk and Americana while keeping storytelling at its centre.”
My Hamartia is out today.
Hamartia the album is set for release in February 2027 and available to presave now.
