Latest

Rising Singing Star Clara Helms Sets her Sight on Adelaide

Rising singing sensation Clara Helms counts some of the Australian music industry’s movers and shakers among her growing fanbase.

ClaraHelms_OnStageRising singing sensation Clara Helms counts some of the Australian music industry’s movers and shakers among her growing fanbase. With a wide repertoire that encompasses Puccini to Porter and Marilyn to Madonna, the stunning lyric soprano has become a sought-after corporate entertainer in her hometown of Perth, performing to Prime Ministers, Governors and fashionistas. Clara also opened for one of her favourite acts, the Pop-Opera crossover phenomenon IL DIVO at Perth’s King’s Park in 2012.

With the imminent release of her debut EP, Clara now has her sight firmly set on Adelaide. The WAAPA graduate enthuses, “I’ve heard the Adelaide Cabaret Festival is amazing so it’s high on my list of Australian goals!”

The quadrilingual entertainer has also performed at several national and international sporting events in Perth, including singing the national anthem at Wallabies Test Matches and Perth Wildcats NBL games. The singer who speaks Italian, French and German is open to adding South Australia’s international cycling event, the Tour Down Under to her CV. Clara beams, “It would be a great chance to practice my languages.”

Some readers may recognise the statuesque blonde from her dazzling performance on ‘Australia’s Got Talent’ in 2011, with her performance attracting over 500,000 YouTube views. Clara reminisces, “AGT redefined my career path. Before AGT, I was pursuing a conventional ‘classical career’. Through AGT, I realised my passion was as a soloist, in the Pop Opera Contemporary cross-over genre and that I wanted to be heard as an original artist.”

The notorious AGT judge Kyle Sandilands has remained a fan and confidante. When asked for his thoughts on Clara for this piece, Kyle offered, ““In my mind, it’s a mystery as to why Clara is not already a global star!”

Another prominent fan is influential tour promoter Sam Righi, who recently brought one of Clara’s major influences, Andrea Bocelli to Adelaide. Sam raves, “Clara has star qualities and is well positioned for a great career in the global music business.”

The Australian’ music critic Mark Coughlan describes Clara as, “A versatile and compelling performer.”

Clara is being mentored by one of Australia’s most successful songwriters, Graham Russell of ARIA Hall of Fame Act Air Supply. Clara explains, “I grew up listening to Air Supply and Graham has become my mentor since we met after a Perth Air Supply concert last December. We’re planning on working on some songs together in the US early in 2015, so it’s very exciting to think that I may be writing songs with one of my favourite songwriters of all-time!”

Clara has been using her earnings from corporate gigs to self-finance her debut EP, which marks the first time Clara will be sharing her original compositions. One very profound piece ‘It’s Over’, is an empowering Anti-Cyber Bullying song which Clara wrote earlier this year, as a response to unprovoked death threats. Clara reveals, “It’s a very powerful song but also empowering and enlightening, with the aim of raising awareness of the trauma associated with Cyber Bullying.”

As a means of turning this dark episode into a positive, in April this year Clara launched her Belief Beyond Bullies Foundation to increase self-empowerment of individuals whose future emotional development and careers are being thwarted by bullying. Clara elaborates, “Through the foundation, I’ve made presentations to schools where I’ve spoken and performed songs. I’ve been able to connect with the students and have received fantastic feedback. All round, it’s been very rewarding!”

Another song, ‘Inspirational’ was written for her friend and supporter, the late Perth fashion designer, Ruth Tarvydas. Clara laments, “Ruth was a generous supporter and champion who would provide me with her beautiful gowns for performances and special events. Not only have I lost a dear friend, I’ve also lost a creative collaborator.”

True to Clara’s entrepreneurial spirit, she is utilising Creative Partnerships Australia’s Australia Cultural Fund to help finance her EP. Clara explains, “A friend introduced me to the ACF which means people can make a contribution to cover my EP production costs and receive a tax deduction. It’s a wonderful initiative and I have already received some support which will help me cover my studio costs.”

Clara will be performing on the Channel 7 Perth Telethon on Sunday 26 October. Clara offers, “I’ve been told the performance may be uploaded to YouTube, so I’m hoping it will be another opportunity to reach my fans across Australia and the world.”

Clara may be visiting Adelaide in early December, teasing, “I’m in early discussions to perform at a special event. Stay tuned!”

Clara Helms’ debut EP will be released later this year. In the meantime, tax deductible contributions can be made through Creative Partnerships Australia:

https://www.creativepartnershipsaustralia.org.au/artist-projects/clara-helms

More News

To Top