Continue to Hollywoodlife () SKIP AD
Hollywood Life Logo Image

Hollywood Life

Today's Top Stories

  • Rihanna
    See Look

    Rihanna Wears Completely Sheer Shirt With Silk Robe For Night Out

  • Hailey Baldwin
    See Pics

    Hailey Baldwin Rocks High-Waisted Daisy Dukes With A Blazer Longer Than Her Shorts

  • pencil pants
    SHOP

    Ditch Your Jeans For These High-Waisted Pencil Pants That Are Under $30

Hollywood Life
  • Home
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Celebrity Bios
  • Beauty
  • Fashion
  • Shopping
  • Celebrity News
  • World News
  • Exclusives
  • Politics
  • Celebrity Babies
  • Opinions
ALL NEWS
  • Angelina Jolie Hints Brad Pitt Split Led Her To Return To Acting: I Had A ‘Change In My Family Situation’

  • Chrissy Teigen Reveals ‘Wonderful & Kind’ Meghan Markle Reached Out To Her After She Lost Her Baby

  • 24 Of The Hottest Celebrity Couples At The Oscars Over The Years: Brangelina & More

  • Award Shows
  • At The Movies
  • TV
  • Music
  • Sports
  • Sex & Relationships
  • Holidays
  • Entertainment Features
  • Podcast
  • Oscar Contenders
ALL ENTERTAINMENT
  • Amber Portwood, Kristina Shirley

    ‘Teen Mom OG’ Reunion: Amber Portwood Walks Off After Slamming Gary’s ‘Horrible’ Wife

  • ‘Ted Lasso’ Season 2 Is Going To Make 2021 The Best Ever — Watch The First Trailer

  • Mayim Bialik Reveals Possibility Of A ‘Big Bang’ Reboot & How Her Ph.D. Shapes Her Acting Career

  • Taylor Swift
  • Rihanna
  • Selena Gomez
  • Kim Kardashian
  • Kylie Jenner
  • Kendall Jenner
  • Justin Bieber
  • Miley Cyrus
  • Gigi Hadid
  • Khloe Kardashian
  • Jennifer Lopez
  • Angelina Jolie
  • Harry Styles
  • Kourtney Kardashian
ALL CELEBRITY BIOS
  • Kim Kardashian’s 6 Sexiest Looks Since Her Split From Kanye West: Crop Tops, Mini Dresses & More

  • Chrissy Teigen Reveals ‘Wonderful & Kind’ Meghan Markle Reached Out To Her After She Lost Her Baby

  • 24 Of The Hottest Celebrity Couples At The Oscars Over The Years: Brangelina & More

  • Fragrance
  • Hair Care
  • Health
  • Makeup
  • Nails
  • Beauty Features
  • Skincare
  • Makeover
  • Diet & Fitness
ALL BEAUTY
  • Halle Berry

    Halle Berry Shares Her Beauty Secrets To Help Boost Confidence & Take Care Of Your ‘Natural Skin’

  • Cardi B Shows Off Blue Hair Makeover While Out In A White Crop Top: Before & After Pics

  • Over 71,000 People Swear By This Hair Repair Treatment To Revive Dead Locks For Spring

  • Red Carpet
  • Weddings
  • Fashion Features
  • Shopping
ALL FASHION
  • Kim Kardashian’s 6 Sexiest Looks Since Her Split From Kanye West: Crop Tops, Mini Dresses & More

  • Happy 95th Birthday, Queen Elizabeth: Look Back At Her Most Stylish Outfits

  • Wendy Williams, 56, Rocks Daisy Dukes For Solo Outing Amidst Hot New Romance

  • Share This Article
  • Reddit
  • LinkedIn
  • WhatsApp
  • Email
  • Print
  • Talk
Next Up

‘Father Of The Bride’ Fans Go Wild After Writer Nancy Meyers Teases Potential 3rd Movie

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
  • Newsletters
  • Search Close

Trending

  • Bonnie Says
  • Celeb Babies
  • TV
  • Celeb Galleries
  • At Home With...
Search

NewsExpand Menu

  • Celebrity News
  • World News
  • Exclusives
  • Politics
  • Celebrity Babies
  • Opinions
  • Rock The Vote

EntertainmentExpand Menu

  • Entertainment Features
  • TV
  • Award Shows
  • At The Movies
  • Music
  • Sports
  • Sex & Relationships
  • Podcast
  • At Home With...

BeautyExpand Menu

  • Fragrance
  • Hair Care
  • Health
  • Makeup
  • Nails
  • Skincare
  • Beauty Features
  • Diet & Fitness
  • Shopping

FashionExpand Menu

  • Red Carpet
  • Weddings
  • Fashion Features
  • Shopping

TrendingExpand Menu

  • Bonnie Says
  • TV
  • Celeb Galleries
  • At Home With...

About UsExpand Menu

  • About Us
  • Writer Bios
  • Scoops, Tips & Corrections
  • Subscribe To Newsletter
  • Contact Us

Celebrity ProfilesExpand Menu

  • Kim Kardashian
  • Kylie Jenner
  • Justin Bieber
  • Selena Gomez
  • Taylor Swift
  • Rihanna
  • Kendall Jenner
  • Miley Cyrus
  • Gigi Hadid
  • Jennifer Lopez
  • Angelina Jolie
Follow Us
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
  • Newsletters
Alerts & Newsletters
  • Jobs
  • Scoops & Corrections
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • California Privacy Rights
  • AdChoices
  • Data Policy
  • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
© 2021 Hollywoodlife.com, LLC.
  • Entertainment
  • Music
Exclusive Interview
September 11, 2020 11:00AM EDT

Scott Helman Shares The ‘Honest & Vulnerable’ Truth Behind His Album ‘Nonsuch Park’

View Gallery View Gallery 11 Photos.
Jason Brow
Music & Sports Editor
  • Share This Article
  • Reddit
  • LinkedIn
  • WhatsApp
  • Email
  • Print
  • Talk

Fresh off of releasing his new album, Scott Hellman shares with HL the ‘uniquely’ personal ‘experiences’ that went into ‘Nonsuch Park,’ the inspiration behind his song ‘Lois,’ and more.

There’s a lot of thought behind everything that Scott Helman puts out, and with his new project, there’s also a lot of heart. Nonsuch Park (sa), released on Sept. 4, is the first installment of an album series, and it contains his previously released “Wait No More” and “Everything Sucks.” It also closes out with “Papa.” It’s a tribute to Scott’s grandfather, Alan, who passed away last year while the young Canadian singer was on tour, and their close bond is evident in both “Papa” and the touching video released along with the song.

“The song is about loss,” Scott shares EXCLUSIVELY with HollywoodLife, “and like the video, I really just wanted to be honest and vulnerable.” While Scott’s grief is woven deep into the fabric of Nonsuch Park – named after an actual park where his grandfather lived – the project, like Scott, is a multi-faceted experience of joys (“Lois”), frustrations (the previously mentioned “Everyday Sucks”), and more. Scott spoke with HollywoodLife about the new project, the elements that inspired “Afraid of America,” and the last thing that made him feel like he could fly like Superman.

Scott Helman, pondering (Warner Records)

HollywoodLife: Nonsuch Park is named after a park that was near where your late grandfather lived. You’ve spoken about how important he was to you and included the touching tribute, “Papa,” on this album. First off, my condolences. Secondly, your pain of losing this person is uniquely yours. What motivated you to share this with “Papa” and name the album after, essentially, your grandfather?  

It’s funny you say that – my pain is uniquely mine. I think that’s the hard thing about suffering. No matter how we hurt, it’s so hard to feel seen and heard and understood. I just got off the phone with a close friend of mine whose grandfather lived in Sweden, and he told me he cried pretty hard when he heard the song. I think it’s really beautiful how our experiences with our grandparents are so deeply similar and he was able to connect on such a personal level.

But the song is about loss, and like the video, I really just wanted to be honest and vulnerable. At the end of the day, even if people can’t relate specifically to every detail of your story, being vulnerable is just as valuable because it shows the listener that they too can break down in public or declare their hurt to the world.

During the last time we spoke, you came off as someone thoughtful when it comes to his artistic output. Though the title is related to a specific element of your life, is there an overall message or theme to this album? Is it a “here’s where I’m at right now” snapshot, or is there more of a connecting thread with every song?  

Thank you! I try my best!

I think it’s a bit of both. The fact that there’s still a whole other side to this album that no one has ever heard is fun for me. I’m excited for people to hear this thing in its entirety, and I know when it’s all finished, those themes will be reinforced and expanded upon.

I think its really just songs that I love. But when I had them all together and then wrote “Papa,” I realized how deeply he influenced me, my thinking, my sensibilities, and my passions. Even a song like “Lois.” I always think about how much he loved my Grandma and how dedicated he was to her.

I see the interludes as the glue that holds it all together. They give the record more weight. It’s unfinished still, and I’m excited to be going through the process with my fans.

It’s easy to see “Lois” becoming a huge hit, especially since songs about Superman resonate with people. But, you also construct the narrative that Superman doesn’t reach his full potential, despite his near omnipotence, without a profoundly human motivation (aka the love for Lois.)  What inspired this song?

“Lois” is the only song I didn’t write from the start. It’s weird for me because I’m a songwriter at heart, and I like to be deeply involved at all junctures of music creation. But two people I’ve been working with for most of my career kinda wrote it for me. It’s hard not to feel honored that someone would do that for you. The second I heard it, I knew it was a special song.

It means a lot of things to me. Mostly that I wouldn’t be anywhere without my girlfriend, Katya. She’s the love of my life.

What was a recent “Lois” for you? Aka a motivation for you to fly higher than before.  

COVID was a huge obstacle. I think that’s true for everyone. I was ready to move to LA. I had my bags packed, and a lease signed. It was hard to admit that wasn’t going to happen anytime soon. But it’s the longest I’ve been with my girlfriend for a long, long time. She brings so much joy to my life – The best motivation is meaningful love, and a love like that gives weight to everything you do.

View this post on Instagram

Nonsuch Park (sa) 12 days 💐 📸: @kawaiiathy

A post shared by Scott Helman (@scotthelman) on Aug 23, 2020 at 12:13pm PDT

Was there any particular moment that motivated you to write “Afraid Of America?” You certainly had a plethora of things to choose from. 

It was really inspired by my tentative move. Me and Kat had some long talks about it; how scary it was to be going to the US, but also how exciting it was. I thought that disparity was interesting. I think a lot of people feel that way about the US, even people from there. You can get so high and drop so low, and the idea of going there is like a storm of worry and excitement and fear.

Lots went into that song: Colin Kaepernick, gun violence, economic disparity, poor infrastructure, consumer culture, and fame.

Finally, 2020 will go down in history with a lot of negatives attached to it. What’s a positive thing that happened to you this year – you can say the release of Nonsuch Park – that has kept your head above water during the past nine months?  

Releasing the first half of my album!!!!!!! But also: learning to bake sourdough, learning to stick and poke, spending time with my girlfriend and my cat.

—

Nonsuch Park is out now.

Click to Subscribe to Our HollywoodLife Daily Newsletter to get more celeb news.
  • Share This Article
  • Reddit
  • LinkedIn
  • WhatsApp
  • Email
  • Print
  • Talk

More Related News:

  • Gwen Stefani Returns To Pop For Remix Of Dua Lipa's 'Physical': She's 'Gone Back To Her Roots'
  • Hongbin: 5 Things To Know About K-Pop Star Who Departed From VIXX Following Controversial Comments
  • Jack Bruno Aims To 'Push The Borders' Of Punk & Rap With New Music: I Want To 'Do Something Different'

Most Read

Wendy Williams, 56, Rocks Daisy Dukes For Solo Outing Amidst Hot New Romance

Wendy Williams

Suri Cruise Sports Long Hair While Posing With Flowers & Goofing Off With Friends On 15th Birthday

Rihanna Wears Completely Sheer Shirt With Silk Robe For Night Out — See The Fierce Look

Rihanna

Hailey Baldwin Rocks High-Waisted Daisy Dukes With A Blazer That’s Longer Than Her Short Shorts

Hailey Baldwin

Cardi B Shows Off Blue Hair Makeover While Out In A White Crop Top: Before & After Pics

Cardi B

Have news, pics or video on a breaking news story?

Send us your Tip

Have news, pics or video on a breaking news story?

Send us your Tip

More From Our Brands

  • Super Cute One-Piece Swimsuits for Your Baby on Amazon
    SheKnows

    Super Cute One-Piece Swimsuits for Your Baby on Amazon

  • These Eyeshadow Primers Will Seriously Lock Your Eye Look in Place All Day
    StyleCaster

    These Eyeshadow Primers Will Seriously Lock Your Eye Look in Place All Day

  • Look Out for a South By South West + BlogHer Collab Soon!
    Blogher

    Look Out for a South By South West + BlogHer Collab Soon!

  • General Hospital Spoilers April 19 – 30
    Soaps

    General Hospital Spoilers April 19 – 30

    HollywoodLife

    • About Us
    • Advertise With Us
    • Scoops & Corrections
    • Contact Us

    Legal

    • Privacy Policy
    • California Privacy Rights
    • AdChoices
    • Terms of Use
    • Data Policy
    • Do Not Sell My Personal Information

    News

    • Celebrity News
    • World News
    • Exclusives
    • Celebrity Babies

    Connect

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
© Copyright 2021 Hollywoodlife.com, LLC.
Powered by WordPress.com VIP
ad