Pops New Powerhouse: Heleina Zara
Photography by Sara Regan
Heleina Zara, an Australian-Filipina singer-songwriter from Sydney is about to be a household name. Opening for Peach PRC and Jack Gray on their respective headline tours earlier this year and now having just wrapped up with Gretta Ray on her ‘Big Pop Tour’, Heleina is set to be Australia’s next big star. “I think I'm still trying to process the last few months, I was going through a lot and it really made me grateful for music, plus each tour aligned with a new track release so it was really special.”
Inspired by the likes of Taylor Swift, Gracie Abrams and Lennon Stella, Heleina writes authentically, boldly and honestly about her feelings about love and relationships. It keeps you transfixed with fun earworm backing tracks that you can dance in your living room to while crying over that one situation-ship that broke your heart. “It's the inside of my messy and chaotic brain. I write what I struggle to communicate and what I'm trying to process through my young adult years”, She says. With just three tracks released on streaming platforms, Zara is still getting her footing when it comes to live shows. “The Peach PRC tour was really my first really professional live performance. Aside from high school showcases, it was completely next level.” Thrown into the live music world Zara “tried to project as much as I could in terms of high energy, fan interaction and stage presence. I also learned that I'm very much unfit. Focusing on breathing is a big one to work on”.
Having recently signed with Island Records Australia, Heleina released her newest track in August, ‘Convenience Store’, written with Jude York and Ben Beamish (The Beamish Brothers). Having began the writing process in her Sydney studio apartment during a COVID lockdown. “I brought the idea to the guys and they were super onboard. I didn't know where the song was going because I only had the verse and the pre-chorus and then everything fell into place”.The track calls out the bad behaviour in one-sided relationships, only reaching out when it suits them. “I’m no convenience store. Hit me up when you’re bored? 24-7-365 oh sure”, she sings during the chorus, one that will stick with you after just one listen.
Heleina spent time writing in LA and described it as “Truly life-changing” going on to say “I was introduced to a lot of new sounds and ways of writing. It was definitely in some ways challenging, working with a whole group of people but it made me a better writer, it’s where the best songs come from. We wrote so much on that trip” Having moved around a lot growing up, Heleina found community and connection through music. Sharing regular updates of touring, writing and snippets of unreleased tracks, keeping her fans in the loop. “I never really had long-lasting friendships because I moved around a lot. They (her fans) are all so sweet and kind, I truly feel like we’re best friends.”
Unable to give away too much at the time, Heleina gave us a few hints about her next release which has just been released today. “We're doing a ballad-type vibe. It's a heartbreak song. I wrote it entirely on my own when I was 18. It’s very special to me because of that. A few fans have been asking for it to be released after I started playing it while touring with Jack Gray.” With such a successful year already, there’s no doubt Heleina Zara is well on her way to being Australia’s next big thing.
Released this morning, Zara’s third single is accompanied by a music video with Melbourne-based director Mitch Mey. The black and white video is said to be a “showcase of Heleina’s vocal and instrumental performance as she conveys a narrative of a virtual romance that has ended” (Courtesy of Island Records).
Make sure you listen to ‘Wait’ which can be streamed here.