My mother’s recent death prompted me to dig out my Elizabethtown soundtracks (You have to love a Cameron Crowe film that deals with the loss of a parent and sports not one, but two soundtracks). One of my favorite songs from the soundtracks was HELEN STELLaR‘s io (This Time Around). Curious as to what the band was currently doing, I found out in mid-2010 HELEN STELLaR released If The Stars Could Speak, They Would Have Your Voice… Fortunately for me, Jim Evens of the band was kind enough to discuss their current and past work.

Tim O’Shea: The band started out in Chicago, but found it’s way to Los Angeles eventually. How has being based out of LA impacted the band’s evolution and its sound?

Jim Evens: Being in LA hasn’t had much of a cerebral effect on our sound or the songs themselves. however, some of the tribulations we’ve gone through are definitely evident. Also, the people you meet and the experiences you have can always inspire a song one way or another.

O’Shea: At a performance in September the band played “a brand new untitled song for the first time” Is it more nerve-racking or exhilarating (or some other sensation) to try out a new song to a crowd like that? And depending on the crowd reaction how does a song like that evolve or change from there?

Evens: The feeling is definitely exhilaration - when it works! well, even if it doesn’t it still feels good to know it’s coming up in the set. It kinda turns us into audience members as well. That’s really what we care about that first time - how it makes US feel.

O’Shea: What’s the band current line-up and how long have the respective members been part of Helen Stellar?

Evens: Jim Evens- guitar and vocals, Clif Clehouse- drums, Dustin Robles- bass, and Eli Lhymn- lead guitar. Clif and I have been in the band since the beginning. we found Dustin when we got out to LA in 2004, and I found Eli a little over a year ago. Actually, he initially found me when i was putting together a side project called, Jim, Son of James. He responded to an ad I put up on craigslist looking for guitar players. HS (HELEN STELLaR) started up again shortly after and we wanted another guitar player, so i remembered Eli (though I never played with him) and had him try out. He was awesome.

O’Shea: Can you walk us through the creative development/collaborative process of one of the band’s songs?

Evens: I write most of the songs then bring them to the guys and they add their pieces, REALLY making it a song. Recently we’ve been coming up with stuff together in the practice space. A few songs on our album came about that way and they are some of our best tracks.

O’Shea: How much has social media made marketing the band easier or more effective?

Evens: Social marketing is GREAT and for the most part FREE! However, it’s SO CONGESTED! I actually get tired of being invited to “this show” or “that event” 10 times a day, on facebook, by people I barely know. It just reminds you of HOW MANY bands are out there - which can be great, but can also take away some of the mystery and coolness of bands. I remember when I had to read magazines and go to good record stores to really Find Out about new music. Now, new music FINDS YOU!!!

O’Shea: Do you ever tire of discussing the band’s involvement in the Elizabethtown soundtrack, or are you still able to appreciate the opportunities that grew out of that exposure?

Evens: I never get tired of talking about our involvement with Elizabethtown! It was a Great experience and a Great time for HS! Cameron Crowe put out an album for us that year and had one of the best tours of our career that summer.

O’Shea: How satisfying was it earlier this year when you released the band’s first full-length album, If The Stars Could Speak, They Would Have Your Voice…

Evens: Releasing our new album this year has been fantastic - even though we haven’t done a nationwide and worldwide release yet. I really want to press some nice vinyl when we do distribute it and perhaps add a bonus track you can’t get on itunes or the cd. Hopefully, that will happen in early 2011.