In a house in the woods on the outskirts of Sandusky, Hooked Like Helen began as the musical brainstorms of husband-and-wife, Jon and Nikki Stipp. Within a year of becoming sober, relocating from Los Angeles to the obscurity of rural Ohio, and being handed-down a small home studio setup from a Jon’s deceased uncle, the duo became sought after by music supervisors for E!, MTV, and Netflix among others. Hooked Like Helen’s powerfully heartfelt piano ballad, “Liar” was included on the Motion Picture Soundtrack for High Strung: Free Dance, and its music video features choreography by Tyce Diorio and stars Thomas Doherty (Disney’s Descendants 2 and 3), and Jane Seymour.
In tandem with their success in sync placements, Hooked Like Helen developed a reputation for one of the most energetic, awe-inspiring live shows you will ever see. This past year, HLH completed two national tours with Icon For Hire and No Resolve/Halocene, opened for such established acts as Jewel, Taylor Hicks, and Blood Sweat & Tears, and performed as direct support for PVRIS at Sandusky Pride. Hooked Like Helen’s fierce stage presence, raw passion, and precise technical abilities are a sound and sight to behold, and the world is taking notice.
One of the 1 in 3000 people who perceive sound as colors, shapes, and textures, Nikki’s Chromesthesia is a unique quality that sets her apart from most songwriters and producers. She credits her chromesthesia for her success in composing for film and t.v.; she allows the visuals generated by her brain to guide the music into fulfilling the creative visions of the producers, directors and music supervisors she works with. This was especially true in her work composing tracks for 9 pivotal scenes across the 6 episodes of the wildly popular, 3 time Emmy winning Netflix docu-series, CHEER.
Hooked Like Helen’s sound embodies a unique vein of alternative music; dark lyrical themes of childhood trauma and substance abuse are crafted into relatable sing-along anthems of hope and resilience. Their recent single “Sleepwalker” - a song for those struggling with addiction - is a fan favorite and has been featured on Loudwire Nights and spun on 35 commercial rock stations. The honesty and vulnerability in HLH’s lyrics is what connects them so closely to fans, and what makes a Hooked Like Helen show a truly memorable, emotional experience.
In a timeless, ageless context in which melody reigns supreme, the band’s songs oscillate between moments of intimate piano/vocal arrangements and intense Rock and Roll. A dash of Tori Amos, and a sprinkling of Queen. This juxtaposition of vulnerability and fierceness is evinced in the band’s incredibly dynamic live show and is truly at the heart of who Hooked Like Helen is.
