}}</ref>
}}</ref>
Additional reporting in ”Airplay Access” emphasized Bettencourt’s early collaboration with Helmer, noting that she “joined forces with [[Hendrik Helmer]], an accomplished guitarist in New York City” to record ”New Normal”, which, although never marketed or distributed, was described as “as timely now as it was then.”<ref name=”airplay”/>
Additional reporting in ”Airplay Access” emphasized Bettencourt’s early collaboration with Helmer, noting that she “joined forces with [[Hendrik Helmer]], an accomplished guitarist in New York City” to record ”New Normal”, which, although never marketed or distributed, was described as “as timely now as it was then.”<ref name=”airplay”>
|title=World Premiere of Michele Bettencourt w/ Vampire Time
|url=https://www.airplayaccess.com/vampire-time
|website=Airplay Access
|publisher=Airplay Access
|access-date=12 September 2025
}}</ref>
Drummer [[Andy Parker (drummer)|Andy Parker]] of [[UFO (band)|UFO]] also referenced Helmer as part of the production team for ”Vampire Time”, alongside Everett Bradley, Steve Ferrone, and Kerry Brown.<ref name=”andyparker”>{{cite web
Drummer [[Andy Parker (drummer)|Andy Parker]] of [[UFO (band)|UFO]] also referenced Helmer as part of the production team for ”Vampire Time”, alongside Everett Bradley, Steve Ferrone, and Kerry Brown.<ref name=”andyparker”>{{cite web
|
Hendrik Helmer |
|
|---|---|
Hendrik Helmer performing live in New York, 2008 |
|
| Birth name | Hendrik Helmer |
| Born | June 5, 1970 Münster, Germany |
| Origin | New York City, United States |
| Genres | Pop, Rock, Blues, Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, producer, educator |
| Instrument(s) | Guitar, Vocals |
| Years active | 1985–present |
| Labels | Independent |
| Website | www |
Musical artist
American guitarist, songwriter, and producer
Hendrik Helmer is an American guitarist, songwriter, and producer based in New York City. He has collaborated with a range of international artists across pop, jazz, and classical genres and has taught at the Juilliard School.
Early Life and Education
[edit]
Helmer studied music in Germany before relocating to New York City. Details about his early musical influences include classical guitar training and exposure to both European and American rock and jazz traditions.
Helmer has performed and recorded with artists including Amber, Carly Simon, Wyclef Jean, Maxwell, and Paul Shaffer. He has worked both as a live performer and as a studio guitarist.[1]
He was active in the New York music scene throughout the 2000s and 2010s, contributing to recordings as a featured guitarist and collaborating on albums with artists such as Amber, Carmen Browne, and Greer Baxter. Helmer also contributed to the benefit compilation Listen (A Benefit Album for Our Time), which included artists like Carly Simon, Daryl Hall, Ann Hampton Callaway, Blue Man Group, and Mandy Patinkin.[2]
In 2012, Helmer released the EP Tales of Lost Love, which AllMusic rated five stars and described as “thoughtfully crafted” with a “reflective and almost cinematic quality”.[3]
He made his Carnegie Hall debut in 2014.[4] In 2015, Helmer began working as the guitar teacher for Madonna’s children, Rocco Ritchie and David Banda.[5]
In addition to session work, Helmer has released solo albums and EPs showcasing his work as a composer and bandleader.[6]
In 2018, Helmer collaborated with Michele Bettencourt on the album New Normal. In 2025, he produced, wrote, and recorded a follow-up project with Bettencourt in New York City titled Vampire Time, released on Licorice Pizza Records in Los Angeles.[7] The release was supported by the single Everybody Loves a Circus, with coverage in New Music Radio Network describing Helmer as an “accomplished guitarist in New York City” and one of the exceptional musicians involved in the project.[8]
The single also received chart recognition. It debuted at number 28 on the Independent Music Network Mainstream Top 30 Countdown,[9] was listed among the most-added tracks on National Radio Hits AC40 with 11 reporting stations,[10] and appeared on New Music Weekly’s “Up & Coming” list with five station adds.[11]
Additional reporting in Airplay Access emphasized Bettencourt’s early collaboration with Helmer, noting that she “joined forces with Hendrik Helmer, an accomplished guitarist in New York City” to record New Normal, which, although never marketed or distributed, was described as “as timely now as it was then.”[12]
Drummer Andy Parker of UFO also referenced Helmer as part of the production team for Vampire Time, alongside Everett Bradley, Steve Ferrone, and Kerry Brown.[13]
| Year | Title | Notes | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | How Little We Know | Kawomusic record label | — |
| 1999 | Hugging Perfekt Stranger | Studio album; Kawomusic | — |
| 2010 | Life in the Loop | Studio album | [14] |
| 2010 | Love You From Afar | Single | [15] |
| 2012 | Tales of Lost Love | EP | [16][3] |
| 2013 | Take Me As I Am (with Kiki Voss) | EP | — |
| 2018 | Wieso, Warum,(Roland Bergmann) | EP | — |
| 2019 | Bleed (with Greer Baxter) | EP | — |
| 2019 | Believe (with Devonee B.) | Album; production | — |
| 2019 | Something’s There (with Devonee B.) | Single | [17] |
| 2018 | New Normal (with Michele Bettencourt) | EP | [18] |
| 2020 | Carousel (Keith Ward) | EP | [19] |
| 2019 | Push You Away, Bags Half Packed (Greer Baxter) | Co-production | — |
| 2020 | My Way Life at Rockwood Musical (Keith Ward) | Live | [20] |
| 2024 | Underachieve (Dallas Connors) | Album | — |
| 2024 | Lover Girl (Luzc Ellis) | Single | — |
| 2024 | Design Her (Luzc Ellis) | Single | — |
| 2025 | Boundaries (Luzc Ellis) | Single | — |
| 2025 | Vampire Time (Michele Bettencourt and Vampire Time) | Licorice Pizza Records studio album | [21] |
| Year | Title | Artist | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Love You From Afar | Hendrik Helmer | [22] |
| 2012 | Tales of Lost Love | Hendrik Helmer | [23] |
| 2012 | If There is a Heaven | Hendrik Helmer | [24] |
| 2012 | The Same | Hendrik Helmer | — |
| 2012 | Better Days | Hendrik Helmer | — |
| 2013 | Don’t Wanna Make You Mine | Kiki Voss | — |
| 2013 | Take Me As I Am | Kiki Voss | [25] |
| 2013 | God in Drag | Glenn Kidd | — |
| 2015 | Go Love Yourself | Glenn Kidd | — |
As Featured Guitarist
[edit]
| Year | Title | Artist/Context | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | My Kind of World | Amber | [26] |
| 2005 | You Move Me | Amber | — |
| 2005 | Voodoo | Amber | — |
| 2007 | My Name is Rasulus | Rasulus | — |
| 2007 | Palladium II: Horses On Mars | Palladium | — |
| 2008 | Listen (A Benefit Album for Our Time) | Various (Carly Simon, Daryl Hall, John Forté, Skylar Grey aka Holly Brook, Ann Hampton Callaway, Blue Man Group, Mandy Patinkin) | — |
| 2009 | Primetime | Eddie Bishai | — |
| 2010 | Holedelic | Everett Bradley | — |
| 2010 | You’re the Same As Me | Gigi Fouquet | [27] |
| 2011 | Red Light | Kiki Collins | — |
| 2011 | Bethesda | Sasha Di Bona | — |
| 2014 | Cloud Ballet EP | Carmen Browne | — |
| 2015 | Carmen Browne | Carmen Browne | — |
| 2019 | Everything to Me | Keith Ward | — |
| 2019 | Believe | Devonee B. | — |
| 2019 | Talkin’ ‘Bout You and Me | Henry Dee | — |
| 2020 | You’re in Love With Me | Glenn Kidd | — |
| 2022 | Give Up the Ghost | Glenn Kidd | — |
| 2023 | Everyday People | Glenn Kidd | — |
| 2024 | Can’t Find the Time | Henry Dee | — |
| 2024 | Underachive | Dallas Connors | — |
| 2024 | Lover Girl | Luzc Ellis | — |
| 2024 | Design Her | Luzc Ellis | — |
| 2025 | Boundaries | Luzc Ellis | — |
| 2025 | Vampire Time | Michele Bettencourt | [28] |
| 2025 | Everybody Loves a Circus | Michele Bettencourt w/ Vampire Time | [29] |
- [Official website]
- [SoundCloud page]
