about camp saint helene
music to water the garden of your dreams // art as devotion to god // existence is a revolution
Photography by Angela Ricciardi & Silken Weinburg
In 2024, they were featured on a compilation record, Cosmic Waves Volume 1., released by Angel Olsen via somethingscosmic / Jagjaguwar. This compilation included their single, “Wonder Now“ as well as their song, “Farfisa Song” , covered by Angel Olsen.
Their sophomore record, Of Earth and its Timely Delights, was released on a record label they founded called Misery Mother , in 2024. The album measures the distance between grief and possibility. It is a meditation on earth-time in relation to the cosmic, the lyrics a commentary on big-picture themes such as personal and collective revolution, dystopias, greed, love and human connection. With an urgency that is both thoughtful and experimental, the sound of Camp Saint Helene is a collaborative endeavor; a sonic enmeshing of each member’s individual character. Of Earth and its Timely Delights is a journey with no destination; a constant rediscovery of self, amidst shifting fields of perception
“Farfisa Song”, off their debut record Mother (2019), was named KEXP’s Song of the Day and added to KEXP Music that Matters Vol. 683 by Cheryl Waters. She describes Camp Saint Helene as “..call[ing] to mind the '60s California folk scene with their gentle, waltz-like pastoral sound”. Additionally, “Farfisa Song” was featured predominantly both in the teen horror drama, “I Know What You Did Last Summer” (2022) and Zoe Lister-Jones’ series SLIP (2023). Mother was named by Bandcamp as a New and Notable record of 2019, describing it as “Occult-folk in the 70’s U.K. tradition that further affirms the link between Appalachian and British folk songs”.
Both Mother & Of Earth and its Timely Delights were recorded at Basement Floods Records in Catskill, NY.
“Camp Saint Helene's Mother is spellbinding - a word that seems particularly appropriate considering the album teems with a distinctly mystical, magick-with-a-k energy. Elizabeth Ibarra's stunning vocals sound almost ritualistic at time, developing from soft and prayer-like at moments to a powerful chant - and even a cathartic full-throated shout on tracks like "Milk and Honey." The instrumentation is similarly diverse and hypnotic, with moments of church organ and sitar reinforcing the religious-fever-dream vibe of the record, and heavy bass throughout keeping the whole thing grounded and cohesive. It's a beautifully thought out and skillfully produced album.”
- MK, Radio Woodstock
press
- The Guardian // Cosmic Waves Vol. 1 Review
- The Line of Best Fit
- Atwood Magazine // “Existence is a revolution”: Camp Saint Helene’s ‘Of Earth and Its Timely Delights’ Grief & Possibility
- Flood Magazine
- Chronogram // “Of Earth and its Timely Delights” Album Review
- KEXP Song of the Day 2019 - Farfisa Song
- KEXP - Farfisa Song - Music that Matters, Vol. 683 - Melody of Love
- Bandcamp: Mother - New and Notable Release, 10/8/19
- The Deli NYC: “Camp Saint Helene release haunting single, Protector”
- “Camp Saint Helene is Born” - Connect Savannah
The Giver Gives to Give at Zebulon - LA, CA
The Giver Gives to Give at Public Records - Brooklyn, NY
Otis Mountain Get Down - Adirondaks, NY
O+ Festival - Kingston, NY
Over Yondr Festival - Greenville, NY
Meadowlark Festival - Accord, NY
NADA x Foreland for Upstate Art Weekend - Catskill, NY
a humble thank you:
camp saint helene
would not be possible
without the vast amount
of wonderful friends, family members, loved ones,
listeners, concert atendees, photographers, sound engineers,
performance techs, bookers, artists, florists, musicians
(etc etc etc, the list goes on) who believe in the project
you have supported us by sharing your valuable attention, time and energy
it takes a village, so thank you for being a part of it
we love you