For Camp Saint Helene, the concept of otherworldliness is neither strange nor complex, but alluring and holy. Created by Elizabeth Celeste Ibarra, Dylan Nowik, Wesley Harper and Alex P. Wernquest, they approach their craft akin to a ritual, leaning into the notion that art and expression are sacred experiences on an overstimulated planet. Often informed by the spirit of a defunct Christian-summer camp turned arts-colony deep within the mountains of New York, their music searches for shimmers of hope amidst hints of doom. 

“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 Amazon Prime’s teen horror drama, “I Know What You Did Last Summer” (2022) and Zoe Lister-Jones’ series SLIP on The Roku Channel (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”.  

In 2023, they were commissioned by NADA x Foreland to present a live performance and installation piece titled “Into the Garden” for Upstate Art Weekend in Catskill, NY.

They recorded their first album almost entirely live to 8-track, ½” tape, at Basement Floods Records in Catskill, New York. Their second album is currently in production.

See more press notes here.

“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