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



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 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.

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
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.

“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



Past festivals & showcases: 
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