Scott Helman – Pretty
By Libby Driscoll
Discovering what is takes to embrace his inner confidence, Canadian singer-songwriter Scott Helman releases his latest single, Pretty.
Scott Helman – Pretty
Pretty is only the second release from Helman following his summer debut release of Old Friends. His latest single has allowed him to push the boundaries of expression, and defy outdated gender roles.
“This song was a big step for me in exploration and limits. I wanted to take myself as far as I could down the line of ‘uncomfortable’ while still maintaining what feels like me. Ultimately, I thought it was such a special thought – the idea that someone can be so beautiful that you just want a bit of them to become part of you. In that thought, there is so much beauty and humour – the transcendence of traditional gender roles, the flirt, the strangeness. That’s what excited me about our initial demo, and what continues to excite me now.”
- Scott Helman on Pretty
Paired with a music video directed by Ben Knetchel, the trippy visuals of the video capture the essence of Helman’s revelation on beauty. Alternating between distorted filters and clear scenes, we see Helman begin to experiment with clothing and apply make-up to himself, dancing in both masc. and femme clothing throughout the video.
The song carries a hard rhythm, utilising both electronic beats and acoustic percussion side by side. Helman too uses flip sides of his vocals, beginning the track with soft, breathy phrases, leaving his dominant style to the chorus. The whole consistency of the track incorporates decorations of ASMR adlibs, feeling like a more up-beat Billie Eilish track.
Helman addresses the taboo of style expression in Pretty in a fun and freeing way, embracing the true nature of the topic. The second release is a perfect statement in the run up to his debut album, providing us with a liberating message in an alt-pop ear worm to keep us entertained until then.