In a house in the woods on the outskirts of Sandusky, Hooked Like Helen began as the alternative rock brainstorms of Nikki and Jon Stipp. Shortly after relocating from Los Angeles to rural Ohio, and inheriting a small home studio from a Jon’s deceased uncle, the duo became sought after by music supervisors for E!, MTV, and Netflix among others. Hooked Like Helen’s powerfully heartfelt piano ballad, “Liar” quite literally inspired the script for the motion picture High Strung: Free Dance (Jane Seymour), and is featured in a poignant scene in the film with a dance sequence choreographed by Tyce Diorio. The music video was shot in Bucharest, Romania and premiered on Radio Disney.
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In tandem with their success in sync placements, Hooked Like Helen developed a reputation for one of the most energetic, awe-inspiring live shows you will ever see. This past year, HLH cultivated an edgier rock sound and completed two national tours with Icon For Hire and No Resolve/Halocene, opened for such established acts as Jewel, Taylor Hicks, and Blood Sweat & Tears, and performed as direct support for PVRIS at Sandusky Pride. Hooked Like Helen’s fierce stage presence, raw passion, and precise technical abilities are a sound and sight to behold, and the world is taking notice. 
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Hooked Like Helen is currently releasing rock singles ahead of their forthcoming EP called Promise Me You'll Run. Co-produced by Nikki and mega-hot collaborators Kevin McCombs (Royal & The Serpent, Papa Roach) and Kevin Thrasher (MGK, Jelly Roll, Blink-182), the new EP will drop on Oct 4th and features songs that HLH played on tour across the nation to fans who immediately connected with them. The music video for the 2nd single, "OCD (these thoughts again)", premiered on New Noise Magazine and started a trend among TikTok influencers in the mental health space who used the song to share their experiences with the disorder of the same name. 
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Nikki is 1 in 3000 people who perceive sound as colors, shapes, and textures. This phenomenon known as Chromesthesia is a unique quality that sets her apart from most songwriters and producers. Nikki credits her Chromesthesia for her success in composing for film and t.v.; she allows the visuals generated by her brain to guide the music into fulfilling the creative visions of the producers, directors and music supervisors she works with. This was especially true in her work composing tracks for 9 pivotal scenes across the 6 episodes of the wildly popular, 3 time Emmy winning Netflix docu-series, CHEER.
 
Hooked Like Helen’s sound embodies a unique vein of alternative music; dark lyrical themes of childhood trauma and substance abuse are crafted into relatable sing-along anthems of hope and resilience. Their recent single “Sleepwalker” - a song for those struggling with addiction - is a fan favorite and has been featured on Loudwire Nights and spun on 36 commercial rock stations. The honesty and vulnerability in HLH’s lyrics is what connects them so closely to fans, and what makes a Hooked Like Helen show a truly memorable, emotional experience. 
 
In a timeless, ageless context in which melody reigns supreme, the band’s songs oscillate between moments of intimate piano/vocal arrangements and intense Rock and Roll. A dash of Tori Amos, and a sprinkling of Queen. This juxtaposition of vulnerability and fierceness is evinced in the band’s incredibly dynamic live show and is truly at the heart of who Hooked Like Helen is.

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