Anne-Marie Helder…Vocals, Guitar (electric / acoustic), Keys, Flute, Harmonica, Percussion
Anne-Marie Helder is PANIC ROOM's lead singer and frontwoman. She is also the band's main lyricist, and songwriter / co-writer on all of their music. Helder plays electric & acoustic guitars on stage, as well as percussion (and the occasional flash of flute - lovingly dubbed the 'silver wand' by fans!) Blessed with a unique and powerful voice - which is at once warm, wonderfully expressive, and with a boundless range - it is Helder's distinctive vocal style that helps to breathe the magic into PANIC ROOM's unmistakeable sound. She has been described as the bands 'secret weapon'! ...And her voice as the 'golden thread' which runs through all of the music. AWARDS: ✭ BEST FEMALE VOCALIST PROG Magazine Readers' Poll, 2012 + 2011 ✭ HEARTTHROB AWARD PROG Magazine, 2013 
MUSICAL GEAR Anne-Marie is an Official Endorsee for: AUDEN GUITARS & CORNFORD AMPLIFICATION SHE USES: Auden Guitars Shure microphones Takamine guitars Carlo Robelli (electric guitar) Yamaha flutes 
OTHER PROJECTS / SESSIONS: ✧ LUNA ROSSA: In 2013, Anne-Marie and Jonathan Edwards released a debut acoustic album under the name Luna Rossa. Essentially an acoustic duo, this project gave Helder & Edwards a separate outlet for some of their more stripped-back, folky ideas. Luna Rossa is often described as Panic Room's 'little sister'! The first album 'Sleeping Pills & Lullabies' enjoyed immediate success, and was followed in 2014 by a second Luna Rossa release: 'Secrets & Lies'. Both albums are now available NOW from our SHOP ✧ SOLO: Anne-Marie has been a prolific singer-songwriter for many years, and her solo career has taken her all over the world. As well as headline shows, she has supported many major artists: including Midge Ure, Paul Young, Glenn Tilbrook, Limehouse Lizzy and Aynsley Lister. In 2009 Helder was the official Tour Support for ULTRAVOX's 'Return To Eden' UK Tour, performing at many prestigious venues including Birmingham Symphony Hall, the London Roundhouse, Cardiff St David's Hall and the SECC in Glasgow. In 2013 she was invited to open every show on Steve Hackett's UK 'Genesis Revisited' Tour, and once again performed to thousands every night with her solo set. DOWNLOAD Anne-Marie's solo EP ‘The Contact’ - now @ BandCamp! ✧ MOSTLY AUTUMN: Since forming Panic Room, Anne-Marie has also performed with Mostly Autumn as a multi-instrumentalist (stepping in after the departure of flautist Angela Gordon). She has recorded harmony vocals + flute on albums including 'Glass Shadows', 'The Ghost Moon Orchestra', and ' ✧ PARADE / HALO BLIND: In 2009, Helder recorded guest vocals on the debut Parade album 'The Fabric' - all songs written by Chris Johnson. Parade then toured in 2009-10, and Helder performed live on vocals / guitar / keyboards. The band has since changed its name to Halo Blind, still with Johnson at the helm; and they released a new album in 2014. (not featuring Helder) ✧ ICON: Anne-Marie was approached by John Wetton and Geoff Downes (of the band ASIA) to contribute guest vocals to their new 'ICON' album in 2009. Recording the song 'Raven' as a duet with Wetton, among other tracks, she then joined ICON live on stage to perform material from this album, in the UK and Europe. A live DVD was recorded at St Mary-le-Bow Church, London. ✧ NEW DANCE ORCHESTRA: Following her work on the 'ICON' project, Geoff Downes asked Anne-Marie to perform guest vocals on one of his own solo projects: the album 'Electronica', by the New Dance Orchestra (2010). A foray into the world of pop / electronic music, 'Electronica' is an uplifting album which showcases a whole different side to Anne-Marie's vocal talent. |
Photo: Tina Korhonen
TRIVIA: ♔ Anne-Marie studied Art at A-Level and then art college, with the aim of being either a fine artist or textile / fashion designer. But feeling inhibited by the narrow art-teaching methods, she opted to change her path and instead study a Philosophy degree (in Swansea) - graduating with a 2:1. She has kept her artwork alive as a personal passion. ♔ With a lifelong love of the sea, Anne-Marie qualified as a PADI scuba diver in the Maldives. She made some of her first dives alongside turtles, reef sharks and manta rays. ♔ Anne-Marie has been a vegetarian since the age of 15. ♔ She loves all animals, but has a particular fondness for cats, and dolphins. Wasps, not so much… ♔ In 2011 Anne-Marie did a charity skydive from 14,000ft over the English countryside, to raise funds for the 'Pilgrim Bandits'. The Bandits help to rehabilitate injured British soldiers, and create inspiring new activities for their wellbeing. 
Photo: Tina Korhonen
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ANNE-MARIE HELDER Discography:
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with PANIC ROOM (Songwriter, Lead Vocals, Guitars, Keys, Flute, Programming & Production) 'ESSENCE' (2015) 'INCARNATE' (2014) 'S K I N' (2012) 'ALTITUDE' (2011) 'SATELLITE' (2010) 'VISIONARY POSITION' (2008) |
with LUNA ROSSA (Songwriter, Lead Vocals, Guitar, Piano, Harp, Flute, Production) 'SECRETS & LIES' (2014) 'SLEEPING PILLS & LULLABIES' (2013) |
SOLO (Songwriter, Lead Vocals, Guitar, Keys, Flute, Programming & Production) 'THE CONTACT' (2004) |
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with MOSTLY AUTUMN
(Flute, Harmony Vocals, Percussion) 'DRESSED IN VOICES' (2014) 'THE GHOST MOON ORCHESTRA (2011) 'GO WELL DIAMOND HEART (2010) 'LIVE 2009' (2009) 'GLASS SHADOWS (2008) HEART FULL OF SKY (2007) |
with KARNATAKA
(Harmony Vocals, Flute, Shawm, Percussion) 'STRANGE BEHAVIOUR' (2004) 'DELICATE FLAME OF DESIRE' (2002) |
with TIGER DRAGON
(Songwriter, Lead & Harmony Vocals, Guitar, Keys, Percussion, Flute, Production) 'LIFE STORIES' (2002) 'THE UNIVERSAL KEY' (2003) |
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+ Guest Vocals on the following releases: DAVE FOSTER : 'Dreamless' (2016) ANDY JACKSON : '73 Days At Sea' (2015) HOWARD SINCLAIR: 'The Delicious Company Of Freaks' (2012) THE SKYS : 'COLOURS OF THE DESERT' (2011) GEOFF DOWNES : 'NEW DANCE ORCHESTRA - ELECTRONICA' (2010) WETTON-DOWNES ICON : 'ICON 3' (2009) PARADE : 'THE FABRIC' (2009) DAVE KILMINSTER : 'SCARLET' (2007) FISH : 'COMMUNION' (2007) |
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