R&B / Soul

Helena May Released “Troubles” – A Self-Reflection in Real Time

today02/02/2026 75

Background
share close

Helena May Troubles

The Weight Before the Groove

What do you do when your troubles start speaking louder than you do? Troubles by Helena May comes from inside the fog, marking the third release from Puzzle Pieces: Side B and a focus on self-optimism. I’ve heard plenty of records talking about resilience. However, fewer sit with the process long enough to feel believable. And to be honest, Helena lets the doubt sit there.

The Words Arrive Before the Answer

The lyric avoids rushing toward solutions. Instead, it traces the mental loop many people know too well: confusion, self-doubt, the urge to hide, then the slow decision to move on. When Helena sings about “finding the strength to carry on,” she frames strength as something built step by step. Later, the tone shifts into a hand on the shoulder – warning about how easily the mind can turn unkind.

Craft, Players, and a Band That Knows When to Hold Back

Fabian Wollner signed the production. The groove blends R&B, British soul, and a touch of gospel warmth, while the arrangement avoids clutter. Nicolas Py smashed the drums, JoJo Lackner worked out the bass, and Michael Hornek handled the piano.

I just loved how the mix serves the lyric first, then lets the band lift it together. And that balance explains why Helena May continues to earn strong radio support across the UK and Europe, along with consistent editorial recognition and live momentum.

Helena May Troubles
Helena May – photo credit: Martin Steiger

Energy straight into the live space

Meanwhile, Helena May dropped me a note about what’s brewing next, and it reads like the kind of night you wish you’d booked a train for. Radio Superfly took over the Stadttheater Wiener Neustadt in Austria and turned it into Funky Town for one evening. One foot in London, the other in Vienna. Helena walked on stage with her band and the Hot Pants Road Club horn section and did what she does best. I knew, right then, nobody was leaving unchanged.

Helena May Troubles
Thirteen on stage, one heartbeat. Photo credit: Robert Puteanu

Thirteen musicians shared that stage. Imagine the cameras rolling, the multi-track recorders like smoking guns. I wish I’d been in that room. The whole thing looks and sounds as big as it felt. Troubles and Kinda Minor both received fresh live arrangements, stretched out with two backing vocalists and horns.

Those versions happened only in that room, for that night, which made the moment heavier. But the good news is that the footage now sits in the edit suite. And heading toward standalone video releases and a hopeful support from VEVO. When those clips surface, I’ll be there for it. Keep an eye on what comes next.

Helena May Troubles
Helena May between soundcheck and lift-off. Photo credit: Martin Steiger

Where “Troubles” Sits in the Puzzle

In the flow of Puzzle Pieces: Side B, Troubles comes across to me as reflective, not reactive. Helena trusts the room, the players, and the moment. I came away feeling steadier, not because the song offered answers, but because it respected the questions. That kind of restraint lasts longer than any quick uplift, and it keeps Helena’s work firmly on my radar as this album story unfolds.

Follow Helena May on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube. The good stuff usually shows up there first, before anyone starts explaining it.


R&B / Soul Picks from Groover City:

Written by: Flav


Join our newsletter for exciting news on the music business, artists, events and mroe!

+00:00