Serpentfly an odd hybrid

To Leslie Helpert, to be an artist is to be a sponge.

"Musicians are like really big sponges, and we take in so many things and we choose what to bring to voice," Helpert said in an interview with The Spectrum.

Helpert, the leader and sole member of Serpentfly, is a spirited face in the music industry and is coming to Nietzsche's this Thursday.

Like sacred animal-derived names found within Native American culture, the name Serpentfly is symbolic to Helpert.

"I've created my own myth with this nickname. To me, it's an expression, a subtle archetype of life and the world," Helpert said.

Helpert has been strumming her guitar for the past 16 years and already has three albums out, the latest, "Cupcakes and Radishes," was released in Jan. 2005.

Calling herself a "vigilante" on her Web site, www.serpentfly.com, Helpert rebels against normality in every way, including with music. Drifting, syncopated beats combine with a medley of funky indie, jazz, handsome acoustics and playfully poetic lyrics.

Helpert sees little use in separating poetry and lyricism. Toying around with words for her poetry as well as her music has become a habit.

"Lyrics and sound and vibration go together so well, they're interchangeable and become a natural process for me," she said.

While fame and glory are typically time-consuming, Helpert said she "hasn't really given a hoot and holler about it."

Her work shows her ability to write about life while maintaining her down-to-earth tone and perky humor.

"On the way home/ from the collision center/ I was keeping my eye on my new front end/ I forgot about the rear fender," sings Helpert in "1000 Books," a song that laments one's lack of control.

She's got mouthfuls to say, sing and write, feeling constant influence from the people and places around her.

Helpert soaks up plenty for herself and her music. She has a thorough knowledge and keen interests in the history of myth in Native American culture. She absorbs her environment completely, admiring the marvels of architecture.

"I find that it's interesting, the ideas that space, sound and light pretty much make up everything," she said. Helpert also mentioned other areas that relate to her work discussing the influences of E.E. Cummings not only as a poet but as an artistic scientist as well.

With her perky voice, Helpert giggles at the title "Emerging Artists" that she is due to perform for Righteous Babe Records, calling her family and friends "the real rising stars."

She has, however, a great respect for Righteous Babe for their support of local art, remarking that it's a "great thing, introducing regional and national artists."

Helpert is an advocate of the arts herself. She described how the general public undermines musicians. She said that she is serving the arts and simply hopes to be respected and provided for with the work she does.

Helpert pointed out however, that she has no record deal with Righteous Babe.

"Not now, we're friends so I'm just helping by presenting for this show they're putting together," she said.

Along with Serpentfly, Righteous Babe is presenting other localists like Brian Wheat, who has a hushed immediacy and rich melodies parallel to Iron & Wine. Buffalo's The Frame Up will be a supporting act.

The three are warming up the stage on Thursday, Feb. 16 at Nietzsche's at 8 p.m. as the first of Righteous Babe's Emerging Artists Showcase series.

"I'm really excited to take a bite of the winter," Helpert said. "I'm looking forward to jumping on a plane and performing for Buffalo."