About Oli

Olivier van Helden (aka Oli en chanteur¹) is a Belgian songwriter and singer, living in Guadeloupe.

Handwritten letter from Julos Beaucarne — **1969** letter from Julos Beaucarne to Olivier's parents for his birth

He grew up with the sounds and words of his Belgian “neighbours” Jacques Brel, Julos Beaucarne and Paul Louka, but also Brassens, Sheller, Nougaro, Jonasz and many other pillars of French chanson. He does not hide his influences, while steering clear of pastiche. His songs keep a little colour that hints at the vinyls lining the shelf next to the hi-fi. You may find a hint of Georges (Brassens), a zest of Jacques (Brel), a touch of Jonasz's voice or a bit of Nougaro's swing, but his world is all his own.

Olivier van Helden on the stage of the Can Can — **1987** first concert, at the Can Can

The singer started out in 1987 in the café-theatres of Belgium and France, for fun, with no other ambition than giving himself a moment of pleasure and sharing. Neither looking for commercial success nor finding it.

Olivier van Helden on guitar, his brother on double bass — **2005** at the Petit Chapeau Rond Rouge, with his brother Jacques on double bass

Very soon, he teams up with his brother Jacques to make music as a duo, for fun at first, then in front of an audience, in real venues, with real people. That is also when he meets Cécile, who becomes his co-writer on several songs. Among them “La véritable histoire”, where she tells how they met, and which will be the first single.

Olivier van Helden in a trio with Thierry Hercod and Alan Booth, at the Botanique — **2010** at the Botanique (Rotonde), with Thierry Hercod and Alan Booth

In 2010, Olivier sets up a trio with two seasoned professional musicians: Thierry Hercod (guitar, bandura) and Alan Booth (double bass). Together they rethink each song to give it a new life, while respecting its original spirit. The repertoire grows richer and longer.

With this trio he plays at the Botanique in Brussels for the Emergenza festival, and takes part in the “Rallye Chantons Français”.

**2010** the music video of “Comme le neurone d’une blonde”

Right after that, he records a double single whose lead track, “Comme le neurone d’une blonde”, comes with a music video.

Olivier van Helden at the microphone at the Paradise Café — **2017** at the Paradise Café, in Guadeloupe

Having settled in Guadeloupe in the 2010s, Olivier van Helden rediscovers the local music and plays at many events. He often covers songs by Caribbean artists.

In 2021 comes the single “On n’a pas des métiers faciles”, where he steps away from his usual acoustic line with more Caribbean rhythms, still giving pride of place to the words.

In 2023 Olivier van Helden surrounds himself with outstanding musicians to record “Dépoussiérages”, an all-acoustic six-track studio EP with a hint of jazz: back to basics, guitars (Sacha Svy, Ukraine), double bass (Maciej Sadovski, Poland), piano (Elisabeth Gaylord, South Africa) and a few guests depending on the song. A first single, “Le carnet”, comes out on 22 September 2023, and the EP on 17 December 2024.

The next project, the song Eurydice, is recorded in 2026 with the same musicians: Elisabeth Gaylord on piano, Sacha Svy on guitar, Maciej Sadovski on double bass, and special guest Keihjaun Julien (Trinidad) on steelpan.

Translator's note: in French, “en chanteur” (in singer mode) sounds just like “enchanteur”, an enchanter. ↩