Hooked Like Helen – ‘Liar’

‘Liar’. by Ohio duo Hooked Like Helen, is the cornerstone of the soundtrack for new film, ‘High Strung Free Dance’, and it certainly captures the sheer physical excitement of performing – dancing, singing, acting, interacting with other performers – in a Broadway production.



The track is a three and a half minute embodiment of the drama of the film; an effortlessly gorgeous ballad, it soars and glides with the grace of a ballerina.

Prior to its inclusion in the ‘High Strung Free Dance’ soundtrack, ‘Liar’ had its place in Hooked Like Helen’s most recent EP, ‘Tragedy Of Physics’, which came out in the summer. The record was praised for its “alt-pop chaos” (Line Of Best Fit), as well as Nikki Stipp’s “classic” vocals. The sound is modern, but with roots in the singer-songwriter tradition, their songs having that emotional heft and sincerity that seems to have been lost somewhere along the way in modern music.

Tyce Diorio, of ‘So You Think You Can Dance’, chose ‘Liar’ to score his epic ballet scene in ‘High Strung Free Dance’ because of its grace, poise, and passion – qualities which made it similar to ballet itself.

The video for ‘Liar’ was premiered on Radio Disney’s Twitter account, and features plenty of footage from the film, with the star, classically trained ballerina Juliet Doherty, taking centre stage in both clip and film.

Her co-stars are no less accomplished, and no less videogenic: Thomas Doherty (who starred as Harry Hook in Disney’s Descendants 2 and 3), Harry Jarvis, and the legendary Jane Seymour in the role of an uncompromising but warm-hearted stage mother. They’re all present and centre in the ‘Liar’ video, and the heat they generate is almost palpable.

The footage of Hooked Like Helen is just as compelling. Nikki Stipp plays and sings with the sort of self-possession and inner strength that any ballerina would envy.

You can find out more about Hooked Like Helen from their official website. Watch the video below:

Hooked Like Helen - "Liar" (Official Music Video from the "High Strung Free Dance" Soundtrack)

About the author

Lisa has been writing for over 20 years, starting as the entertainment editor on her university newspaper. Since then she's written for Popwrapped, Maximum Pop, Celebmix, and ListenOnRepeat.

Lisa loves all good music, with particular fondness for Jedward and David Bowie. She's interviewed Edward Grimes (Jedward), Kevin Godley, Trevor Horn, Paul Young, Peter Cox (Go West), Brendan B Brown (Wheatus), Bruce Foxton (The Jam), among many many more. Lisa is also available for freelance writing - please email lisa@essentiallypop.com