EPK

Scott Helland, who was the co-founder and bassist of the legendary 80s Hardcore Punk band Deep Wound with J Mascis and Lou Barlow (Dinosaur jr) and current guitarist of Post-Punk duo Frenchy And The Punk, released his third solo Surf Spy album, ’Silver Screen Spy Scene’ on November 21st, 2025

Driving reverb-soaked guitars and twangy riffs blend seamlessly with dark bass grooves and drums creating a tension-filled ambiance that listeners have come to expect from Helland. The spy themes in titles such as ‘Espionage in Black Camouflage’, ‘Overt to Covert in the Coven of Spies’ and ‘Western Spies Surf at Dawn’ serve as prompts for the storyline that the music evokes creating an imaginary movie in the listener’s mind. Helland, who goes under the moniker Guitarmy of One, says, “I have always loved the sound of surf guitar but it’s always been a part of my musical evolution to push the boundaries of what has come before so my version of Surf is through my particular filter of influences.”

He has a decidedly different approach to surf guitar in the live setting where, with his Fender Acoustasonic Jazzmaster, he pivots from the guitar’s built-in acoustic/electric features and adorns and grounds the sound with loop pedals and electronic percussion. On the albums he records more like a traditional band performing the bass, guitars and percussion separately. His intricate arrangements based around driving bass lines borrow from post-punk, metal, funk and classic surf rock. The sound is akin to a progressive punk and surf guitar mash up.

The new album ’Silver Screen Spy Scene’ is available worldwide on most streaming platforms with physical copies available on Bandcamp (and downloads) and the store site Batfrogs.com.

Silver Screen Spy Scene is the follow up to the 2023 The Wave Files and The Spy Detective Collective in 2021.

--Music Video for 'Espionage in Black Camouflage' coming Tuesday November 25th on the Guitarmy of One Youtube Channel--

"[Scott Helland]...combines the thrilling sounds of spy-themed instrumental surf guitar music with punk vitality. Taking listeners on a sonic adventure to the realms of intrigue, danger and surf-soaked excitement, Helland channels that raw and unconventional spirit into a quirky fusion of genres."
Thought Words Action Music Blog

"And there is lots to love here, so take your pick. The slightly Tex Mex feeling, the surfer vibes, the fact that the track delivers the requisite edge and energy not through anything as mundane as lyrics but through licks, the infectious energy, the cool beats, the reverb-soaked chords, nostalgic sensations, the punk swagger, the tremolo arm twang..."
Dave Franklin The Big Takeover

"Helland has tapped something interesting and, dare we say, magical...soundtracks for the movies in our minds."
Pop Matters

"...dark ominous guitar riffing with surf guitar swells and foreboding reverb drenched melodies. This is surf rock with a gothic edge from guitarist Scott Helland, an ex-hardcore punk bass player turned instrumental song writer whose first band (Deep Wound) was formed with Western MA trailblazers J Mascis and Lou Barlow (Dinosaur Jr)."
Amplify Music Mag

More Info

Hailing from a background rooted in the rebellious energy of punk rock and thrash metal, Helland got his start playing bass guitar in the hardcore punk scene in the 80s and 90s with the band Deep Wound that he formed with J Mascis and Lou Barlow (now of Dinosaur jr). He also played with East Coast hardcore and crossover thrash stalwarts Outpatients, School of Violence and Darkside NYC. He went solo in the mid nineties releasing numerous eclectic instrumental albums and then in 2005 formed the Post-Punk / Dark Alternative duo Frenchy and the Punk with French-born singer Samantha Stephenson with whom he still tours. With Guitarmy of One, Helland channels that raw and unconventional spirit into a unique fusion of genres.

Helland says “The first song I remember being obsessed with as a kid was the Hawaii 50 theme, the Ventures version and the TV show version, from there it was the James Bond theme and after that, as a teenager, it was a deep dive into bands like the Ramones, The Cure, Kraftwerk, Discharge and Motorhead.”

Described by BigTakeOver Magazine as “an accomplished ex-punk who has made the striking transition to atmospheric soundtracks,” Helland weaves his mysterious and generous acoustic-electric melodies over propulsive spy riffs and electro beats, layering and building patiently toward engrossing payoffs.

Guitarmy of One’s live performances are a spectacle as the stage becomes a laboratory of sound, as layers of guitar riffs, bass lines, and percussion intertwine and overlap, creating a lush and dynamic musical tapestry. Armed with a guitar, loop pedals, drum pads and an array of effects pedals, Helland creates a symphony of sound right before your eyes.

With 'Silver Screen Spy Scene' Guitarmy of One builds on the previous ‘The Wave Files’ album that solidified this full-fledged espionage-inspired surf rock act. It’s a thrilling musical journey blending the realms of instrumental guitar, surf music and the mystique of spy themes within the one person band format.