A Real Goblin conversation with Helko Spillovey

Real Goblin: Please introduce yourselves.

Helko Spillovey: Helko Spillovey consists of Ben Braunagel (vocalist, rhythm guitar), Dylan Bender (drums), Ansen Boehm (bass), and Sky Froelich (lead guitar). We are based out of North Dakota and play indie rock/emo punk music. We write fun sad music that gets stuck in your head.

Helko Spillovey is a unique name for a band with a unique story. The North Dakotan four piece takes their name from drummer Dylan Bender’s ancestor, Helko. The band was gracious enough to allow me to ask a few questions. This was what they had to say about the name:

Real Goblin: I see that the name “Helko Spillovey” is a nod to Dylan Bender’s great-grandfather. Could you elaborate on that?

Helko Spillovey: Dyl learned about Helko while we were trying to name the band, and we felt a kinship with his story. The abridged version is basically that Helko, while living as a serf in the Ukrainian area, got in a fight with an overseer. He was then sentenced to a Gulag where he befriended Cossack natives also living there. When one of them was slated for release they helped Helko escape. He met his future wife on the trip to the U.S., they moved to southern North Dakota and homesteaded together.

TLDR: Cool guy/ Hard name

Real Goblin: How did you meet? What first inspired you to start Helko Spillovey?

Helko Spillovey: In 2017 Ben was in his first band and they needed a drummer. Dylan, as another beginner musician, was the obvious choice and him and Ben became fast friends. That band, like many, didn’t last but fast forward to 2021 and Ben had moved back to ND after living in Colorado over the pandemic. Ben, going through a breakup, needed a project to take his mind off things. Ben and Dylan quickly started playing together where they played a few shows together as a two piece. Ansen Boehm, a long time friend of the two, was then a go-to choice for bass as they were friends and Ansen was not in a band at the time. Sky Froelich came in as the last piece of the puzzle and really gave Helko what it was looking for. Sky Froelich is a known bass player in the area and has rarely stepped away from that position, but he really enjoyed what we were doing with Helko and was excited to help. Now Sky shreds the guitar and we forbid him from touching a bass. 

Helko Spillovey has a true grassroots style – both musically and lyrically. They wear their influences on their sleeves. The band cites the likes of Joyce Manor, Modern Baseball and the Front Bottoms. And when listening to their upcoming EP, I think of you too much, it’s clear that they have a great appreciation for those iconic, 2010s indie hooks. Their music shares a similar style with guitar driven melodies and a lyrical style that feels honest, grounded, and even conversational at times.

The band has released a pair of singles already: “Cheap Trick” and “Elevator”. Both demonstrate the band’s proclivity towards the same melodic hooks that they grew up with.

That existential, North Dakotan, prairie angst permeates throughout their music. It oozes with the kind of casual pessimism that comes from living in the 21st century, and is only amplified by the experience of living in semi-isolation.

Real Goblin: Does location play a role in your writing? How does living in North Dakota influence your music?

Helko Spillovey: Definitely lyrically location plays a role. The first song off the EP called Welk is a song based off of Dylan’s car breaking down in Strausberg in front of the HOME OF LAWRENCE WELK sign as the boys were driving to Dylan’s dads house. Also just living in a cold state that’s far away from everything takes a toll on ya.

Real Goblin: What’s next for Helko Spillovey?

Helko Spillovey: In December we recorded 2 songs that we are planning on releasing in a Split this year. We are also already planning our second EP and hope we can jam as much as possible in 2024. We are also hoping to tour out of state more this year!

I think of you too much releases on January 26th.

Gubb wrote this. You can’t get mad at Gubb.