So, I started to write songs about 20 years ago, originally from the North West of England, I was living at the time in North London, studying for a degree in psychology.Music was on my mind, as it always had been, but I was being drawn from the psychology studies due in part to my having met the acquaintence of Pete Langman, (Ex-London Academy Rock Guitar, Guitarist Magazine, the ultimate Rock God!) with whom I played a handful of gigs, my first ever rock gigs and inital experience of the live music scene.
It was thanks to Dr Pete and his guidance that I spent a further 10 years training my voice, with stunning teacher and very dear friend, Sue Quin. I further developed the songs, building my repetorire and working with my guitar which became a useful accompaniment. The songs seemed to be turning into something of a bluesy, jazzy mix, quite accidentally, although when I think back to what I was listening to as I was growing up, perhaps not so surprising the old black and white movies and those of the 30s, 40s and 50s always featured.
From 2001, having been away from London, I finally moved back, only to find myself in training with the London Community Gospel Choir, a very lucky interlude, whilst at the same time, I was to meet the beautiful friends who I will always see as my musical family
Cornielius, Naveed Ijaz, Planetman, Rob Da Rub, MC Angel, PinknRuby, Wayne Myers, Lady T and so many more There was a kind of initiation into the family that took place in the back room of The Royal Exchange in Camden, North London, Tuesday's open mike session was the BEST!! It rocked, musicians from all over the world, literally, passing through, taking the stand and received by a crowd of 'up for it' Camdonians! And in front of this crowd, I played my first solo performance of self-penned songs. The audiences were always receptive and positive and this was just what I needed to keep me writing more.
I was blessed to find myself in the company of some fine people, and heard how we all had had similar experiences, desiring to create and play music to and with others, often having to fight hard to do so. But when we did, we became alive. communicating our experiences with others, we could connect and share life's tests, many of them, something that we had in common, this was a place, for some of us, where finally, our music could be listened to and respected and understand by a community of like minds a beautiful and inspiring time .
A few years later, havning moved to Wales and giving birth to a beautiful daughter, Freeya, who fills me with love and inspiration every daymy songs have become more of an expression of beauty, love, passion, yearning it seems that poetry has been created.
I now play with even more energy, passion and enthusiasm than I did My songs have become a jazzy, swing kind of sultry and quite evocative, I will say This is 'feeling' music, but there's a hint of sly humour and often verges on the quietly controversial Perhaps I like to sing what many think, but never dare to say
I hope that some of my words & music touch even a few they seem to have done, and I thank all of those who have given support and encouragement to what I do. much, much love X
Through all of life's experiences, we come across the full-flavoured and the rich, the euphoric, the slightly uncomfortable, kind of prickly and the really "I could do without!"!!We're not always in a place where we can communicate our experiences and feelings but if we can say something about how we feel or about what life is showing us, and someone else understands, then we make a connection. Writing and singing songs is like therapy to me .If we feel the same, then we share something, which is always good, even if it wasn't such a great experience, We can then stand back from the experience and not see it as part of ourselves, rather as one one of life's little gems that just came along to teach us something valuable. Despite some of my more prickly lessons learned, I'm grateful to share music as a means of expression and love and hope you'll enjoy a bit of my medicine
