Introducing Rae Sam

Ahead of the release of her debut album on March 5th, we* asked Welsh country-pop artist Rae Sam to tell us a little about herself and her music, and what we can expect from her forthcoming record.

Hi Rae! Would you like to introduce yourself to our readers by telling us a bit about yourself and where you’re from?

I would love to! Hi everyone, I am Rae Sam, a Country-pop singer-songwriter from Wales. Although, I am currently living across the border.

When did you first become interested in music, and who were your musical influences growing up?

My earliest memory was singing in my grandparents back garden to anyone that was passing by! Music was a huge part of my family. My grandparents were singers and on my mum’s side, my great grandfather had a choir. So, you could say that I was destined to fall in love with music! 

Growing up, my dad introduced me to a variety of music – The Police, Chic, Beach Boys, Bon Jovi, Paul Weller! I loved pop, Country and rock. Particularly Shania Twain, Avril Lavigne, Paramore, Natasha Bedingfield and Kelly Clarkson. When I was 16, I discovered John Mayer and he has remained a main influence on my music.

Could you tell us a bit about your journey as a musician so far

As soon as I was old enough I started piano lessons and learnt the guitar. I wrote my first song at 9 years old and loved learning new instruments. But I was never confident enough to go for it. When I went to University, I could only fit my guitar in the tiny room! But it was meant to be, because it inspired me to take my writing seriously. I began doing Open Mic Nights and everyone was so encouraging!

A few years later, I had the opportunity to do a mini tour in the USA with incredible musicians. It was a mix of Welsh, Scottish, Irish and Country sounds. A lot was spontaneous and I loved how wild it was! That was when Chester Thompson played drums for us one evening and then a few days later, I went to his studio to record a few songs! That month was a turning point for my music – I knew that I needed to stop doubting myself and made the decision to go for it! Not long after, I met a violinist and we started playing together. People would always ask where they could find my music and so last year I headed to the studio!

What is it about country music in particular that attracted you to the genre?

I’ve always loved the southern sound. But when I played with Country musicians, it was exciting – they brought the music to life! At the time, I felt so detached from current chart music in the UK but was loving Carrie Underwood’s stuff. Being Welsh, I love music where the person is feeling it, so I started delving into soul and blues (BB King, Aretha Franklin) and eventually came across this pocket of artists like Needtobreathe and Chris Stapleton. I was going through a really low time in my life and Country music became the only remedy. I felt safe, understood and as though I belonged. It offers something for every occasion because on the other hand, Country pop fits this feel good, upbeat mood! Suddenly, my style of writing seemed to find its place!

Your latest single, ‘Wildly Me’, was very well received on its release. Could you tell us a bit about the story behind the song, and why you think it struck such a chord with listeners?

Yes, the response has been incredible! I am so grateful to everyone who has bought and listened to it!

We can all connect to some element of the song. Personally, I’ve always struggled with feeling afraid to step out, too worried about what people think. So I strived to become a version of what I thought they wanted me to be. In the process, I lost myself. ‘Wildly Me’ is the moment where I take back ownership of who I really am. But it’s a journey and I think that’s what connects with people. We all have something that we’re holding back from and no matter where you are in the storyline, there’s always a longing within us to feel the freedom of being ourselves. Not a perfect version that we present to the world, but a wild, carefree version. The person that we are when no one’s watching – there’s real beauty in that.

You have a debut album on the way (released 5th March 2021). Could you tell us about what we can expect from ‘The Great Escape’, and how you’re feeling ahead of its release?

I am beyond excited, as well as a little nervous! Recording an album has been a lifelong dream and a few years ago, I had lost hope that it would ever happen! But it has and it’s exactly the type of music that I want to create. Huge credit to the producers, because they brought my vision to life!

On ‘The Great Escape’ you can expect a bit of everything! Catchy Country pop songs that will have you singing along, funky dance tunes, Country and blues with a bit of sass, a full on Celtic journey to my homeland, and a heart-breaking ballad! This album is a story of the journey that I’ve been on in the past few years. Escaping everything that has held me back, rebuilding my life, healing from hurts, thanking those that helped me through the tough times and boldly going for my dreams. I really hope that it helps and encourages others to do the same!

With current lockdown restrictions, it won’t be possible to tour anytime soon. How has the past year been for you and what are your hopes for the next twelve months?

The past year has been a rollercoaster! I went into the studio just before lockdown and then the news hit a month later. It did delay the process, but it also gave me time to enjoy the moment. Waiting to get back into the studio was tough, as well as not being able to launch the album as I’d hoped. But, it has honestly been a year that I will never forget! Co-writing with incredible writers from the UK and Nashville, having amazing musicians say yes to playing on the album (including one who tours with a favourite artist of mine!), having an award-winning Country singer feature on one of the tracks and then huge support from radio stations! It’s been so good that I honestly wonder what could top it!

In the next year I hope to be able to gig in person and not just virtually! I will be releasing three more tracks from the album, and then I’ll get some more writing done ready to head back into the studio!

Finally, if you could pick one female country artist to write a song with, who would it be and why?

Maren Morris – I just love her music and songwriting. She was a huge influence for my debut album and she is taking modern Country music into such an exciting direction!

Thanks for your time, Rae, and good luck with the new album.

Thanks for taking the time to chat with me and to anyone that is reading this! I hope that you love the album as much as I loved making it!

To find out more about Rae Sam, visit her website here.

*Interview conducted for Belles & Gals (originally published 4th March 2021) 

Featured Image (C) Rae Sam

Tennessee Twin – When We Move

Tennessee Twin have pulled off a bit of coup with their latest single. For joining the Cambridge-based duo on ‘When We Move’ is renowned pedal steel guitar player Sarah Jory. Jory brings an added layer of authenticity to a song that is already saturated with a classic country sound, thanks to the tender harmonies of Victoria Mills’ vocal and partner Geoff’s gentle playing of the acoustic guitar. Fans will be overjoyed to know that there is no departure from the sound that made their debut EP, ‘Tips in a Jar’, such a captivating listen. Instead, the same mellow tones can be found, this time accompanying a story of reconciliation. And what a beautiful story it is, told with lyrics that are at once simple yet profoundly impactful.

It begins with a couple who have been separated by “the river of our words”, both equally as stubborn so as “we’d rather stand our ground than start to fall”. But then there is this realisation in the chorus that “When we move/ we move in closer”. The second verse picks this theme up nicely, particularly in the bridge, as they reflect on how there’s been “too many corners we’ve turned/ to lose it all”. It is how strength is drawn from the depth of a relationship in light of disagreement that strikes me as the important message here; with the sentiment that precedes it – “Don’t let anger be bigger than love” – also one that speaks not just of the couple in the song but to each one of us as listeners too.

I think this is the reason that ‘When We Move’ strikes me as an inspiring song, because it contains the kind of love that is hard; that requires us to swallow our pride in an act of self-sacrifice for the well-being of another. It is why the tender musicality that accompanies the lyrics works so well. The pedal steel, acoustic guitar, and Victoria’s vocal meld so well, reflecting the “heartbeats that are blending” in the words of the song. It is also why the fairy dust sprinkled right at the end feels deeply ironic, the happy ending being hard-won through humility rather than magically resolved into a neatly packaged epilogue.

Overall then, ‘When We Move’ continues Tennessee Twin’s penchant for thoughtful storytelling, with Sarah Jory adding not so much a sprinkling of magic as being a well-chosen collaborator, helping to give this particular story the kind of realism that country music delivers so well.

Click here to find out how to listen.

Originally published on Belles & Gals on March 6th 2021.

Featured Image (C) Tennessee Twin

Lucy Blu – All This Time

The new single from Lucy Blu is not in the least bit downhearted even as its slow tempo, bluesy refrain may suggest otherwise. ‘All This Time’ is a reflection on a long-term relationship that both continues and plays with the lovesong tradition in country music. Throughout the song, Lucy acknowledges the potential for clichés and standard tropes even as she sets out to write her own. The irony is explicit but by no means does it undermine her own sentiment as she reflects honestly on the staying power of love. Patience, grace, and forgiveness all feature as central tenets in a relationship that remains eternally fresh – ‘I still fall every night for those sky-blue eyes’ – and enduringly strong – ‘I can call you mine even after all this time’. It harbours none of the pain or regret inherent in the two songs whose titles she weaves cleverly into the lyrics, ‘I Will Always Love You’ and ‘Always on My Mind’. Instead, present within it is a deep commitment that helps overcome any clashes in personality, character and temperament which could so easily cause the relationship to turn sour. Some may find this soppy or oversentimental as a result but, in my opinion, ‘All This Time’ contains an image of the kind of love that society needs more of, particularly in these oft-divisive times.

You can listen to the single on Spotify here.

Originally published on Belles & Gals 27th January 2021.

Charlotte Young ft. Georgia Nevada – On the Loose

Here at Belles & Gals, we’ve been mightily impressed by the latest single from Charlotte Young ft. Georgia Nevada. These two female Brits have produced a fabulous crossover of traditional and modern country sounds to make ‘On the Loose’ a real earworm. The single begins with the crackling of an old-fashioned record player before bursting into life with some great, early rock ‘n’ roll instrumentation. Throw in some modern rock and a thick slice of honky-tonk and we have ourselves a record that is fun, catchy, and very sassy. The subversive lyrics add to the sassiness as they tell the story of the heartbreaker rather than the heartbroken – and a female heartbreaker at that! It is this kind of fresh perspective that gives ‘On the Loose’ that extra edge, making this a very successful collaboration between two of UK country music’s rising stars.

Click here to stream the single on Spotify.

Originally written for Belles & Gals on 19th February 2021.

Featured Image (C) Charlotte Young

Jodie Marie – The Answer

Muscle Shoals comes to Pembrokeshire as singer-songwriter Jodie Marie releases her latest genre-defying album The Answer.

Welsh singer-songwriter Jodie Marie is an artist who refuses to play by the music industry rules. Her latest album The Answer is an exemplary response to those who would wish to classify her sound under a single heading. For though there is a blues thread that runs soulfully through this 12-track collection, the genre-blending that goes on both within and between each song makes this a musical tapestry of the highest quality. It is rich with meaning, drawing on inspiration from the past and mixing it with a contemporary sound to create something that is both reminiscent yet highly original. The result is a sublime record that makes for a captivating listen.

The Answer opens with the smooth funk and soul of ‘You are my Life’. It is characteristic of much of the album insofar as it transports you back some fifty years whilst remaining firmly rooted in the present. ‘Ain’t No Doubt about It’ echoes this same feeling, with a gorgeous arrangement that soaks you in the sounds of Motown whilst being resonant of the music of people as eclectic as Amy Winehouse, Paolo Nutini and CeeLo Green. It demonstrates an altogether playful approach to music making as Jodie mixes and matches various flavours to compose songs that are replete with nods to the past. In doing so, she does not just pay homage to the music she grew up listening to but, on songs such as ‘A Whole Lot of Loving’, she breathes new life into these timeless sounds. Nowhere is this more evident than on ‘Don’t Go Telling Me (That It’s Over)’, a ludicrously enjoyable song that combines classic doo-wop with electric guitar blues to create an incredibly moreish track.

Even when she strips things back to produce moments of acoustic tenderness, Jodie’s sound remains impossible to clinically define. ‘Carageen’ washes over you like the gentle crashing of waves on a shore. Its central metaphor seems to represent a kind of spiritual grounding for Jodie: a place that centres her and from which her music, in all its eclectic glory, therapeutically flows. ‘Saving Grace’ offers up a beautifully intimate picture of love that requires deep listening. It is storytelling in the vein of a Nashville Songwriter’s Round yet one cannot claim it as pure country. Just as ‘Kiss These Tears Away’ cannot simply be a ballad of the blues. Instead, Jodie manages to weave enough elements into each track so as they become wonderfully ambiguous. This is most true in the title track. ‘The Answer’ contains hints of modern country, ‘60s rock, and Welsh electro-pop, undercut with a blues vibe and layered with pure soul. The result is a raw and rousing sound of real emotion and depth.

‘Hanging by a String’ is like an audio illustration of the kind of building blocks that go into making Jodie Marie’s overall sound. From its humble intro, Jodie stacks brick upon brick of musical instrumentation to construct a track that is perfectly-formed and insulated with solid soul. ‘This House’ is built on the blues and is kitted out with the best of classic rock. Such rock is infused with pop to create a catchy refrain on ‘Curse the Day’ that sparks with electricity. The Answer is brought to life by such commingling of genres which, one cannot help but feel, reflects the beating heart of Jodie herself. This is what makes the album so special. She has not compromised or standardised on anything. Instead, she has made a record that is truly her. And that authenticity shines through. Jodie Marie is a champion of artistic vision over and above what the industry demands. The Answer is the answer to anyone who thinks otherwise.

Click here to listen to the album on Spotify.

To find out more about Jodie Marie and/or purchase the album, visit her website here.

Originally published on Get the Chance on 12th February 2021.

Featured Image (C) Jodie Marie

An Interview with Jodie Marie

Throughout the past week, BBC Horizons have been touring the nation, stopping off at some of Wales’ most treasured independent music venues to bring us a series of live sessions from some of the country’s top, upcoming musicians. From the mountain top venue of Neuadd Ogwen in Bethesda, to the Queen’s Hall in Narberth on the west coast, to the inner city hub of Le Pub in Newport, across seven days we have seen and heard the crucial role that Grassroots Music Venues (GMVs) play both in their local communities and in fostering the next generation of musical talent.

Artists who have performed across the week have included emerging artists from a wide range of genres: from hip-hop artist Mace the Great to rock band Those Damn Crows; stripped-back sessions from Ifan Pritchard and Rona Mac; and alt-pop from female duo Body Water and solo artist Malan. You can check out all the sessions here.

Here at Get the Chance, we caught up with singer-songwriter Jodie Marie, another of the artists who performed as part of this special project in association with Independent Venues Week. She chatted to us about the importance of the Queen’s Hall both as a music venue and community hub, the vital role that Horizons and BBC Radio Wales play in supporting home-grown talent, and the artists that have influenced her unique sound. She also reveals what we can expect from her upcoming new album, as well as what she’s been up to in lockdown.

To find out more about Jodie Marie and/or to pre-order her new album The Answer, released February 12th, click here.

To check out the full week of sessions, visit the Horizons website, or follow them on social media, where the team would love to hear your stories and experiences of GMVs, especially those in Wales.

The ‘Tour of Wales’ has been supported by Creative Wales and BBC Introducing, and is championed by the likes of BBC Radio Wales’ Adam Walton and Bethan Elfyn.

Originally published on Get the Chance on 1st February 2021.

Megan O’Neill – Time in a Bottle

If ‘Time in a Bottle’ is anything to go by, then the new album from Megan O’Neill will be something to savour. The Irish singer-songwriter has just released a cover of Jim Croce’s timeless classic to wet our appetites for ‘Getting Comfortable with Uncertainty’, the highly-anticipated follow-up to 2018’s ‘Ghost of You’, due in March. And whilst Croce’s original is a whimsical walk through the sun-drenched ranch of his family home, the haunting piano and pure vocal performance on O’Neill’s version makes this an altogether different kind of journey. It is the perfect backdrop to the kind of stories told in the John Lewis Christmas advert: bleakly heart-warming stuff that grabs the attention and soothes the soul. Megan digs deep into the lyrics, and draws out a sadness in the lines “There never seems to be enough time to do the things you want to do once you find them” that is easily missed by Croce’s faster pace. As such, it has the potential to stir up a whole range of emotions, calling the listener to reflect on the precious time we have with those we hold most dear. And the meditative atmosphere that O’Neill and her collaborator Mark Caplice create makes it easy for us to do just that. ‘Time in a Bottle’ is a first-class production. An utterly transfixing, boldly cinematic sound.

You can listen to the single on Spotify here.

Originally published on Belles & Gals on 31st January 2021.

Hark! A Nativity Story – Saltmine Theatre

It was an unexpected joy to receive a card through the post from Saltmine Theatre Company with a link to their latest production. Hark! A Nativity Story was filmed live at Dormston Mill Theatre under strict Covid-19 guidelines. This one-off livestream provided the perfect tonic to a Christmas darkened by lockdown restrictions and marked by botched family plans. It may not have been quite as affecting as if I’d been in the intimacy of an auditorium. But the production team did a pretty good job in making their virtual audience feel connected to the onstage action.

What surprised me most about Hark was its originality. It is a very loose adaptation of the Nativity. Taking the angelic visitation to the shepherds as its focus, it imagines the heavenly preparations that we’re taking place in the run-up to this well-known event. There are chaotic scenes as trainee angel Angela (Emily Feltham) loses the all-important message that is to be delivered to the shepherds of “good news that will bring joy to all people”. Her quest in trying to recover the lost letter leads to all sorts of encounters which provide plenty of twists and turns in an adventure that is both thrilling and touching.

One of the reasons that Hark makes for exhilarating viewing is the performance of Ben Kessell as King Herod. He steals the show as the ‘Emperor of Sass’, delivering a camp and comedic turn that goes down an absolute storm. His debonair appearance is wonderfully at odds with his hopeless intentions, his shiny silver boots and smartly-fashioned suit reflecting a narcissistic pride that leads to his ultimate failure in trying to conceal the message that Angela has been asked to deliver. Kessell’s improvisation, alongside his interaction with fellow cast members, is so perfectly-timed and razor sharp that his presence on stage is electrifying. He is a tour de force whose energy can be felt palpably through the screen.

Feltham and Freddy Goymer make a great partnership as misfits Angela and Brian. The former’s good-natured and well-intentioned angel along with the latter’s tongue-tied and smitten shepherd offer a beautifully gentle opposite to Kessell’s power-hungry furore. With the rest of the shepherds, Goymer’s Brian brings humour and happiness. This is most readily seen in a glorious folk song that contains some lovely, lyrical wordplay and delightful choreography. Meanwhile, Feltham’s downhearted hero gives us some touching moments, not least with a poignant and thought-provoking song that might not be the strongest vocal performance but certainly makes you feel every bit of Angela’s hopelessness and low self-esteem. Her bleak assessment, both of herself and her situation, is then turned around by the ‘Three Wise People’ in a song whose positive message fizzes out to create a moment of pure joy. These moments ensure that the relationship between Angela and Brian never turns into the schmaltzy romance so beloved of Christmas pantos. The spark between them is there but the focus remains on their transformation as individuals, loved by God, from whom they get their true value and worth. It is this message that Saltmine wish to convey, and it is delivered in Hark so implicitly well that the overt ending is not necessarily needed. Instead, the words of Angela’s message, which appear onscreen at the end, are enough to underline and instigate reflection on the story’s central premise.

Hark! A Nativity Story is a wonderfully accessible piece of theatre which will bring joy and hope to homes in the midst of another national lockdown. Young and old can gather around a screen and enjoy a funny and fast-paced romp through a very different take on the classic Christmas story. It blends some of the well-loved elements of the traditional pantomime with some of the well-known characters of the Nativity to create a well-written adventure story that thoroughly entertains. Prepare for a show of topsy-turvy madness delivered with plenty of heart.

Find out more about Hark! A Nativity Story by Saltmine Theatre Company here.

Featured Image (C) Saltmine Theatre Company

Kelsey Bovey – I Found Me

Kelsey Bovey is becoming a force to be reckoned with. After the release of her Not Scared Anymore EP back in the summer, her latest single I Found Me continues to blaze a trail for her brand of catchy country-pop. The song hits the ground running with a classic modern country vibe that builds to an expansive bridge before throwing the doors wide open on a chorus that perfectly captures the sense of freedom contained within it. The lyrics, co-written with Danny McMahon, underscore once more what a gifted lyricist Bovey is, with the lines being so beautifully interwoven into the instrumental composition as to reflect the relationship of the two characters in the song’s story. The line “When I found you, I found me” exemplifies this, with the interpersonal nature of identity construction challenging the perceived wisdom that the discovery of self is found only by searching within. I Found Me embodies this, not only in its lyrical content but in its very production, Kelsey working with McMahon and Puzzle Maker Studios to create a track that “has captured my sound perfectly”. It is a sound that’s difficult to hate and easy to love.

Listen to ‘I Found Me‘ on Spotify here.

Originally written for Belles & Gals.

Featured Image (C) Kelsey Bovey

Jess and The Bandits – My Country Christmas

If there’s one Christmas album that is determined to lift you out of your lockdown blues then it is the new release from country band Jess and the Bandits. My Country Christmas is a barnstorming record that has happiness and joy written all over it. Opening track ‘Sleigh Ride’ is emblematic of the album’s resemblance to a festive musical soundtrack, frontwoman Jess Clemmons adding her extraordinary vocals to a song full of the kind of razzmatazz you’d find in a West End show.

The feel-good vibes continue into ‘Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow’ and ‘Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree’, with Jess and the Bandits not looking to emulate the popular style of other performers of these songs but, rather, seeking to create something new. They do so through the heavy use of pedal steel guitar, to give a distinct country flavour, and the inventive insertion of piano, to add some boogie-woogie fun. The result is an immersive experience which captures Jess’s own outlook on a season “where you can’t help but be happy”.

Not that ‘My Country Christmas’ is a rip-roaring affair from start to finish. There are moments, like with ‘Happy Xmas (War is Over)’ and ‘O Holy Night’, in which the lights dim and the music is stripped back for a more intimate affair; in which the spotlight falls firmly on Jess and, particularly during the latter, we get to experience the tremendous power of her vocals. It is not just this power that impresses but the range too, as exemplified in the track ‘What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?’ where a much softer, gentle, even quiet voice in contrast, is displayed. There remains that impassioned conviction, however, which stamps itself across this album, to give ‘My Country Christmas’ a melodramatic rather than saccharine sound.

Two of the final three songs on the album are covers of country music records. Thomas Rhett’s ‘Christmas in the Country’ is given a rock-infused boost, whilst ‘White Christmas in Houston’ also gets the electric guitar and amplified drum treatment to complement the more traditional sound of pedal steel. Add a touch of soul from Jess’s vocals and the overall effect is like putting a shiny gloss onto the wood-carved original. In between, ‘I’ll Be Home for Christmas’ is much more richly sung in contrast to Bing Crosby’s pensive tones. Given that Jess has “selected a collection of Christmas songs full of nostalgia and personal meaning”, it is too her credit that she doesn’t try to emulate Bing here, instead seeking to recreate this song in her own personal way. In doing so, she retains that sense of warmth that imbues ‘My Country Christmas’ with a jovial festive feel. It is an album that certainly brings a smile to the face.

You can stream My Country Christmas on Spotify here.

Originally written for Belles & Gals.

Featured Image (C) Jessica Clemmons