Interested in music since the age of 6, I began my musical life playing clarinet at primary school, going on to play in the school wind band and orchestra, playing clarinet, bass clarinet and trumpet.
Whilst at high school, I decided to train as a singer (excellent instrument - less bulk than the bass clarinet I was carrying at the time). I went on to do both O grade and Higher music, also completing grade 8 in singing. I learned to sight read pretty well in this time, and sang in the Fife Youth Choir, and Fife Youth Chamber Choir, performing quite a few solo songs (one with just a harp!).
I went on to Napier university to study music, but disaster struck in my second year! I had previously had my wisdom teeth out and there had been some damage done to one of the nerves serving my tongue, specifically the right side. This started to cause me discomfort during this time, and a numbing injection at the local orthodontic department resulted in permanent tingling and pain in the nerve.
As a professional opera singer (which I was desperate to be), you must practise for a good few hours every day. The discomfort I was left with meant I couldn’t do this. This was a major blow, as I had previously been told that a voice like mine only came along every twenty years or so. I don’t want to sound like I’m blowing my own trumpet, but that’s part and parcel of my life before becoming a professional singer around pubs and clubs.
Whilst working in retail after returning home, I began to host our local pub’s karaoke nights. I moved to another pub, and began to get more people asking me to sing for them than wanted to sing themselves.
A good few years went by (which weren’t up to much) and I came back to work in the hotel I had worked in previously. Here I met my current partner, who freely admits to falling in love with my voice first and my looks (a close) second. He persuaded me that I could still be a successful singer, albeit nothing to do with opera! I bit the bullet, and Alan became my sound engineer/roadie/driver/entourage.
I am no longer plagued by the discomfort from my wisdom tooth op, and now enjoy my life more than ever. We had a daughter in 2003, and my job means I have lots of time to spend with her.
Having said that, I am always open to new suggestions and offers, and am interested in using my voice in different ways, from backing /session music to performing on a bigger stage myself! I am singing covers at the moment, but would be interested in any original material anyone could provide.
Please have a listen to the tracks on the site, and bear in mind that they are recorded live at gigs as well as in our living room!