Coventry Music Museum Curator Pete Chambers BEM writes for the Observer.
Abz Winter – Just Wanna Be Me EP
Fresh from her appearance as the youngest contestant on the new music game show ‘Walk The Line’, Abz shows us why she was chosen from the thousands who auditioned with comments from the judges firstly Gary Barlow saying: “You have a beautiful voice.”
Alesha Dixon added: “I love your vocals, very contemporary, very modern.”
Craig David described her voice as ‘really incredible’ and Dawn French said: “I think you belong on that stage, you’re definitely one to watch”.
So lookout for Abz’s new EP ‘Just Wanna Be Me’, as Abz’s says herself: ‘it addresses youthful life, friendship, love and honesty’.
She added: “I wrote the EP based on different personalities I have come across over the last few years, and how a relationship only works if both sides are equal, but more often than not they are so one-sided – whether it be with a partner, friend or colleague.”
She said she had learnt so much in a very short space of time.
“I have learnt so much in a very short space – I no longer invest my time and energy to one-sided relationships, life is too short – the titles alone define the meaning within the songs and youthful life today.”
As with all of her songs, there is a mature professionalism to them, she has a powerful and unique voice, more importantly she is fully in control of that voice, giving her vocals a powerful edge.
The lyrics were written during lockdown with time on her hands to think, Abz examines youthful life, friendship and love with honesty.
Although not always on ‘friendly terms’ she uses her words to express her feelings with an innocent vulnerability, whilst remaining in charge of her own destiny.
“We all know sometimes as humans we have to be unfriendly, you only have so many cheeks to turn.”
Abz becomes the voice of: “I really wish you wouldn’t do that because I’m going to make you not.”
She has the ability to emotionally and vocally carry that paradox to perfection.
The songs were produced by the influential talent Matt Waddell at 14 records and are mixed and mastered by the musical genius El Sam at Elixir productions.
The EP is available now from the usual platforms.
Radio 1’s Big Weekend
So, we finally get to see the line-up for Radio 1’s Big Weekend and it’s great to welcome back to the city Ed Sheeran and Central Cee.
On a personal basis, I’m so happy to see that local singer-songwriter Jordan Mackampa is on the line-up.
As far back as March 2015, I wrote about this very talented musician: “From time to time you come across a new artist who looks like they are to achieve, occasionally you get to hear something that makes you believe you are witnessing the early history of an iconic artist.”
He also played one of his earliest gigs at Knights at the 2-Tone Village supporting The Session whose frontman Dean MacDonald said of Jordan: “From wood end to Memphis, he opened the set and I still say he is by far the most talented musician I have ever played with.”
