Warm summer vibes at The Little Chill (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)

Warm summer vibes at The Little Chill

4:07pm Monday 16th August 2010 in Interviews By Melanie Dakin

Sitting in your room may not seem like a very good career move but for St Albans singer/songwriter Lucy Clarke, working from home has proved the best place to be.

In the run up to her live performance at The Little Chill, Lucy describes how she got started in the music business.

“Several years ago, I was feeling a bit miserable but I managed to turn my life around. I’d always enjoyed singing and the dance scene so I contacted a guy on internet who was advertising for a singer and I recorded vocals for him.”

Lucy stresses that she didn’t just turn up on the doorstep without checking out who she was meeting first but she now has online virtual buddies around the world who all help each other out with recommendations. A lot of my work is done directly over the internet without even speaking or meeting up with the artists I work with.

“I’ve forged a career online and through word of mouth. Now people come to me. The producers send me the backing track and I magic up the words and melody.

Lucy, 31, attended St Albans and Stephens and went on to Beaumont School where she joined the choir and performed at The Alban Arena. “St Albans born and bred”, she tells me she comes from quite a musical family.

Anyone who wants to be a singer/songwriter can set up a career from their living room

Lucy Clarke

“My parents met in a band. My dad’s always been a singer, there’s no stopping him. His current bands are Cat’s Eye and Two’s Company. My sister, Maddy Eaton, sings with him and the whole family really supports what I do.”

Since having her first release in 2007, Lucy had plenty of radio airplay including Radio 1, Kiss 100, Miss Monneypennys and more. Her work ranges from funky house to electro, trance, hard dance, hardcore and even drum and bass.

“I record all the vocals from home and I’ve taught myself how to produce and edit vocals that are clear enough to send to producers. I’m not an amazingly technically-minded person, but I’ve picked up the basics. I’ve shocked myself, but a lot of it is jargon to be honest. Anyone who wants to be a singer/songwriter can set up a career from their living room.”

Lucy does get out and about as well though. She’s been to Russia and Ibiza on the fesitval circuit and frequent outings on the London PA scene.

For The Little Chill she’s looking forward to playing a laid back vibe for the home crowd alongside local DJs including Apply The Breaks, Cern, Xavi, DJ Hansi and a special live appearance by Lucy Clarke. The event has been programmed in collaboration with Dekoy from The Monday Club.

The Little Chill concludes the St Albans Music in the Parks season on Sunday, August 22 at The Bandstand in Clarence Park, St Albans with an afternoon of funky breaks, dubstep and soulful summer DJs.

This free event which runs from 1.30pm to 5pm is being run by St Albans Arts, Sport and Health and managed by the Council’s contractor Leisure Connection.

Details: 01727 864511, www.lemonrock.com/musicintheparks and www.myspace.com/saasharts.