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A bit about my history...
Around the age of 18 I got friendly with a
group of people who regularly went to
karaoke’s. For anyone wanting to
sing,
karaoke provides a great starting point, an
opportunity to get up and perform in front
of an audience and try out a few numbers.
Do you know that when I think back to that
time now I couldn’t even get up on my own to
sing. I always used to get up with my
friend Lucy (later on we formed a duo called
Life & Soul).
Gradually my confidence grew and in less
than a year I was getting up on my own and
wanting the spotlight for myself.
At the age of 19 I joined Essex Karaoke.
This was one of the main karaoke’s in my
area and I was very excited about getting
the chance to work with the people running
it. It was pretty hectic! I was working
full time and then going to help run 4 or 5
karaoke’s a week travelling all over Essex.
It was great fun though and we had a lot of
laughs.
The big karaoke phase lasted for at least
the next 5 years, so I had plenty of
opportunity to practise
singing in front of
an audience. It really was a great learning
ground for me.
During this time I also got to know a
songwriter called Geoff. It was really
challenging to record original material and
to be in a studio instead of in front of an
audience. The style was very techno when I
first joined, and the group was called Plashet II. A year later we reformed as
Alchera, and the music took a new direction
towards being very ethnic based.
Unfortunately, even though we were extremely
close to it, we never managed to secure a
record deal and the
band ended with us
splitting up about 2 years later.
Between the age of 20 and 23, I also
started taking part in talent competitions.
The competitions were pretty nerve racking,
but good fun and very competitive. It’s a
great meeting ground to get to know other
singers and build up some contacts and this
is how I got approached to be in my first
function band ‘Velvet Touch’.
It was very exciting to be singing in my
first
band. I really enjoyed the
opportunity to be able to play as well as
sing, as I was
playing my flute within the
band.
A couple of years later I formed a duo
called Mirage, with the keyboard player from
Velvet Touch. We gigged in pubs and clubs
all over, performing cover versions of hits
from the 60’s onwards. We performed at the Showcall Showcase in 1996.
We had great reviews and got offered cruise
work around the Mediterranean.
Unfortunately, the timing was all wrong and
we never ended up going.
Many offers came along around this time but
for one reason or another I never seemed
able to take them up and continued with the
band, duo and karaoke’s.
At 26 I decided I should make a change so I
left the band, the duo and the karaoke’s
behind and decided to brave it alone!
This I have to say I found quite hard and
nerve racking. The first solo gigs had
hours of preparation behind them, clothes
and songs planned days before! But over
time my confidence has grown and I now take
the gigs in my stride, relax and enjoy them.
I missed being in a
band so decided to try
and combine a band with my solo work. My
friend Ian Henry (bass player) was also
looking to play in a new band so we decided
to set up on our own – Hightide was born.
This was a five piece
modern function band,
playing hits from the 70’s onwards. We had
some great gigs but unfortunately the band
split after a year, due to some of the
musicians having other commitments.
During the time with Hightide I was still
working as a
solo vocalist, in areas of
London, Kent and local venues. My friend
Lucy and I also set up the duo called Life &
Soul, performing in pubs and clubs all over
Essex. I also worked in another duo called Together, with a guy called Dave. Most of
our booking were in clubs, and the music
performed was a lot of country and hits from
the 50’s.
About a year after Hightide split up I
joined
The Alvin Jones band, which I am
still currently working in today. We play
at lots of private functions, weddings,
birthday parties, masonics etc. I get to
work with some great musicians and also my
dad (who is the drummer!)
Last year one of my friends decided I
should enter for the X Factor (2005). I went along
for the first audition in May. I would say
the hardest thing about it was choosing the
right song, as you only get 2minutes to
perform. I ended up getting through 2
rounds of the competition and don’t regret
for a minute having entered. It is a really
good experience and one that I may go for
again if the timing is right.
As far as my
solo work is concerned at the
moment I’m always kept busy. I regularly
work at Marco’s and Red’s wine bar, and
still travel around Essex. I like to
constantly learn new material, which I
believe is needed when going back to the
same venues repeatedly and to keep up with
recent chart releases.
I also get to work with some different
bands if they need a
girl singer to fill in
for the night, one of the bands is Junior
Jump, who are a great 11 piece fun soul
band.
I love so many styles of music, that if I
am asked what I really like singing its
quite a hard question to answer. I love
singing and listening to anything with a bit
of soul, but wouldn’t describe myself as a
big power ballad singer.
If I was to think of some favourite
artists, they would be The Pretenders, Joss
Stone, Alanis Morrisette, Sheryl Crow, Chaka
Khan, Brand New Heavies, Natalie Imbruglia,
Stevie Wonder… to name just a few.
When I get the chance I also love to sing
jazz, particularly any Nat King Cole
numbers. This is one area which I would
like to work more with, and take any
opportunity to increase this.
If
you would like to make any enquiries please
email me at
info@leahreynolds.com
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