This Woman's Heart is an online community that was created by British Songwriter Riva Taylor; it supports and connects women in the arts. During the Coronavirus lockdown, the organisation will be using their Instagram and YouTube platforms to live stream their 'Creative Light' talks. Join them as they speak to leading women in the arts to explore how creativity has helped them personally refocus or help re-centre others in times of struggle. Meet them and hear their own stories and learn how we can use creativity to navigate our individual situations.  This weeks' episode will focus on music and mental health and features Sony ATV songwriter Daphne Willis who is a mental health pioneer and songwriter, and artist Katie Zaccardi who battled a generalised anxiety disorder and helped grow the Women Crush Music community. Creator Riva Taylor said: 'mental health and the effects of isolation on musicians is something that shouldn’t be overlooked in the current climate of uncertainty. I’m looking forward to chatting with Daphne who is a respected mental health pioneer, and Kate who battled her own generalised anxiety disorder .  TWH was a thought that evolved over a few months and shared it with friends and they jumped on board. We've had a lot of women jump on board from across the arts and collaborations are happening. It is a real positive to be able to offer these Creative Talks during these uncertain times in the world.' Viewers can watch the stream via Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thiswomansheart_/ and YouTube https://www.instagram.com/thiswomansheart_/ on Thursday 29th April at 6pm Read the full article

British Pop singer Riva Taylor chats to us about the release of part 1 of her incredible debut album, This Woman's Heart.1. A track featured on the album, My Mouth, was given the seal of approval by Elton John when he added it to his Apple Music Playlist saying he loved it. Here she discusses her inspiration for the album and her music and shares her appreciation for Dua Lipa and Stormzy. Tell us about your new album in your words 'This Woman's Heart Part .1' has taken five years to make. It's the darker half of my heart, that's what it represents. It's seven tracks, and I really hope it takes the audience on a journey.  Do you have a favourite song on the album?  I think I love Jealous; it's my boldest statement so far. Not just in terms of sentient but in terms of pushing my boundaries musically. I also connect with This Woman's Heart; I think every artist has a song that tells their story, and that is the one for me. It explores my journey from being a young artist to the woman I am today.  Where do you take your inspiration from for the music and lyrics? I take inspiration from wherever. It's funny because I have to be in a place to feel inspired. A lot of people feel that. Maybe I have to take myself off to a different country and be in another space. That's why I've started making so many writing trips over the years. I have to be in that position in my life when the ceiling is falling in, that is when I write. Do you have regular songwriting partners? I do, and I've honed those over the years. I think it's healthy to have that. I've realised because there are great writers out there, but you have to have that connection with them. James Walsh is somebody I will always go to write with. We wrote Running At Walls together.  There are some fantastic writers over in Stockholm who I've got to know. A few of their songs with me are going to make the second part of the album. It's been great finding those writers, that's a process in itself.  https://youtu.be/A82Ekx50se4 Who would you love to write and collaborate with?   I would love to write with someone like Stormzy; I think he's a formidable lyricist. I also like South London Rapper, Dave. I think crossing genres with my music would be a really exciting thing. Emeli Sande is tremendous, and I'd love to write something heartfelt together. She's right up there on my bucket list.  Who are your favourite artists to listen too?  R: I flick between listening to some of the more established artists like Annie Lennox, who I adore and Kate Bush. I like Imogen Heap. I've always loved Katie Melua's stuff; I think it's because back in the day I performed with her, and she's a lovely girl. I've also been following Dua Lipa since the beginning. I think her career is fascinating.   Do you ever get nervous about how your music will be received?  R: There's always a slightly anxious feeling when you put your music out. I think more people are going to listen and enjoy it. Having come from a physical album time, my memory of releasing albums is when they were and this is a naughty story. My dad used to go into Waterstones and move my records up from 24 to number one, so I was number 1 in stores across Surrey. No one knew Britney Spears, they knew Becky Taylor. I'm slightly more anxious that no one can do that now, it's far more exposing. You throw your music out there onto Spotify and you really hope somebody is going to listen.  What does 2020 have in store for you now, post Coronavirus?  R: Oh my goodness, I hope we have a decent chunk of 2020 left after Coronavirus. The 2nd part of the album is due to come out, so that's exciting. Hopefully, some live performing. That'll be a real celebration when we emerge from this, and I can do that, and I can hear this album in the live space. Continuing to travel is something I love to do with my music.  https://open.spotify.com/artist/4hzLG70PWZqBi4snoFZ60d?si=C7aH7OqMRKu40aIAWLyfzw Read the full article

The original, award-winning social conscience festival, OneFest has announced a pivotal panel discussion titled ‘North South Divide: Bridging The Gap’. At the same time, OneFest is announcing the cancellation of the evening event in Sheffield. OneFest co-founder Sandra Bhatia said “As one of the first social conscience festivals, we decided to have a twin city festival celebrating both London and the North in the city of Sheffield, with day and night programmes to really add value across the border, join the dots and build bridges. So it is with great sadness that we have to cancel the evening show in Sheffield, as the ticket sales have been slower than expected. All tickets will of course be refunded. We will still run the daytime programme at the Leadmill with showcases, panels, workshops, advisory sessions and networking to support young musicians and industry hopefuls in the North - including the North/South divide panel which explores the barriers for progression in music, which this decision exemplifies. The London programme is unchanged.” OneFest London will also host an inspired evening programme of music featuring showcases from emerging talent and special one-off collaborations curated by Shabaka Hutchings, with members of the cohort and the best emerging and established British talent including Steve Williamson & String Ting (Tomorrow’s Warriors), Leafcutter John, Ill Considered & Nat Birchall and Okumu, Herbert, Skinner Triowith Byron Wallen. Journalist, author and musician John Robb will chair a dynamic discussion examining the North/South musical divide from Yorkshire’s perspective and exple existing disconnections and differences, whilst embracing potential opportunities and solutions. OneFest aims to come up with solutions to what many see as a divide that has long been a major obstruction culturally and financially in the UK. John Robb said “The UK is a small country, but have we become two nations divided by a common language? Is there a cultural, business, financial North/South divide and how do we bridge it? Can music be the healer, the empowerer of broken towns and cities across the north? How can the south help and be involved with this? How can great talent be allowed to go to waste? How can the north and south learn to communicate with each other better and work to their mutual advantage? All these questions and more will be addressed on the panel, I can’t wait to get cracking.” OneFest speakers and musicians Bang Bang Romeo added "We come from mining villages in the North and making music has always felt like an outlet and opportunity to break away from the norm, but opportunities can sometimes be limited. Working mens' clubs are closing down, as well as some of the bigger more established venues. We love travelling for our work but find we are in London, almost weekly, for gigs, workshops and networking events. There is so much talent across the UK and having more localised hubs for industry bodies/companies could bring people together up and down the country and keep costs down for young bands trying to build their networks.  Chi Onwurah MP for Newcastle Upon Tyne Central and OneFest supporter said “Britain is a creative powerhouse and the world listens to the music we create. But increasingly the barriers young, Northern, black and working class musicians face make breaking into a challenging industry almost impossible and our voices are lost. The work OneFest are doing to provide opportunities for more diverse musicians is really important if we are not to find ourselves a one note nation.” Each OneFest venue in London and Sheffield will host a daytime programme of talks and workshops, chaired by journalist and author John Robb and musicians and industry insiders aimed at educating and providing networking opportunities for aspiring young music industry professionals across the North-South divide, partnered by Ivors Academy.  Saturday 7thMarch:OneFest Sheffield The Leadmill 6 Leadmill Rd, Sheffield S1 4SE Day £12.50 https://theleadmill.seetickets.com/tour/shabaka-hutchings-onefest Saturday 14thMarch:OneFest London EartH 11-17 Stoke Newington Rd, Dalston, London N16 8BH Day £15, Night £22, Full £30 (Day) https://rockfeedback.seetickets.com/event/shabaka-hutchings-one-fest-daytime/earth/1470425 (Night) https://rockfeedback.seetickets.com/event/shabaka-hutchings-one-fest/earth-evolutionary-arts-hackney/1394991?fbclid=IwAR06mmverUKukOCy-s9ZVUXBHz7fKOECb9mC3nYTkuFbdjPav8KqfzJWwGQ Read the full article

Miss Kiddy and The Cads are launching their album Vintage Dirtbag this month and are hosting a launch party at Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club on 1st March at 12pm. The album features contemporary hits uniquely transformed into jazz standards for the modern age. "If you like 1940’s Hollywood mixed with Bowie and Beyoncé, try Miss Kiddy for size" - The Metro Abi Gilchrist says: ‘We are so proud of the album we have created. We like to think of ourselves not just as a band, but as a wholly immersive experience that crosses over into jazz, cabaret, comedy and vintage. I am also very lucky to work with such a talented group of people. Ben (Cummings) our trumpet player also plays in Caro Emerald’s band, our drummer Andy (Jones) is a music producer who produced the latest Squeeze album and our MD and pianist / song -arranger Ross (Power) is an award-winning composer and producer for TV and film. We also have The Undertaker on bass Eric (Guy) and Lil’ Missy our famous tap dancer, Leah (Wise)." Miss Kiddy and the Cads launched by singer Abi Gilchrist in 2016. They're currently making waves across the jazz scene and have performed on ITV’s This Morning and Loose Women. With show-stopping vocals, authentic costumes, a stunning tap dancer and full 1940s decadence, Miss Kiddy and the Cads really are a jazz music sensation. Album Tracks 1. Vintage Dirtbag (Wheatus) 2. Song 2 (Blur) 3. Let’s Dance (Bowie) 4. Need a Dollar (Aloe Blacc) 5. Chandelier (Sia) 6. Wannabe (Spice Girls) 7. Believe (Cher) 8. Crazy in Love (Beyoncé) 9. Gold Diggity (Kanye West / Blackstreet) 10. Place Your Hands (Reef) 11. Power of Love (Huey Lewis and the News) 12. Ice Ice Baby (Vanilla Ice) 2020 Tour Dates Sunday 1st March 2020: Album launch ,Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, London Thursday 30th April: Brighton Fringe opening night, The Warren Hat Theatre Sunday 12th July: Vintage for Victory festival, Cardiff Friday 28th August: Underbelly Festival, Southbank, London Read the full article