An Interview With Edwina Hayes By Steve Rudd

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Edwina Hayes is an acoustic singer-songwriter currently enjoying success opening Jools Holland's Rhythm and Blues band tour. Dublin born and raised in Lancashire, Edwina now resides in Yorkshire. Here she talks to Steve Rudd about her music. Hi Edwina, how are things? Hi Steve, really well thank you! What have you been up to lately, and how has 2005 been in general?

Lately I've been writing and recording some new songs and now I'm getting ready to go on tour with Jools Holland. It's been a great year so far, with lots of new and wonderful experiences such as touring the UK for the first time with some great artists, and promoting my album. It's all been great fun and really interesting and exciting!

Earlier in the year you released your fantastic debut album Out On My Own. How have you reacted to the widespread acclaim that the release has received? I'm really happy that people like my record and have been thrilled by how many people have bought it, especially at gigs. Also Michael Parkinson and Bob Harris have been playing songs from it on their Radio 2 shows, which has been wonderful. You have performed with many very well known singer-songwriters such as Van Morrison, Jools Holland, and Daniel Bedingfield. Do you have any favourite moments from any of the shows that you have done with such stars?

All of it has been amazing and all the artists have treated me so well, but I think as Jools was the first person to have me as an opening act for a big show, I will always remember stepping out onto his big stage for the first time and how magical that was! A couple of other highlights that spring to mind are Van Morrison shaking my hand after I opened the show for him, Nanci Griffith being so warm and gracious and Jools signing the back of my guitar!

Having been born in Dublin and raised in Lancashire, you now live in Yorkshire. Has any special reason brought you over to this part of the UK? Yes, my Mum bought a chip shop and cafe in Bridlington in 1994 which all of us helped to run for 3 years! I had just returned from a year working in Australia and it was all great fun! Can you remember the first time that you picked up a guitar or sang? Has singing and playing guitar come naturally over the years or have you found you have to work really hard at both?

I played the guitar a little bit at school in assemblies which is where I learnt a few basic chords but I really started singing and playing from the heart at college when I first heard music by Carole King, Janis Ian, Crosby Stills Nash & Young and Van Morrison and Bob Dylan. I went to college in Chester and there was an American exchange student down the hall from me called Kathleen who used to teach me songs and let me borrow her guitar.

You have worked with Shane Lynch on his debut album. Would this be the same Shane Lynch who used to sing in Boyzone and who is now a part-time rally driver? Yes I believe so, although I didn't know he was a part-time rally driver! I met Shane in Belfast when we were both guests on a popular Irish chat show called The Kelly Show. He heard me singing and invited me to do a duet with him on his forthcoming solo album. Returning to your Out On My Own album, do you have a favourite song on there that you enjoy performing more than any other?

Actually I do, I really like the fourth song called I Can't Believe and lately I've been enjoying singing that one the most at my gigs.

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