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Winning song could be a springboard to success

AN 18-year-old singer/songwriter who lives near Wedmore has won first prize in her category in the prestigious UK Songwriting Contest.

Becca Brothwell wrote and recorded Paper Chapels in her room during lockdown last summer and entered it into the competition which attracted more than 9,000 entries from around the world. The contest was launched in 2002 and is judged by an international panel of music industry experts.

Becca attended Sidcot School and is on a foundation art course at Weston College, with plans to attend university to study illustration. Becca had hoped to be performing gigs but the ongoing pandemic has put a halt to live music. She has since written several other songs in the same vein.

Becca’s father, Mark, said: “Becca has always been very musical. When she was much younger she was involved in musical theatre and started to perform. She was active at school in the choir and achieved an A level in drama.”

He added: “She’s played the guitar for a few years now. We’re quite a musical family. Her grandmother was a professional pianist and I’ve sung and played in bands as a hobby since I was a teenager.

“One day during the early days of lockdown she came down from her room and said: ‘I’ve written a song’. She played Paper Chapels to us and I have to admit to welling up. It was such a beautiful song, lovely melody and clever lyrics. We suggested that she did something with it and looked for a competition to enter.”

The UK Songwriting Contest is run in association with prestigious bodies including The BRIT Trust (of BRIT Awards fame), The BRIT Studio, The BRIT School, Music Aid, The Guild Of International Songwriters and Composers, Roland UK and top British producers and industry professionals.

Becca Brothwell. The prizes in the competition are designed to help winners further their musical careersTamsin Little

To hear Becca’s winning song, visit: https://youtube/JDhocm64Z34

Debut EP for Somerset duo

LOCKDOWN rules and few commitments provided an ideal opportunity for Somerset acoustic duo Rileys Cove to focus on writing new music. The debut EP –recorded in the heart of Somerset at BeeHive Studios when restrictions eased during the summer – has just been released. Rileys Cove features Chelle on vocals and Scottie, from Wedmore, on guitar. The pair came together to form Rileys Cove 13 months ago, both having met in the six-piece band Kindred that has enjoyed success over the last few years playing festivals.

Scottie said: “We’ve been able to use some of the emotions and experiences we’ve had in recent times and convert them into lyrics and music.”

The EP is called High and Chelle said the title track was one of her favourites: “For me, the song ‘High’ is a particularly relevant track right now. It’s about resilience, taking one day at a time, and keeping your ‘head high’ during difficult times.”

High is available to listen to now by streaming or downloading via Spotify/i-Tunes/Apple/Google play/YouTube