Al Start Biography
"Some girls are just born to perform...!" DIVA
At Last - a female singer/songwriter bursting with personality!
Al Start's music grows from a strong acoustic foundation. Her melodies are sweet, soulful and often hauntingly catchy. Her strong guitar accompaniment provides the perfect balance; but don't be lulled into a false sense of security...it may take a minute 'til you realise just what she is singing about!
NEW ALBUM "GO"...
Quirky songs about cross-dressing neighbours, rent boys and missing cats are inter-mingled with touching reminiscences of childhood, surreal dreams and candid confessions. These are beautifully crafted songs with themes we can all identify with, yet refreshingly different subject matter. Certainly not your average love song!
On "GO", her brand new album, these qualities are illustrated perfectly. Though the roots are firmly acoustic, the album is laced with cutting-edge programming and spiced with the occasional ripper of a guitar solo; demanding that you sit up and listen!
An impressive line-up of musicians contributed throughout the album; Sheryl Crow's keyboard player Mike Rowe and Mark Knopfler's guitarist, Luke Brighty to namedrop a few. Produced by Tracey Field.
BRIEF HISTORY...
Having attained a distinction for the Advanced Songwriting HND at the Brighton Institute of Modern Music, (BIMM), in 2003, Al was chosen by BMG executives to attend the infamous residential songwriting week with Chris Difford from Squeeze. Here she excelled, and co-wrote with top industry writers such as John Savannah, Jill Sobule, Howard New, Helen Boulding (Alex Parks), Matt Deighton and John Hammond-Hagan (Liberty X) to name but a few. She has now been invited back by Chris three times.
BMG Publishing also chose one of her songs, "Blame it On", to feature on the 'How to mend a Broken Pier' compilation released on Setanta Records.
The first album, "Lammas" (2000), released with Al's band, Toucan, on Lone Coyote Records, brought rave reviews and full-houses all over the South. This was followed by a solo EP, "Sea of Stars" (2003). Sales rocketed whilst supporting Horse on her UK tour (2004) as did her fan base. Now her solo album is receiving rave reviews across the media.
GIGS...
Al Start has great stage presence, and has played live extensively across the UK.
Some of the nicer (!) venues include: The UCL Bloomsbury, 12 bar Club, Mean Fiddler, The Kashmir Klub, Big Note Acoustic Club, Dublin Castle, Bull & Gate - in London.
The Brighton Centre, Brighton Dome, Pavilion Theatre, Sussex Arts Club, Komedia, Concorde, Sallis Benny Theatre, Joogleberry Playhouse, Pressure Point - in Brighton.
The Cavern Club- Liverpool; Life Café, Mint Lounge - Manchester; Glee Club, Birmingham; Cabaret - Nottingham, Boardwalk - Sheffield, Lawrence Bately Theatre - Huddersfield, The Graduate - Cambridge, Brudenell Social club - Leeds, The Lemon Tree, Aberdeen; Edinburgh's Queens Hall and Glasgow's Barrowland - Scotland. The George - Dublin.
Festivals include The One World festival in Hampshire, Women In Tune in Wales, London Mardi Gras, Pride in Brighton & Hove. Libertas Festival -York, Women's International Arts Festival - Provincetown, USA.
WHAT NEXT...
A summer of festivals and events, magazine & radio interviews and live sessions while Lone Coyote Records books a Winter Tour in association with Rabblerouser Music, Huddersfield, for November 2005, following the success of the June 2005 UK tour.
November dates include The Porter - Bath (8/11), The Komedia - Brighton (9/11), Mr Kyps - Poole (15/11), Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen (16-18/11), Leeds, Bradford, Huddersfield, Cardiff, north Wales, Dublin, Cork, Newcastle, ...and many more! Please see website.
You can download samples of Al Start's songs from the website, and if you like what you hear, get in touch! Please email for further information and full press pack.
www.alstart.co.uk
Member of PRS & International Songwriters Association.
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