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SUSY THOMAS - FREE MYSELF
Free Myself (Radio Edit) / Searching My Soul / Free Myself (Instrumental)
SEASON RECORDS
Coming amidst a veritable deluge of female singer-songwriters at the moment, Susy Thomas is another artist dealing out pretty melodies and gentle atmospherics. Alongside people such as KT Tunstall, Jem, Martha Wainwright and Tara Angell in recent months, Susy Thomas skates along the same familiar ground - we're talking gentle pop songs that glide along with a pleasant spring in their step, whistling a sunny tune.
A song like FREE MYSELF, technically never puts a foot wrong as shiny piano chords shimmer and a swelling orchestra keep things shuffling along nicely enough. Susy's voice is pitched somewhere between Dido and Katie Melua, nice and soothing but hardly a thrilling prospect. Like a lesson in studied pop marketing, FREE MYSELF comes on like a heat seeking missile aimed directly at the heart of the Radio2 daytime playlists, rather than a song designed to actually move or emotionally effect you. The tabla infused SEARCHING MY SOUL offers a more interesting experience, though too slight to really brings things to life.
Sounding a little constrained by the niceties of structured pop, Susy Thomas, does little to excite, sounding nice rather than great and ultimately leaving you going away wishing for something a little rougher round the edges and emotionally fulfilling than FREE MYSELF.
BIOGRAPHY
On the 29 January 2007 Susy Thomas releases her second single FREE MYSELF, taken from the critically acclaimed debut album IN THE MORNING.
Having already enjoyed Radio 2 success, playlists on MTV, The Hits, The Chartshow and MTV Europe, and having built a large fan base in London, New York and Los Angeles, FREE MYSELF has been eagerly awaited by her many fans around the world.
With FREE MYSELF Susy addresses the familiar themes of love and relationships, and turns the personal subject of a break-up into a classic, soulful pop song. Beyond the rousing vocals, eloquent piano keys and a richly textured string arrangement, the song's appeal is its true and soulful lyrics. "This song is about the process of splitting up with someone," she says, "and the conflicting feelings you get when you know you can't stay with them, but also find it really difficult to leave - feelings which are totally universal".
Make sure you check out the brand new b-side, the tabla-infused SEARCHING FOR MY SOUL, as well as the soaring instrumental version of the single. With songs like this it's clear that this truly remarkable artist is one of the best British talents to emerge in recent time.
2007 looks to be Susy's year. A two week national radio tour precedes the single release, and look out for a string of festival appearances to be announced for the summer.
Spending her childhood in Portsmouth, Susy was influenced by her music-loving father and first picked up a guitar at the age of eight. She immediately developed a passion for the instrument and eventually progressed through lessons to an impressive Grade 8. As a late teenager Susy spent six months in New York and more time in Los Angeles, performing gigs while also meeting and working with established industry figures, such as renowned studio mixer Bob Clearmountain and the late Michael Kamen.
Susy then moved back home and teamed up with Lestyn Polson (David Gray) and Dave Stewart. All the while she continued to perform her own music, playing a number of support gigs at the Shepherds Bush Empire for artists such as Paul Young, Roger Taylor, and Tom Robinson, while also providing festival support for Deacon Blue.
It was during the summer of 2003 that Susy was signed to Surrey-based indie, Season Records. She wrote, recorded and produced her own demo album in March 2004 entitled HOME ACOUSTICS and continued to play the London circuit before setting to work with acclaimed producer Mike Choi on her debut album. Her first single MIRROR FOR ME was released in July 2006, followed by the album IN THE MORNING released on July 17th 2006.
LINE UP
Susy Thomas
DISCOGRAPHY
FREE MYSELF (Season Records>2007)
Free Myself (Radio Edit)
Searching My Soul
Free Myself (Instrumental)
LINKS
Susy Thomas>www.susythomas.com
FURTHER LISTENING
Katie Melua
Kate Bush
Jem
Review date: January 2007 |
