Review: HEART OF WINTER Studio Recording

Auburn Jam Records are soon to be releasing Heart of Winter, a brand new Studio Recording documenting a Northern primary school teacher called Kate who's recently split with Adam, her partner of three years. The album reflects on her life after Adam and how she plans to move on without him. Whilst Lia Buddle has created the story, Stiles and Drewe Best New Song finalist Tim Connor has provided the music and lyrics. This is then performed to a remarkable standard by Corrine Priest who won the Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year in 2014. She recently made her West End debut in Ushers: The Front of House Musical.

The album is evidently a labour of love by Buddle and Connor; the concept was devised over a decade ago. The storytelling is very strong and being a one-woman song cycle, this is imperative to keep an audience member's attention. The material is very visual and with the accompanying lyrics from Connor plus Priest's delivery, it screams production. Priest is very expressive and strikes the perfect balance between humour and melancholy; from the reflective 'Wide Awake' and 'Better Off Alone' to the very funny 'The Driving Lesson'. An accurate female perspective has been captured in the writing and if reading the lyrics off a page, could be like diary entries. The character of Kate, although fragile, seems very headstrong and is an excellent female protaganist.

Relying solely on a piano can sometimes seem solitary but there are some great hooks and powerful melodies intertwined amongst the vocals. This musical piece knows its fortes and plays to them. It is an emotional yet uplifting journey of a common experience that many of us have been or will go through. There is real talent behind making that come to life before our ears.

Heart of Winter will be released on 30 November and can be purchased via their website http://heartofwinter.auburnjam.co.uk/ or via iTunes and Amazon MP3.