Woking Whack ‘Festival guide’ – 26/05

Posted: May 26, 2011 | Author: hayleyffox | Filed under: Published Work | Leave a comment »

My recent article in the ‘Woking Whack’ dedicated to who to look out for this festival season.

N.B: this was written about 5 months ago before it was published, therefore most of the acts are pretty well-known and now and have some big slots this summer. Either I’m psychic or they’ve all had much deserved success in the past six months (I think the latter.) If you’re looking for bands to watch on the smaller stages, check my ‘What I’m Listening To’ page. Enjoy!

Clare Maguire Review – Woking News & Mail 3/3/11

Posted: April 17, 2011 | Author: hayleyffox | Filed under: Published Work, Single/Album | Leave a comment »

Clare Maguire – Light After Dark

‘Light After Dark’, is the debut album from Birmingham-born singer Clare Maguire. The 22 year-old started writing music and singing from an early age and desired to achieve her goals as an artist, quitting education aged 17. Her numerous demos, lifelong focus and hard work paid off when she got signed to Polydor. Hailed as 2011’s answer to Kate Bush, in her words, the album, released this week is full of ‘big sounds and epic production.’ It definitely is.

Maguire’s vocal is utterly flawless throughout the record, from start to finish. The album commences with, ‘Are you Ready?’ a short but sweet track with an emphasis drawn to the vocal. With no lyrics in site, just some warbling ‘woos’ and ‘woahs’ it showcases her incredible, beautiful tones allow the listener to be deeply enticed in to what the rest of the record has to offer. ‘The Shield and the Sword’ features Maguire stating repetitively over the stringed accompaniment, ‘I no longer love you’, an outburst of her emotions. The line, ‘I’m not afraid of danger in the dark’ boasts her resilient and strong personality. Recent single, ‘The Last Dance’ is a catchy effort in its lyricm, ‘I’ve got my life in my hands and your love in my heart’ is heroically recurring.

The other tracks on the album are equally uplifting in not only the vocal, but in the intense sounds of the instruments that back up Maguire’s voice on this ambitious record. The distinctive, individual percussion in title song ‘Light After Dark’ and ‘You’re Electric’ provide the upbeat track with a certain edge. Debut Single, ‘Ain’t Nobody’ highlights the magnificent use of strings on the debut, as they pulse evidently under the steady beat, in a constant manner. It closes with ‘This Is Not The End’, a summary of the essence of the record. ‘Big sounds and epic production’ lie in the mist of the powerful, inspirational voice that is Clare Maguire.

Light After Dark is out now.