Sue Trickey A little Q&A with singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Sue Trickey.
Leicester Bangs: Tell us a little about yourself. Sue: I play music in a variety of different genres. Jazz / folk / adult contemporary mainly. I write all my own songs and lyrics, which are all from an honest heartfelt approach. I also compose ambient / experimental music for piano. I perform mainly my own original music but can also play covers when I choose to and enjoy trying to be creative in my approach to these.
LB: How did you start out making music? Sue: I learnt piano from the age of 7yrs whilst at school... I have later taught myself to improvise and compose and now play mainly "by ear". I taught myself to play guitar, I ignore the boundaries and chord books and now like to work out sound and chord sequences "by ear" here too. I continue with voice training and am now in my fourth year. Singing, songwriting, composing have now become a huge passion to me.
LB: Who did you grow up listening to and how do they influence what you’re doing now? Sue: I grew up in the 60's / 70's... I listened to all the popular music then. I always had the radio on when I was home and used to listen at night when I was supposed to be asleep! The Beatles, Beach Boys, Osmonds, The Carpenters, Lionel Richie, The Jacksons... I guess everything you listen to is an influence!
My Mum was a mature singer and church organist so I would also listen to choral / church music. My grandmother was a professional pianist and used to play for the silent movies back in the 1920's. She took part in some of the earliest broadcasts with her band back then. Sadly she died when I was very young.
LB: Tell us about your latest release. Sue: I have been working on my latest album "Island in the Sun” for the past two years! This is a collection of songs all of which are heartfelt and honest exploring different emotions that we all go through at times. I have loved every minute of creating these. I have a wonderful producer who has worked with me and helped with some of the backing arrangements (Simon Turner). He has done a brilliant job with the mixing and mastering. I hope that the emotions in these songs will resonate with anyone who listens to them! I hope you will enjoy listening.
LB: Do you get out and play your music live, and if so, what can an audience expect at one of your shows? Sue: I try to perform at least once a week at local acoustic nights. At these I am one of a number of different performers. I usually play a few of my original songs and a cover or two. I have been told that the room usually goes quiet when I sing! I can’t tell you why that happens but it seems to happen everywhere I go.
I have also performed as a pianist in the past. I used to regularly play for 2-3 hours in a large restaurant in Cheltenham. I built up a repertoire of over 50 original compositions and covers that I regularly played.
LB: What aspects of playing and recording music do you most enjoy? Sue: I feel that the best part for me is recording and enhancing my songs with vocal harmonies and backing. I love creating and writing songs and am not happy unless I am working on something new. I love practicing too and will pick up my guitar as often as I possibly can.
LB: Where can people find (and buy) your music? Sue: My music is now available to buy through Cd Baby (see link). At the moment they are for downloads only but hard copies will be available soon.
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