Saturday, 9th May 2015
I’ve been bored with too many emo-ish singer songwriters and intended to skip the whole scene, but a 17 year old phenom named Charlie Leavy was way, way too talented to ignore.
Charlie Leavy – The Way Life is
Man, did I freak out when I found out that this stunning talent was only 17 years old when she wrote and recorded this. Man, the voice, the songwriting, the music, it’s all so mature, so age-weathered, so, so . . . so damn perfect.
It might seem trite to hear a 17 year old sing “this is the way life is” over a light blues beat, but nothing here seems forced. There’s a wisdom to her, a seeing well beyond her years. Best of all, I could listen to Charlie sing for hours and hours. Her tone reaches all the right place with a deep honesty that belays her years. And what a damn catchy melody. Wow.
Again, if Ripple Music put out singer-songwriter stuff, she’d be signed today, or rather, yesterday. Can’t wait to see where she goes with her music next.
Read More @ RippleMusic
WHAT CAN I SAY? 
But that I won the PGT Cabaret final! It was a totally fantastic evening. Many wonderful, friendly and helpful people 
My prize is to play the small stage at the BST Festival @ Hyde Park on Sunday 21st June & the Women & Cabaret Stages during Pride on Saturday 27th June.
For the 2nd year, I’ve been invited to perform. It’s a great little village fair and hopefully, I’ll be invited back next year 
Sunday, 3 May 2015
‘Charlie Leavy’ EP Review ‘The Best Damn Ride’
Charlie Leavy is one of the singer/songwriters to be admired. With over 100 songs recorded and having spent a lot of her time travelling and playing shows wherever she can Charlie shows no sign of letting up. Currently quiet due to being a student as well we take a look at the Charlie’s first EP ‘The Best Damn Ride’.
Opening track ‘The Way Life Is’ is a well polished song holding a cool groove throughout. It’s the perfect song to introduce Charlie and her sound. The upbeat acoustic has great changes in tempo from a vocal aspect. The best part of the song is the honest story it tells us. “I don’t know why, this is the way life is…” is the main line that carries the chorus and runs us through various political and general issues that humans seem to hold at the forefront of their minds instead of looking at the bigger picture.
Second track ‘Tongue Tied’ is a beautifully pieced together song that shows off Charlies incredible voice at it’s best. Both this song and ‘Falter Baby’ are similar in their structure of upbeat and energetic songs. The songs bring the EP to life as two of the most catchy songs that stick in the listeners head.
‘Summers Day Runaway’ shows a slightly darker, less upbeat performance though still keeps up the energy of the EP. It stands as a song that is more mezmerizing than it is a sing-along. It is great in showing that Charlie has more in her arsenal than just happy upbeat acoustics.
‘Running My Mouth’ is strong in terms of it’s clever songwriting that again takes shape in the form of a fast-paced acoustic. The song is simple yet effective and I’m sure works really well live without any extra instruments aside from vocals and guitar. At this point in the EP I find myself in a complete state of chilled out happiness (Thanks Charlie).
‘Wearing Your Kiss’ and ‘Why Are You Waiting’ are both live tracks that sit as the last two songs on the EP. Where I am not normally fond of live music on a produced record I actually really enjoy these tracks on the EP, partly because it is hard to tell they are live recordings! The songs showcase Charlie and her guitar without any production or studio editing and present her in her simplest and rawest form. It is at this point that you really realise the pure talent that she has and hats off to that! Her absolutely stunning voice carries the tracks and has the listener completely in her palm from start to finish.
The EP is a small taste of some of the best songs Charlie Leavy has released throughout her time as an artist. It’s more of a collection of honest tales and is a beautifully genuine account of life and in particular her account of life so far. How this girl manages to fit in shows, recording and A levels is beyond me but again hats off! Charlie Leavy is quite simply naturally talented and that comes few and far between in the music scene nowadays! Keep doing what your doing!
Read More: Noizze reviews, “The Best Damn Ride”
A multi venue event, this stage was hosted by Bill Horncastle, a presenter of the Fox Den Show on Vixen 101 FM. It was Bill that invited me to play after I appeared on his radio show for a live Friday evening session.
I had a great time 
The 2nd round of auditions were at the Pulse Club, London.
I performed “Catalyst” & “This Ain’t A Love Song”
Round one of auditions were at the Two Brewers club in London.
I performed “4am”.
Long way for a gig! but worthwhile. Even with a sore throat, I had a great time 
Tony was a great host and presenter. Live session and interview 
Click here.
The tracks played were
- 4am
- This Ain’t A Love Song
- Shapes
Great venue. Really enjoyable gig 
The iconic venue where Ed Sheeran recorded his recent EP, “Ed Sheeran: Live at the Bedford”.
Line-up: Charlie Leavy, Benedict, Geoff Raggett, Laces, Ryan Anthony, weareTheBigBang
What a fantastic music venue!!! Can’t wait to play it again 
This Ain’t A Love Song
Wearing Your Kiss
Tongue Tied
Naive
Fantastic evening at Naomi’s Cafe Bar. It has an incredible concept of no pricing – you pay what you believe everything is worth. I had people buying my CDs for £10 each!!!
Lovely people, great evening. I can’t wait to do the next one 
Great evening with Bill on the Fox Den Show. Live session and laughs all night long 
PLEASE EXCUSE THE BEDHEAD AND MORNING VOICE hahahahahaha.
This was SERIOUSLY an amazing experience, omg. Will was such a cool guy, really friendly and lovely! 😀 If you missed me on the radio, my interview is still online for the next 3 weeks. The link is below and you need to go to about 1:35:00 🙂
Quote of the day from Will, “You know Charlie, you remind me of a young Kate Bush…” 
VLOG#2
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02c9v5d
CHARLIE LEAVY Leeds-via-Hook Norton singer Charlie Leavy is currently studying for her A-levels but is already close to clocking up 100 gigs, and claims to have written as many songs.
“Live”, it’s just her, an acoustic guitar and heart full of soul (see June & November 2014 for her gig reviews), but these recording are perhaps a better indicator of what’s she’s capable of, from the jazzy, very slightly funky soul-pop of `The Way Life Is’, to the sweet and simple unrequited love note that is `Tongue Tied’, both clear-eyed and uncomplicated songs that are polished but not so much they lose their inner naivety; the more straightforward acoustic `Falter Baby’ is over-egged by contrast, but best of the lot here is the lush, synthy `Summer Day Runaway’, again soulful but simple and poppy; the only thing between it and hit status is a decent publicist.
There’s obviously a strong Alecia Keys influence going on in Charlie’s music, and it’s hardly making a break for rock and roll’s wildest hinterlands, but not every musician wants to tear up the rule book and alienate the entire human race like Scott Walker, and for those who prefer safer ground, Charlie Leavy’s a decent outside bet for next local breakout artist.
Nightshift reviews:, “The Best Damn Ride”
As promised, I’ve started to film some stuff to show you what the musical side of my life is like 😀 I’m ridiculously awkward when filming myself talking but hey ho, hopefully I will become more natural as I do it more and more 🙂
VLOG #1
2 Days. 8 Venues. 8 Gigs. 4 hrs of live acoustic music in a variety of cafes, pubs, coffee shops & a theatre foyer!
Amazing weekend. Thoroughly enjoyable 
Thu, 13 November 2014 
Episode 235 – Charlie Leavy
I am honoured to introduce you to today’s guest, Charlotte “Charlie” Leavy! She is a singer/songwriter from the UK, and has accomplished more in her young life than most people do in their whole career.
Charlie has a multitude of original songs, and is a tireless performer. It is an incredible balance when you factor in her school work.
She got her start by recording one take acoustic performances in her bedroom. She has since moved things into the studio, and her brand new EP is available now! It’s called “The Best Damn Ride”. Two songs from it are featured with this episode.
Special thanks to my good friend Tess Jones (www.tessofthecircle.com) for pointing me in Charlie’s direction. I am truly a fan of her work, and I hope she joins me again to keep me posted on her career.
Enjoy!
Listen to the interview here
Where: Oxford Jericho Tavern
When: October 3rd
Line-up: PEERLESS PIRATES / VIENNA DITTO / THE OTHER DRAMAS / CHARLIE LEAVY
Reviewer: Dale Kattack
![image_thumb[1]](http://www.charlieleavymusic.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/image_thumb1_thumb.png "image_thumb[1]")
“Charlie Leavy, from Hook Norton via Leeds, falls neatly into the confessional-girl-with-guitar bracket, displaying the best and worst of that particular niche. Occasionally she slips into melisma and wailing over ragged acoustic strumming, but when she hits the right tone, as on `Patchworks’, she shows she’s got something worth investigating, a sweet, almost folky voice that she pushes just to its limits and no further, and a strong sense of melody. We’d like to hear more of her natural Yorkshire accent in her singing but with a more polished sound on her recent `The Best Damn Ride’, there’s undoubtedly better things ahead for her than opening a four-band bill.”
Nightshift review
Excellent 45 min gig 
![image_thumb[1]](http://www.charlieleavymusic.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/image_thumb11.png "image_thumb[1]")
