Beth Walthew
“People ask about what influences my songs. I’m a nearly 30 year-old woman – there have been enough hormones, self-doubting thoughts and affairs of the heart to keep me going for a little while.“
Beth Walthew, originally from Sunderland, started out in life as a classical musician. Piano lessons started at 7 years old, and at 17, Beth started classical singing lessons, training that continued through her time at University and for some years beyond. After moving to London at 21, Beth sang with the London Symphony Chorus, and also performed in public opera recitals around the UK. She performed as part of the Edinburgh Fringe in 2001 and 2003. “There’s nothing like belting out an aria, but it never made me totally happy. My soul wasn’t absolutely in it.”
In 2003, Beth stepped up her own song-writing after working with jazz musicians in London, and getting into the 70s funk/soul playlists and wonderful jazz divas like Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan. “My whole world changed by learning about jazz chords. Suddenly the music I was writing sounded like the music I was listening to.”
Over the next few years, Beth worked for the BBC, ABRSM and The University of Cambridge, notched up a Masters in Music Education, started a marketing company with her husband/business partner, worked as a vocal coach and wrote for magazines. But all the while she was writing songs. After moving to Cambridge, Beth decided to commit more time to writing, and after working with producer Alistair May, put together her first EP ‘Laid Back Soul’, a fusion of jazz-electro-pop, including the sultry, blush-inducing ‘Morning Love’.
After starting live performances in March 2007, Beth’s music has swayed further towards a soul-jazz fusion, which supports Beth’s silky smooth voice, reminiscent of Dusty Springfield’s 60s sound. Performing in the East of England and in London, Beth has performed sizzling solo acoustic sets as well as performing with her full band (Neil Cowlan, Andy Borman and Toby Mills). Recent performances have included Strawberry Fair, The Elm Tree and CB2 (Cambridge) and The Bedford Bandstand and The Regal Rooms (London). She has also enjoyed radio play and interviews on 209 Radio and BBC Radio Cambridgeshire.
She is currently recording her second EP, featuring ‘Lucky Lucy’, a song about “that girl that everyone knew growing up – the one that had everything – the looks, the figure, the boys.” This new EP is due for release in December, and work has started on her first full album, due for release in early 2008.