Music: Fiona Bevan
The song sister talks with Jeff Hemmings
Singer-songwriter Fiona Bevan is currently on a lengthy UK tour, along with Kal Lavelle, in support of her recent album Listen to Strangers, and to encourage female singer songwriters to come out of the shadows and learn about the art and business of writing and perfoming.
“When we found out that only 13% of song writers who are registered with PRS (the UK’s performance registration body which pays out royalties for performances based on songwriting) are female, we were shocked. So, we decided that before every gig we are doing we would do a free songwriting masterclass. The reaction has been great; women of all ages, all walks of life, and all levels of experience have come along. And it felt like a very important thing, people coming along and putting themselves on the line.”
It was the success of her number one song ‘Little Things’, for One Direction, that sealed the deal for Fiona, in terms of trying to make a career in music. And the fact it was co-written with Ed Sheeran didn’t hinder … “I’ve been friends with Ed Sheeran for a few years, and we used to gig together a lot, part of the same singer songwriter gang in London. We decided to try and write a song together one afternoon at my flat In Dalston, East London. And so we wrote ‘Little Things’, a song about little details of people we know and love. We only recorded that song on his phone, and then his phone got lost or stolen. About a year later I dragged out the lyrics, and emailed them to him. He was on tour at the time, and he demo’d it up on his ipad on the tour bus and also happened to be hanging out with One Direction at the time. He played the song to them, and they loved it. By that November it went to number one.
“It was absolutely life changing. I could be a full-time songwriter, and make my own album. Ed really champions people he believes in.”
As for the Brighton leg of the Song Sisters Tour, Fiona and Kal are actively encouraging budding female songwriters to come along to the afternoon masterclass, as well as looking for a local support for the evening gig.
“We have been running a competition for a local female singer songwriter to support us. Everyone who applies needs to post a video of themselves online via the Facebook page of Folkstock Arts Foundation. We just want to encourage as many people as possible to come to the masterclass, and bring along a song, even if it’s half-written. We can help them dissect it, maybe getting from the verse to the chorus for instance. Everyone there can help with the process. We are also doing a Q&A, offering help with questions about publishing or how to write a number one!”
If you would like to attend the free afternoon masterclass,
email: songsistersmasterclass@gmail.com
Marwood Cafe, Sunday 17 August 2014, 7.30pm, £6
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