The idyllic runs of the piano keys in SARAH LOUISE‘s latest single, ‘Place To Be’, immediately transports you to a place of warmth and familiarity. Within an intimate, meditative setting, the Suffolk-based singer-songwriter’s soothing vocals offers a comforting reminder to pause life’s chaos and seek solace – whether it’s under a cuddly duvet or immersed in the quiet beauty of nature. It’s a gentle invitation to breathe, reflect, and just be.
Sarah Louise understands that need deeply. During a moment of feeling completely overwhelmed, she took a spontaneous drive to a peaceful spot in nature, where she parked her car and watched the sun slowly dip below the horizon. In a moment of stillness, inspiration struck—and the first verse of ‘Place To Be’ was born. Although the song wasn’t finished, she knew she had captured something truly special.
That belief was reaffirmed when someone discovered a rough version of the track on YouTube and reached out to share how much it meant to them. Their heartfelt message reminded Sarah of the power of her music, and how deeply it resonated. Encouraged and inspired, she returned to the song and crafted the polished version we hear today.
Now, ‘Place To Be’ is available on all major streaming platforms—a compelling piece that captures the essence of who Sarah Louise is as an artist: honest, heartfelt, and healing.
Scottish singer-songwriter COLIN MANSON embarks on a deeply personal and immersive musical journey with the release of his Debut EP ‘Wayfinding’, available now on all major streaming platforms . Rooted in the rhythms of the sea and his upbringing on the rugged West coast of Scotland, this four-track collection captures the spirit of adventure, deep reflection and soul searching drawn from Colin’s experiences crossing the world’s oceans in small sailing boats.
With his new single ‘The Water’ alongside three previous singles, Colin has put together a truly beautiful and heartfelt offering, making waves in the indie/folk scene and capturing the attention of many.
Each song in the EP tells a unique story, weaving a rich tapestry of melody and narrative that transports listeners into Colin’s world. From the soft, undulating textures of ‘Sea Son’ to the raw, percussive rhythms of ‘These Words’, Colin demonstrates the depth of his musical expression, painting vivid soundscapes inspired by his time at sea. Why not listen to ‘Wayfinding’ below…
NICK EDWARDS dazzled his presence on NEW LEASE MUSIC with his 2024 EP, ‘Live At Yellow Arch Studio’ and went on to make history on NLM charts over on Instagram, claiming the Album of the Week title TWELVE times as well as currently holding the blog’s Album of the Month title.
So it was an absolute pleasure catching up with one of Manchester’s emotive singer-songwriter to talk about his brand new album, ‘Troubadour Soul Sinner’, out now across various music platforms.
NLM: Hey, thank you for taking part in an interview with NEW LEASE MUSIC. How is 2025 treating you so far?
NE: We are doing good. It’s been a hectic year so far on the music front, which is nice. This year is turning out to be the busiest we have had so far, with over 20 live shows scheduled around the UK, with more to be announced.
NLM: You just release your album, ‘Troubadour Soul Sinner’ (30th May). How would you describe the album’s sound to potential fans?
NE: Our sound is often labeled as country/soul, but it’s a blend of my diverse musical influences. Growing up in the 1980s, I was exposed to a wide range of genres, from Motown and rock to 90s pop. I’m sure on anyone’s first listen, these influences are subtly woven into the music.
NLM: What inspired you to produce the album?
NE: Following the release of my EP ‘1960’, which I released in 2023, I started writing a new EP. We got very close to finishing the EP, but we found that the collection of tracks we had was similar in style and time signature, and so we felt that whilst it was a good body of work, it wasn’t fluid enough for a release, so we quickly ditched that idea and began fleshing out the record into an album. It was a pretty nice transition, actually. It helped that I am always writing.
NLM: What is/are your favourite single(s) from the album and why?
NE: The album features some easy-listening tracks, along with some quite deep and meaningful songs to me personally, making for an eclectic mix. The first single I released was ‘Burning Love’. A simple love song touching on the way love used to be in the 90’s. When phones weren’t around, life was about mixing tapes, putting on a record, and living life with eyes wide open. I love the vibe of this song as it’s where I feel we found our ‘sound’. There is more of this type of sound to come. Other songs like ‘Letting Someone Go’ took inspiration from losing my dad and finally looking deep enough in yourself to know that moving on is the best way to move forward, but that moving on doesn’t mean forgetting. The opening track, ‘Where I Need to Go’, is a profound one for me, and it sets an honest tone for the record. My favourite track for the music is ‘Hometown’. I think it shows the talent I have.
NLM: What message would you like the listeners to take away from ‘Troubadour Soul Sinner’?
NE: My hope for ‘Troubadour Soul Sinner’ is that it resonates with listeners, providing a home within its tracks. I’ve delved deep into my personal experiences, flaws, and growth, and I’m proud to have translated them into this meaningful album.
NLM: If you had to feature one mainstream artist on the album, who would it, be and why?
NE: I would pick an artist who is honest, down-to-earth and modest. Zac Brown Band are really special to me, so it would have to be him.
NLM: So what plans do you have for the rest of 2025?
NE: We are fortunate to be playing weekend after weekend around the UK for various shows, so we are fully booked this year. I’m also currently going into the studio to put down my next record. My plans are always to keep moving…
NLM: How can potential fans find you?
NE: In the usual place. We are on most social media platforms, although we are probably most active on Instagram. All of my music is also uploaded on almost every mainstream platform.
NLM: Finally, any special shoutouts to those involved in the production of ‘Troubadour Soul Sinner’?
NE: I’m incredibly fortunate to have good people around me. Thankfully, I have not needed to rotate band members regularly, as I have a solid crew, and the album wouldn’t have been made without them, but my wife is a gem, and she doesn’t often get the praise. I have my bag regularly packed by the door, ready for my next outing. Not an easy life to be involved with, but she does it with ease.
If you were going to ask what songwriting team have individually toured the world performing, written for The Korgis, Cliff Richard, Slash, Meatloaf, had their songs played on BBC Radio 2, supported Celine Dion, played Jesus on the West End stage, performed sell out shows in theatres around the UK, have won some of the most prestigious songwriting awards in the world and now are writing a song about feeling 17 again! There would only be one name on that list… THE GRAND CRU!
International songwriting team The Grand Cru (comprising of Welsh and American talent) have a brand new single waiting to be embraced by the listeners entitled ’17’ (featuring The Grand Cru member Darren Parry on lead vocal duties) which comes from their 8 track album… ‘September 11 – Music To Heal Your Soul’.
This catchy, memorable, upbeat, Country/Americana influenced track was co-written between three well known Welsh male singer/songwriters and a sassy, female US (Floridian) songwriter.
The Grand Cru includes ex Jesus Christ Superstar lead, Steve Balsamo (who’s written for Slash, Meatloaf, Cliff Richard) and ex member of The Story’s and Balsamo/Deighton. Also on ‘The Cru’ is multi-award winning Welsh singer/songwriter Darren Parry, who’s a former UK Songwriting Contest winner, Billboard, Unisong, ISSA and USA Song Of The Year award winner (who has co-written with The Korgis, Dan and Laura Curtis and others). The third Welshman is Rhondda’s multi-talented Lee Gilbert who is an acclaimed singer /actor. His 25 year career has spanned from theatre, radio and TV work which runs alongside his very busy music career.
The fourth member and brainchild of ‘The Cru’ is Florida based Bonnie Skop, whose family has a long history in music; including her Dad managing Ted Nugent and Bob Seger in their early days! The Grand Cru get their name from the French words… meaning “a wine of the most superior grade”. These songwriters are certainly that!
Darren says of the latest offering: “Steve, Lee, Bonnie and I wrote “17” predominantly on Zoom over the last 6 months or so, we wanted it to have an all American kinda feel to it”. Darren continues: ”We wanted to write something that encapsulated the excitement and emotion of falling in love as a teenager, reminiscing about a time gone by when love captured your heart and the emotions of youth”.
’17’ is the second single from their album following on from single, ‘I Was There’, which was shown on the big screen for the National Guard (EANGUS) 9/11 Remembrance Gala at The One World Trade Centre building in New York on 11th Sept this year for a star – studded event, hosted by Kelsey Grammer (Frasier).
’17’ is was released today (8th November) on all good music platforms. Have a listen below…
If you’re a massive Britain’s Got Talent fan, you may recognise this guy – NICK EDWARDS.
Since finishing up in the semi-finals in series 15 on the talent show, the dad-of-two has been making leaps and bounds, particularly in the country music scene around the world. His latest EP, ‘Live At Yellow Arch’, may just be the ticket to further cement his place in the country music community.
Recorded at Sheffield’s infamous Yellow Arch Studios, where a string of award-winning albums were produced for the likes of Arctic Monkeys, Kylie Minogue, Jarvis Cocker and Franz Von, ‘Live At Yellow Arch’ forms four captivating live performances, where Nick’s robustly soulful vocals introduces the set through ‘All That You Can Give’, accompanied by guitar licks creating an intimate setting which radiates a tranquil glow.
The EP continues with the comforting glow with a breathtaking cover of War & Treaty’s monster hit, ‘That’s How Love Is Made’. While still maintaining the huskiness that was pleasantly apparent at the beginning of the EP, Nick’s vocals turns all emotive, which compliments the woeful violins and soft soulful bass – all which perfectly gives a new appreciation to the original song.
That warm soulful glow really begins to shine through and concludes the EP perfectly with ‘Troubadour Soul Sinner’ and ‘Trouble’ which, together with the gleeful violin, somehow gives off a Dr Hook & The Medicine Show feel.
Currently, Nick Edwards is creating his debut album – but he wants to make sure it is just right! Until then, his body of work, ‘Live At Yellow Arch’, serves as the perfect filler for his loyal and potential fans. Have a listen below…
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