Sounds of the Steel City to feature in the Sheffield songwriter’s album
London (PRWEB UK) 30 August 2014 -- Rebecca recently appeared on Sheffield Live, a Sheffield based radio station with their studios on the street next to where her Grandmother was born. “I hadn’t realised until we got into Sheffield and headed towards the studios of Sheffield Live that it was so close to where my Grandmother once took me to see the place where her old house once stood. She worked in the factories in the city and would tell me of how big the steel industry was then. We once went on an exploration when she showed me where she worked, in massive steel factories that once stood on streets that would have been so busy back in the day. For such a long time those factories have stood derelict and deserted. It fascinated me that we were standing in a place where huge factories once engulfed the streets, now completely silent but for the odd bit if passing traffic, but which once would have made such a noise you could have heard it for miles. I have always been intrigued by the history of the city and the strong steely sounds that would have dominated it. My big pal photographer Deborah Stone has a studio on Kelham Island, which is now a hive of activity being regenerated and converted into new developments and on a recent photo shoot we went out to do some images using the old steelworks as a backdrop. It was weird that as we were shooting, we both heard a noise like a big engine or something was starting up. We immediately looked in the same direction but there was nothing there. We assumed it was workers on the site, so we carried on but when we walked back towards the studio a few minutes later, we saw the clock and it was past 7pm. There were no workers on the old site in front of what was the Little Mesters steelworks. Everyone had left a couple of hours before. We should have been spooked I guess but as Sheffielders are made of strong stuff we just legged it back to the studio as quick as we could!”
Rebecca’s paternal grandparents were both from Sheffield and their parents both served in the war, witnessing bombs being dropped on the city and the devastation that caused. Her Great Grandfather was killed in the raids and their home was destroyed. The family had to move from the city centre, and the offspring eventually moved to various places throughout the rest of the country and some even abroad for work.
“Having had the chance to do one of the photo shoots in Kelham Island in the city and having had the ghostly Little Mester experience, it did prompt me to think more about the sounds of the city though and how I wanted to incorporate them into the music somewhere. So many of my family worked in the steelworks and when Deborah [my friend and photographer] got premises there it was a great opportunity to use it as the scene for some of our publicity shots. There’s a great little café there called The Grind, which is one of the Arctic Monkey’s favourite hangouts (they always order loads of The Grind’s homemade sausage rolls when they tour round Yorkshire).”
Rebecca says she and the producers have been inspired by and have incorporated the sounds of the old steel works in some of the songs that will be going onto the album. She will be returning to do a live session at Sheffield Live, (also known as SheffieldLive!) on 93.2FM, later this year and is looking forward to playing a live gig in the city planned later in the year, which will be in aid of a local children’s cancer charity.
About Rebecca Bains
Rebecca Bains is a singer songwriter bursting on the music scene with a sound that combines country and rock. Her songs are full of catchy melodies, provocative lyrics and the soul in her voice comes through in a musical style that marries all this in her own compositions. Whether a haunting ballad or 'bar brawl' rock, her unique sound shines through in every note.
Born in Yorkshire to a working class theatre family, Rebecca is extremely proud of her heritage. Her mother and grandmother were Opera singers, and her father a musician too. Rebecca’s influences are diverse. There is a list of artists she admires and for a host of different reasons: Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and Johnny Cash are just a few of the ones who have had a direct and lasting impact on her musical style.
Rebecca’s music carries a unique message of light. Her live performances are uplifting events that leave her audience enchanted. She is also a patron of a dog charity and takes her staffy cross rescue dog everywhere with her. Her single 'Hard Road' was released on April 27th and various tours are planned to coincide with the release.
Onwards Records Ltd, Rebecca Bains, http://www.onwardsrecords.com, +44 2077889211, [email protected]
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