Libby Gliksman reaches out through song

Chrissy Symmons catches up with the region's best unsigned acts and meets the musical stars of tomorrow.

Rising talent Libby Gliksman loves to sing and wants to use her voice as a powerful tool to connect with the hearts of her audience.

Music is an important part of the 23-year-old's life and like her influences Ray Charles and Adele, she chooses to perform songs with feeling and meaning.

"I love making people happy through my singing and think that music is brilliant," she reveals.

"Just like Ray Charles, who tried to touch people's hearts through music, I try to do the same.

"Singing is such a great way to tell people how you feel. When I sing Make You Feel My Love, I try to connect with people using my voice.

"So many different emotions can come through when you sing."

Libby first started performing when she was 16 years old in Oswestry's restaurant The Walls accompanied by her "real inspiration" pianist Andy Leak.

She has since performed across the county and is now ready to take on the music scene in earnest after recently finishing her French and Spanish studies at university.

She said: "I am unsigned but would really love singing to be a bigger part of my life."

A number of her cover songs have been recorded onto CD but she now wants to put pen to paper and invent some of her own.

"I have only ever done covers because I have been at university studying a degree," she said. "I will be writing my own music very soon."

Libby was asked to play at Osfest last month on the same stage that hosted chart-topping artists Tinchy Stryder, The Feeling and Example over the weekend.

She said: "It was so much fun getting up on the stage at Osfest and singing to my home town."

And in Wolverhampton more emerging rock talent will be arriving in the Slade Rooms on August 13.

Emma Scott Presents . . . will be introducing the sounds of Martyr De Mona, Synopsis, Twisted Species and Sworn To Oath to audiences.

Martyr De Mona will be combining metal with melody to offer a varied set mixing cultured vocals, heavy guitar riffage, pounding bass and intricate drumming.

Midlands band Twisted Species, who formed in February 2009, will be bringing their vision to create a unique rock sound.

And brought up on a diet of blues, old school rock & metal then later finding a heavier voice to identify with will be Sworn To Oath who pride themselves on their live shows.

Tickets cost £6 and are available from Midland Box Office on 0870 320 7000 or online at www.wolvescivic.co.uk

* Any bands or artists who would like to feature in Chrissys' Ones To Watch column should send information and contact details to csymmons@shropshirestar.co.uk