Sue lives in the South West of England and inherited her love of music and poetry from her father. Describing herself always as 'just a poet with a guitar', Sue has been lead singer with several popular bands in the South West of England, offering a diverse repertoire and has also appeared as a solo artist, performing her own expressive compositions at many regional venues on the Folk Scene. Inspired by real people and actual events and impassioned in her most formative years by such icons as Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen; it's perhaps no surprise that remnants of such powerful early influences are still reflected in Sue's song writing today.
"Although her music definitely falls into the folk category, singer songwriter Sue Merchant more closely recalls the after-dark broodiness of indie goddess Nico than her reported influences of Joni Mitchell and Joan Baez. Like Nico, Merchant takes you on a sombre journey, one that is coloured by the spectre of death and romantic loss. It's not easy listening to music this raw and emotional. When Merchant sings, "A photograph of you hung in my dreams," on "Virginia in the Fall," you can feel the slow beat of a longing heart. Merchant is a poet, but not just with her words. Her singing itself, weaves its own black magic and you are compelled to listen to her words. Her guitar playing, sparse and intimate, paints vivid images. On the title track, Merchant haunts the ears with both her lyrics of regret and her downbeat, melancholic voice. On "The Homecoming," she mourns the loss of a parent with an aching yearning that shatters the heart into pieces. Without any false sentimentalism or cliched lyrics, Merchant makes us weep. As with the best Leonard Cohen records, it's the type of song that you listen to with the curtains closed. There's a saturation of singer songwriters these days, especially here in the U.K. But Merchant easily separates herself from the pack with genuine talent and sincere artistry. Our Rating: 9/10 Adam Harrington/Whisperin & Hollerin"
Industry Credits include:- * 1st Place Honours: BRIT Trust International Songwriting Contest 2006 * Billboard Honours List: World Songwriting Contest 2006/7 * 1st Place Honours: Stonewall Society Pride in the Arts Award for Favourite Female/Lesbian Artist of 2007 * Accreditation by the World Music Foundation in 2006
Backing Credits: Viv Lynham: Soprano Counter/Harmony Backing Vocals Chris Sampson: Cello Nigel Smith: Piano Olly Winters - Owen: Piano Mark Barnwell: Classical Guitar Martin Selwood: Keyboards Chris Foden: Acoustic/Classical/Electric Guitar Danny Corrick: Percussion.
