Amber Susan started to write songs after many years of classical music training in voice and piano. She had some jazz lessons, learnt how to improvise and stepped over the threshold into the murky world of playing by ear, feeling the vibe and writing songs - she hasn't looked back!

Amber and I chatted about the fun that writing songs brings and she explained how songwriting is kind of a third space, separate from the day to day - family, work etc. She typically starts with musical shapes, chord sequences and phrases which create a picture or story for her to build in a song. The lyrics she finds harder but they come from the vibe the music gives her.

Amber brought her ukulele into the studio and played her (as yet untitled) song about the space and light she feels when she is in a quiet moment playing music. The song was inspired by her experiences playing uke and singing in her back yard accompanied by the chortling tones of three local magpies! It's a beautiful airy song which definitely conveyed a sense of contentment and respite from the busy world.