Ava Leigh
Ava Leigh | |
---|---|
Birth name | Hayley Carline |
Born | 22 November 1985 |
Origin | Chester,England |
Genres | Reggae,reggae fusion |
Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter |
Years active | 2008–present |
Labels | Virgin |
Website | avaleighofficial |
Hayley Carline(born 22 November 1985),[1]better known asAva Leigh,is an Englishreggaesinger.[1]
Career
[edit]Leigh's career first began when she started performing with her school's jazz band.[2]In her "mid teens" she acquired a manager, and tried out for a variety of labels, singingR&B.However, Leigh realised that the genre "never, ever worked" for her.[2]Leigh, in an interview withThe Telegraph,attributed her mother for first getting her into reggae: "How I got into reggae... was from my mother listening to it. She was a big fan of [the British reggae subgenre] Lover's Rock. When I was about nine or 10, I remember hearing" Silly Games "by Janet Kay, with all those high notes, and thinking," Hmm, I wonder if I can do that? "[2]
In 2008, Leigh stated that she hoped to become part of a musical movement bringing singers (as opposed to dancehall deejays) back to the forefront in reggae. As she told noted writer Pete Lewis ofBlues & Soul:I think the reason we're now living in the decade of dancehall deejays is because everyone these days is so into hip hop and rap, and dancehall is basically the reggae version of that. But hopefully me doing this can help signal the start of many more successful new reggae vocalists to come. "[3]
Leigh worked with writers such as Nick Manasseh,Future Cutand Feng Shui on her debut album, originally to be titledTurned on Underground.[1][2]Partly recorded atHarry J's in Jamaica, the album was reviewed favourably and was described as having the "slick appeal of a US R&B princess."[4]The album was released as aPromo CDtitledRollin'but never received a full release after the singles "La La La" and "Mad About the Boy" did not achieve commercial success. Leigh released a four-track extended play (EP) of recordings from the album titledLa La La,on 5 January 2009.[5]
Leigh's song "Mad About the Boy" was featured on the filmAngus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging,and her version of "Mas Que Nada"was featured in a 2008 TV commercial for chain storeNext's summer clothing range. In 2008, Leigh co-wroteJoss Stone'sdigital downloadsingle "Governmentalist", featuringNas.
Discography
[edit]
|
|
- Singles
Year | Single | UKchart position[6] |
Album |
---|---|---|---|
2007 | "La La La" | — | Rollin'[1] |
2008 | "Mad About the Boy"[A] | 128 |
- Notes
- A^Released as a double-A side single with "Mas Que Nada"in some retailers.
References
[edit]- ^abcdeO'Brien, Jon."Ava Leigh > Overview".AllMusic.Retrieved18 September2009.
- ^abcdPerry, Andrew (31 July 2008)."Ava Leigh: the girl who fell for Lover's Rock".The Daily Telegraph.Retrieved17 September2009.
- ^Ava Leigh interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' August 2008
- ^Lester, Paul(13 August 2007)."No 163: Ava Leigh".The Guardian.Retrieved18 September2009.
- ^"Ava Leigh releases".Avaleigh.co.uk.Retrieved18 September2009.
- ^Zywietz, Tobias."Chart Log UK: DJ Steve L. – LZ Love".Zobbel.Archivedfrom the original on 16 October 2009.Retrieved18 September2009.