Penarth pupil impresses top record producer! (From Penarth Times)

Penarth pupil impresses top record producer!

4:40pm Thursday 2nd February 2012 in News By Sharon Harris

A TOP record producer has described a Stanwell School singer-songwriter's first studio meeting with him as an 'emotional experience'.

Stuart Epps, who has been in the music business for more than 40 years, has worked with music legends including Sir Elton John, Led Zeppelin, George Harrison, Bill Wyman and Oasis. But when he met 14-year-old music talent contest competitor Jessica Chick, he said he was impressed with the quality of her voice.

Jessica, a GCSE student at Stanwell, got to work with the producer after winning the exposure award during her stint in the UK-wide Open Mic contest last year.

Epps said: "Not really being a fan of music contests I wasn't sure what to expect when Jessica came to the studio.

"But it turned out to be a quite an emotional experience.

"She had never recorded in a proper studio, and I don't think she or her mum had ever heard the true quality of her voice. Seeing the look on her mum's face when she heard the tracks was a great moment.

"Jessica has an amazing quality voice for such a young age," he added.

"But it's not in a pretentious, false way which sometimes is the case. She has a truly beautiful, deep, soulful quality.

"I am hoping she can develop her songwriting and look forward to working with her in the future - to follow in the long line of great Welsh singers.

"It must be something in the water!"

Teenager Jessica is now writing and working on songs with mum Susanne.