Anglesey singer Laura Sutton releases second album

Nov 11 2009

Laura Sutton

SINGER Laura Sutton is back with her second album, the aptly named O’r Diwedd (At Last).

This is the first solo album the Capel Coch songstress has released in five years, having been keeping herself busy with other projects such as Sain’s Clwb Cymru compilation album, dueting with Alistair James and Geraint Roberts, as well as becoming a mother.

Since giving birth to her son Alex last September, Laura, 27, who appeared as Celine Dion in Stars in Their Eyes in 2005, has been back in the recording studio and dividing her time between Anglesey and Spain, where she and her partner have a second home on the coast of Gibraltar.

O’r Diwedd is a testament to her new independence and maturity – Laura is now representing herself and has more creative control over her own career.

After appearing as Celine Dion on Stars in Their Eyes in 2005, Laura was approached by a sister company of The Ministry of Sound to record an album of remixed Celine Dion classics, but she decided to turn the offer down as she wanted to leave that chapter of her life behind and focus on her solo career.

She said, "I felt like it needed to be done. I’d been releasing singles and dueting over the past few years, but I wanted to do my own album. It’s nice to be back and to concentrate on what I want to do."

There is certainly more to Laura than just Celine Dion: the former Ysgol Gyfun Llangefni pupil now represents herself and has more control over her own creativity.

Laura explained: "I’m better known for the ballads I do, but this time I’ve really tried put in some faster, up-beat songs in there too.

"The recording process was much more relaxed this time from having to fit my work around my son and having more creative control really helped."

She admits to having a variety of influences, from Mariah Carey and Michael Jackson to Dolly Parton and Johnny Cash. One of the main influences for this record, however, was her son, Alex. She said: "I love being a mum. Alex inspired me to write some of the songs, including For You (I Will). If anything, being a mum has made me more determined to succeed for him."

The album, which is bilingual, was recorded at Rockliffe Studios in Llandudno and was produced and arranged by Simon Gardner and Andrew Moore.

Eight of the 20 original tracks were written by Laura, with Tudur Morgan co-writing and translating.

The songs certainly showcase Laura’s beautiful voice and effortless vocal talent and the album has a nice balance of upbeat songs and soft ballads, from the catchy Disgwyl Amdanat Ti/Waiting For You and Rhydd Unwaith Eto/Free Again, to the slower Arwr I Mi/Can’t Hurt Anymore and romantic Ffantasi/I’ll Hold On. For You (I Will) was written by Laura for her son.

Although I might not have bought this type of album normally, I found myself singing along in no time. It is clear that Laura is in a very good place in life at the moment – the album’s feel-good energy is definitely infectious and is the ideal CD to listen to after a long day at the office.

O'r Diwedd is out now in local Welsh music shops and is available at laurasutton.co.uk