A classical artist is hoping her new album will give listeners a much-needed boost and help them ‘smile through song’ amid the ongoing pandemic.
Singer Nicola Cassells is releasing her much anticipated album ‘Smile’ on March 21.
The Classical Soprano, from Ayr, has compiled songs which have a special place in her heart including favourites such as Come What May’ from Moulin Rouge; Never Enough from The Greatest Showman and the first song she learned to sing – Somewhere Over The Rainbow.
Nicola, who is due to give birth to her first child next month, said: “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do was make an album.
“I have lots of people asking me all the time, ‘where can we can buy your CD’ and I would always have to say, ‘oh I don’t actually have one’.
“I thought if something good was going to come out of lockdown then let’s do it.
“The songs that I’ve chosen are ones that have followed me throughout my whole career.
“They’re inspired by the songs that connected with people during lockdown last year.
“Somewhere Over The Rainbow has followed me my whole life. It was the first song I learned to sing when I was four or five years old.
“Come What May is probably my favourite one off the album. I’m pregnant – due next month in April – so I just feel that that song has a whole new meaning for me now in terms of the lyrics and looking forward to meeting our little baby.
“I wanted to create an album which was uplifting and joyous to listen to. It’s just about trying to make people smile.
Nicola, who has performed on stage alongside many artists such as The Saturdays, Olly Murs, Diana Vickers and The MacDonald Brothers, has been doing live ‘lockdown sessions’ from her home via her Facebook page which has attracted a worldwide audience.
She said: “As much as it’s been a horrendous year, it’s been quite good in terms of being able to reach out to a whole new audience.
“For the first time I had concerts that were getting streamed all over the world and it got a lot of attention; particularly from Australia, Canada and America.
“I think lots of people are missing live concerts and we all have been a bit bored at home, so I think a lot more people have been tuning in for something that little bit different rather than just watching telly.
Proceeds from several of those concerts have been donated to charities close to Nicola’s heart including Ayrshire Hospice and Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland, who she is an ambassador for.
Nicola added: “It was only a little but it was nice to be able to do something and help in some way.
“I was just keeping it all local; especially just for the fact that charities are struggling with lots of events being cancelled.”
’Smile’ will be available to purchase as a physical CD and online via her website, iTunes, Amazon and other major online retailers.
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