Stavia - Background

Stavia has been writing songs on the piano and guitar since the age of 10. However, it wasn't until 1998 that she started recording her material in any serious way. Together with her band - the exceptionally talented Grant Jamieson on guitar, Rob Fergus-Smith on drums and Andy Coughlan on bass - she has recorded three albums - Forbidden Fruit (2000), The Way You Are (2002), and Deep Waters (2006). All three albums were recorded in Wales in Tim Hamill's studio, whilst Deep Waters was mastered in London by producer and engineer John Brough (Queen, Gabrielle, The Beautiful South, and Yusuf Islam/Cat Stevens).

Stavia's songs are often deeply personal and emotive, and it is these sentiments which compel her to write. Despite the low-scale releases, her music has been met with considerable critical acclaim, and has been played on national BBC radio and TV, and numerous regional stations. She has been interviewed on BBC Radio 4's Midweek with Libby Purves, Johnny Walker on BBC Radio 2, Nicky Campbell on BBC Radio 5, and numerous regional stations. She has played live on air on BBC Radio 4 Woman's hour with Jenni Murray and James Whales' show on Talk Radio. She has appeared on GMTV with Lorraine Kelly.

"...........She's been compared to Dido, but she writes better songs..... and in an age when everyone wants to be famous, she'd rather not be.... Stavia has produced a disc that should be at the top of the shopping list of any 30-something in search of an intelligent lyric wrapped in the sort of catchy hooks and melodies you just can't get out of your head". 'WHAT'S ON'