Shelly Quarmby

BIOGRAPHY

Shelly went from freelance session vocalist working with various clients both live and in studio from adverts and recorded stage music to backing vocalists for theatre shows and original artists in UK and Canada. She has recorded in small studios to the glorious Abbey Road, London. She still conducts studio sessions for various projects. Being given the opportunity to write for a country compilation album saw the transition to songwriter.

With song writing never a priority, after one of the songs “Love’s Not All There Is To It” was picked up to appear on another compilation album “Walk the Line”, Shelly decided to go out as a singer/songwriter. It’s been a slow learning curve. In 2007 “Love’s Not All There Is To It” was accepted onto BBC New Talent for songwriters competition in which she then collaborated with highly acclaimed songwriters and producers.

In August 2008 she arrived in Toronto, Canada to record her debut, a 6-song EP. She recorded “Change” the EP at Greenpail Studios with Inside Music. In October of 2009 she was nominated by The Independent Singer-Songwriter Awards for two awards: Best New Artist and Best Adult Contemporary Song for “Love’s Not All There Is To It”. She also got an honourable mention in the 2008 Unisong Songwriting Competition. After a return to the UK in 2009 to promote and gig with the EP, She returned to perform at some events in Toronto and New York in 2011. After a little time out Shelly expanded the Change EP into speaking at various events about chronic ill-health and life as a singer-songwriter. “Embracing Change” can be performed as a workshop or concert. 2013 through to 2014 started pre-production for the forthcoming album of 2016 – “Beauty Survives”. The first single “You Lie” will be released in 2016 along with the official video.

Shelly’s songs captivate; a unique blend of her love of old and new country music, pop and rock inspired by great songwriters such as Jimmy Webb, Randy Newman, Carole King and Beth-Nielsen-Chapman and singers such as Linda Ronstadt and Trisha Yearwood. Musically, vocally, eclectically, she is in the middle of where Norah Jones meets Kelly Clarkson. Comparative to female singer-songwriters such as Sara Bareilles, Paula Cole, Chantal Kreviazuk, Jewel, Vonda Shepard and Sarah McLachlan her songs are powerful and emotive, they will leave you wanting more.