大象传媒

In fact her new album 'End of Nothing Beginning of Something' was recorded in Leicester.

She had a whole host of talented musicians on the CD including Loughborough drummer Nick Bott and session musician to the Manic Street Preachers Tony Robinson.

Listen: Interview with Irene Rae

大象传媒 Leicester's Chris Baxter spoke to Irene about all things musical. Listen to the full interview below and check out her acoustic performance of 'See Me For Me'...

Irene can't pinpoint who directly musically influences her, but knows that much of her work is based on the way people (particularly men!) have treated her in life:

Irene Rae

"Most of the time with me it's people treating me badly, so I tend to get the violins out and play a sad song about it!

"It kind of helps me get over nasty situations and how people don't realise what they're saying can actually affect somebody."

'See Me For Me' is one of the first songs she has written that isn't about failing love, but a more hopeful unrequited love.

Guitar Skills

Many of her gig reviews commend Irene for her tight guitar playing, but she actually came to the instrument just five years ago.

She started off playing saxophone at 12 years-old but soon realised it was a difficult instrument to combine with singing!

"I don't actually class myself as a guitarist really. I started playing guitar because I like singing and I like writing songs but I couldn't find anyone to play the guitar for me!"

Irene taught herself to play the guitar by listening closely to music, watching guitarists' fingers at gigs and questioning friends.

It may be only a matter of time before we see Irene in a more prominent position in the music industry - she already shares a couple of things with KT Tunstall and Adele.

Irene Rae

Big Pink Heart

She's a female singer-songwriter like them, but also she's involved in a social enterprise scheme called BigPinkHeart which aims to promote positive changes within social behaviour.

This means treating others with respect and "getting back to where we used to be" with random acts of kindness.

For now, gigging can be hard work but Irene wouldn't swap it for the world:

"It's really rewarding and you get to meet a lot of really cool people and people you'd have never ever have met normally, which is the main pull for me.

"I love it when you meet somebody and they come to your gigs regularly and then they cross over and become like a friend."