大象传媒

Lettie, who's in her 20's, went to Thomas Mills High School before reading history at Glasgow University. She's moved to London to work the 'alt-folk' and singer-songwriter circuits, although in a fairly unfolky manner she's attracted the attention of Bauhaus's Peter Murphy and Mike Mason of Swallow (1990's 4AD act) who both speak highly of her.

大象传媒 Suffolk speaks highly of her as well and in May 2009, she came in to record a session and talk to Stephen Foster on his 1600-1900 weekday show. (Note: Atmosphere is her own song and not a cover of the Joy Division classic. Or the Russ Abbott classic.)

"My favourite part is composing. I'm classically trained on piano and I didn't pick up the guitar until I was 16. I like the idea of approaching an instrument without having the formal background and scientific approach to it.

"I'm getting away from intellectual, scored music and creating a sound."

Lettie's music is written with David Baron, but she performs it herself using looped guitar, beats and vocals as well as keyboards. But it's all created on the spot using a variety of musical gizmos rather than using backing tapes. Sometimes she performs with a band as well.

As well as having a fascination with the history of the blues (her first song was called Mississippi Drowning) and harmonica player Larry Adler, Lettie said her contemporary influences are a mix of Laurie Anderson, Talking Heads and Bob Dylan.

"There are two sides to my music. I'm very interested in electronic and quite upbeat stuff which could almost crossover into the Mali, quite fast type of music.

"And there's my acoustic, raw, Bob Dylan side. With my new work I'm trying to put them together in a more confident way - marrying the two together."

Paved with gold?

Lettie was a victim of the recession in 2009.

"After two years working as a private secretary in someone's house, I was given my notice. I made a little bit of money and that's what I'm living on right now.

"I'm living with my aunt [in London] and I'm helping her and she's helping me at the moment. Things like music help at these times - even if you can't buy it you can listen to it on MySpace or the radio."

You'll see from Lettie's website that she's got a fascination with vintage postcards.

"I am obsessed with postcards, but it's another thing I'm thinking of selling to get through these tough times! I do have thousands and I send one out with every CD order.

In session at 大象传媒 Suffolk

"I had a few spooky stories. I sent one to someone from Sheffield and he told me it was of a building he was going to that very evening. The music is a bit like going into one of these postcards - they're a little bit surreal I'd like to think."

In 2008, she released her debut album Age Of Solo on Outerworld Records and, at the time of writing, if you order it from her website or MySpace you'll get a free copy of her acoustic album Everyman.

"My ultimate dream is to get my music on a film...."

Is David Lynch listening?