Suffolk singer/songwriter Serena Grant, whose Stay Home single, written during the Covid-Pandemic, raised money for NHS Charities Together, is back with a much more personal single – as she explains here
I feel like such a lot has happened since you last featured me three years ago – it’s been a while! Due to Covid, my gigs were getting rather sparse, so I ended up getting a “normal” job for a year – working from home for the Salvation Army. My gigs suddenly picked up due to restrictions lifting so I was able to hand my notice in. I’ve been earning solely through gigs since – and in this time moved out of my parents in Sudbury and bought a house just in my name and on my self-employed income. I’ve been really making the house my own since moving in two and a half years ago. My relationship with my previous boyfriend ended, but I am now in a much more stable relationship, and he has moved into mine now. So yes, lots of things happening!
I’ve been performing at lots of weddings up and down the country – and in Cyprus also! I’ve performed at Ipswich Music Day, Leestock in Long Melford – and have also finally formed a band for my original tracks too which I have wanted to do for about 10 years. Thought I’m not getting any younger, it’s now or never!
Better On My Own, the most recent song I’ve written, was the main reason I was able to move on from my previous relationship. We were very much in a toxic, trauma bonded relationship and I genuinely felt like I couldn’t survive without him. When he left, I didn’t know how to cope, and I remember driving back home one day and suddenly hearing a hook for a song in my head – out came the voice recorder on my phone and that was the start of the song, which almost enabled me to breathe through my trauma and move on. Liam Hayes helped me arrange it – all I had was some lyrics and a basic melody and he helped me create the chords and general structure and what it is today. I’d also like to thank the rest of my band for performing it and recording it – Richard Hatton and Jamie Parks, and Highfield Studios for recording my original tracks (and putting up with me being a perfectionist), and Nigel at Lowland Masters for mixing. This is the first original track I have ever recorded and released for myself (Stay Home was a charity single) and, although it’s quite nerve racking putting your heart on your sleeve and opening up about your own feelings and emotions, it’s exciting to finally get something of mine out there to the general public.
2024 is looking scarily quiet work wise. However, I did always plan for this year to be more about focussing on my originals; my band; recording my tracks; writing more; recording a promo video and doing bigger and better festivals, all of which I’m excited to continue to work towards.
Better On My Own is available to stream and buy on all major platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music & Amazon – or just ask your smart speaker to play “Serena Grant”. Visit serenagrantsinger.co.uk.
Featured image – supplied
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