Hamilton songwriter into regional finals of music contest

Feb 11 2010 by Chris Clements, Hamilton Advertiser

A TALENTED Hamilton singer-songwriter hopes to catch the eye of legendary music guru Malcolm McLaren after reaching the regional final of a national music competition.

Stephanie Cheape (18), also known as Scarletz, will play at the Glasgow final of the Live and Unsigned competition next month – and McLaren is one of the judges.

Alongside the former manager of the Sex Pistols will be broadcaster Mark Goodier, ex-Atomic Kitten Liz McLarnon, Another Level singer Dane Bowers and Annie Nightingale, Radio 1’s longest-serving DJ.

Stephanie, who performed with secondary musician Colin Kane, progressed through the earlier stages of the competition by standing out in the acoustic round, earning herself a place in the regional final at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on March 13.

The grand final will be held in Newcastle later in the year.

She told the Advertiser: “I’ve always been into music, even though I never really took it at school.

“I did music briefly in my sixth year at Hamilton Grammar, but even then I dropped out. It was too focused on the theory side of things, instead of the practicalities of actually playing.

“So I was self-taught through books and the internet, then I started writing my own music.”

However, it was when Stephanie met indie group Hard-Fi, one of her main influences, that she began to take her interest in music seriously.

She explained: “My friend was the band’s tour DJ, so I went to see them in Edinburgh and got to hang around with them during sound checks.

“They helped a lot, giving me advice, and they had a big influence on me.

“Just looking at how they got on was an inspiration. Richard (Archer, frontman) came from nothing really, and through music has managed to build this fantastic life for himself.

“His motivation was quite inspiring.

“They also write about what’s going on around them at the moment, dealing with real issues. They have this political edge that I’m into, like Billy Bragg, who is also a huge influence on me.”

Stephanie hopes the Live and Unsigned contest will give her a chance to sound out Malcolm McLaren after months of trying to get in touch with the band manager.

“I entered the contest well before Christmas. But before that I had been hassling McLaren, trying to get a hold of him, sending him demos, wanting him to give me tips.

“Then I got this email from one of his employees telling me about the Live and Unsigned contest, and I thought I’d go for it.

“I don’t really agree with the whole talent show, X Factor thing, and I wouldn’t usually do it. But because he is involved, and I see the success of people who do it ... what have I got to lose?”

Stephanie, from Little Earnock, is well aware of the fickle nature of the music industry.

If her dream of becoming a recording artist doesn’t happen, she will begin studying to be a vet.

She said: “The veterinary thing will be a back-up. I’m aware that rock music is the most unreliable business in the world.

“One day you can be considered the best in the world; the next, someone new comes along and you are out of the picture.

“But I hope to get noticed. I would love to be a successful musician more than anything.”

For more information on Scarletz, visit www.myspace.com/scarletzmusik