Singer-songwriter getting Exactly What She Wants

returning to Ireland in 2009. His debut album was A Mother’s Son followed by Made of Gold, Dreamers and Believers and Country Soul, the latter making it to the top-10 of Irish albums chart in October 2013.

His 2014 album The Simple Things and 2015 album One Good Night both made it to number one in the Irish albums chart.

In 2016, he released two albums almost simultaneously, This Is Me followed by Happy Man.

His current Scottish tour is a mix of old favourites, classic country and original material.

The highlight of the show is the moment the band and performance strips back, leaving Derek alone with his guitar on stage.

This, to Derek, is a chance for his audience to get to know him better and discover more about the music.

With only a handful of tickets left, you’ll need to act fast to catch Derek Ryan at Motherwell Theatre on Sunday, September 29.

To book call the box office on 01698 403120 or visit culturenl.co.uk

A former Wishaw schoolgirl is shooting for pop stardom with the release of her second single.

Not My Fault is the new release from singersongwriter thisisNAMASTE, real name Natasha Stewart, 27, via Humble Angel Records.

The former St Aidan’s High pupil’s latest single, which was co-written and produced by Adam Argyle who has worked with the likes of Olly Murs, James Bay and Dua Lipa, follows up her catchy debut track Exactly What You Want.

The first single got over 200,000 streams on Spotify and was described “one of the sturdiest pop debuts of the year” by one music critic.

Natasha said: “Not My Fault is about coming to the realisation, after the breakdown of a turbulent relationship, that you are not to blame for what happened.

“It is representing a rebirth of yourself and accepting that the fault did not lay with you but with them.

“It’s a bit more emotionally soulful than Exactly What You Want but it still has that mellow-pop vibe.”

Raised in Lanark, Natasha was captivated with music from an early age, citing big songwriters such as Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey as inspirations.

With no musical family – both her parents are dentists – Natasha forged her own path and moved to London to study creative musicianship at the Institute of Contemporary Music Performance.

Natasha soon landed gigs touring as a backing vocalist for the likes of Rita Ora, Ella Eyre, Bebe Rexha and Martin Garrix, performing on some of the world’s biggest stages whilst developing her own songwriting as thisisNAMASTE.

Taking her childhood pop influences and a love of artists such as Sia, Robyn and Tove Lo and a pack of big pop songs in her pocket to follow, 2019 will witness thisisNAMASTE coming into her own.

She added: “Songwriting has always been a big love of mine.

“Sometimes I will have a specific lyric and then I will take it into the studio to work. Most of the time, though, I would always try and get a melody first, take it in and then work with a producer on it.

“We’ve only just started releasing singles so I am hoping to have another couple of singles out before the end of the year.

“We will then look at getting an EP or an album out next year.

“Working with all these different people over the past few years has really helped me and the reaction I have had so far has been really exciting.”

thisisNAMASTE releases her second single Not My Fault this Friday via Humble Angel Records.

You can download the track on Spotify, Apple Music and various other sites and you can watch her new video on YouTube.