COUPLE RELEASE DEBUT SINGLE

Moorlands couple have released their debut single

A CHEDDLETON couple have launched their debut single, after forming a band in lockdown.

Musicians and music teachers, Chris and Gemma Rushton, teamed up as Unlucky Strike after performing live gigs for friends and family during the first Covid-19 lockdown.

Now, the pair have written an entire album, with their first single, City Beautiful, released on March 12.

Both work as peripatetic music teachers at schools in Leek, Cheadle and Biddulph, as well as performing with a variety of bands pre-covid.

Chris said: “What started out as a chance to connect with people and provide a bit of entertainment during the first lockdown has evolved into a musical project that has allowed us to explore our passions and cultural influences.

“At first the pandemic was a disaster for us work-wise and we needed something positive to focus on – which evolved into Unlucky Strike and our first album together.”

Unlucky Strike’s debut single is a homage to Orlando, Florida, where the couple were holidaying when Chris proposed in 2017 and where they returned for their honeymoon a year later.

And photos from their time there have been incorporated into the City Beautiful music video, which was also produced at home.

Gemma said: “I’m a huge Disney fan and Orlando is absolutely my happy place, so a song that celebrates sunshine, love and fun seemed to be just what we needed after this grim winter.

“Orlando is known as the ‘City Beautiful’ and we really hope it evokes memories of happy times filled with sunshine for everyone who listens to it.”

Married in 2018, the couple both have a lifelong passion for music, starting with lessons as children, studying music at college and university, before embarking on careers as musicians and music teachers.

Now, after years of performing across the UK and internationally, the couple have taken years of informal collaboration to create Unlucky Strike – a dual project exploring their musical and cultural influences.

Gemma holds a BA Hons in Music from Keele University and is a talented vocalist who specialises in wind instruments, including flute, alto and tenor saxophone and clarinet.

Chris is a largely self-taught musician and singer with a HND in Popular Music, who has been in high demand performing with bands and musicians across genres.

Unlucky Strike can be heard for free on Spotify or watch the video on Youtube via www.unluckystrike.co.uk

The single is available to buy now online and Unlucky Strike will be doing live gigs on Facebook at 8pm this Saturday.