Amy puts down new song after Alesha thumbs up

LONDONDERRY singer Amy Gardiner has recorded her first original track ‘Leave You Behind’ a matter of months after Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon gave the 15 year old their votes of confidence in Cardiff.
Local singer Amy Gardiner, performing on stage at a Take Me out event in the Newbuildings Community Centre last year. In January of this year, Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon said they were fans.Local singer Amy Gardiner, performing on stage at a Take Me out event in the Newbuildings Community Centre last year. In January of this year, Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon said they were fans.
Local singer Amy Gardiner, performing on stage at a Take Me out event in the Newbuildings Community Centre last year. In January of this year, Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon said they were fans.

She’d been performing in front of a live audience in Cardiff back in January for a place in the finals of the popular ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ television programme. She was just 14 at the time.

The Foyle and Londonderry College girl takes up the story: “In January I got through to the judges on ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ in Cardiff in front of a live audience.

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“Unfortunately, I didn’t make it this year but two of the judges - Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon - asked to speak with me afterwards to encourage me to keep singing and apply for the X Factor when I’m old enough as they felt at 14 my performance was good but that I was still a bit too young.”

Local singer Amy Gardiner, performing on stage at a Take Me out event in the Newbuildings Community Centre last year. In January of this year, Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon said they were fans.Local singer Amy Gardiner, performing on stage at a Take Me out event in the Newbuildings Community Centre last year. In January of this year, Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon said they were fans.
Local singer Amy Gardiner, performing on stage at a Take Me out event in the Newbuildings Community Centre last year. In January of this year, Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon said they were fans.

Listening to Amy’s new track and her cover of Kodaline’s ‘High Hopes’ it’s easy to hear why she caught the ear of the former Mis-Teeq singer and the television actress.

At the tender age of just fifteen she’s already featured heavily on local radio stations over recent years.

After recording Ewan McColl’s ‘The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face’ - made famous by Roberta Flack, of course, Amy caught the bug and never looked back.

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Old sparring partners Gerry Anderson of Radio Foyle and George Jones have both played her tracks - including her recording of ‘At Last.’

She’s also recorded Emeli Sandé’s ‘Clown’ and now has her own YouTube channel featuring all of her recordings.

As Amy explains, although she’s at the beginning of her career, she’s nonetheless been getting plenty of practice.

“I am 15 years of age and have been singing from the age of nine. I am in Year 12 at Foyle College doing my GCSE’s where I am a member of the jazz band and I’m currently doing my grade six in singing.

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“Over the past few years I’ve had the chance to record a few cover songs. It all started in Year 9 when I won the ‘Stars In Their Eyes’ competition in Junior School

She says her new song was recorded in Coleraine and is a collaboration with the American producer, Tre Sheppard.

“It was written and produced by American Producer Tre Sheppard at Zero Hour recording studios in Coleraine where he also produced my cover of Kodaline’s ‘High hopes.’

“We shot a video for this on Downhill beach with Danny Ross on a lovely July evening.”

When she’s not chinwagging with ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ judges or recording new songs, Amy can often be heard singing at local charity events weddings.

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