Folk-pop singer/songwriter Lucy May Walker got a surprise boost from the BBC's Jeremy Vine when he discovered her busking at a train station. With an interesting story behind her, Lucy continues to sell-out headline tours and share the stage with some great names in music.

Her new single 'Bad Day' has just been shared, so I recently caught up with this young talent to ask some further questions about her music.

Q) Living in these strange times with most of us isolating, how are you passing your time? Also, is there any chance of you doing any live stream performances?

A) You know what, I feel like I’ve never been busier! I seemed to time isolation pretty well around my EP release because it’s just allowed me to concentrate on that fully on that admin of that without having to go out and work at the same time. I am guilty of being one of those people who put off things, so I’m really grateful for isolation as it’s given me the time to be more creative. My boyfriend and I just moved into a new flat so I’ve using his camera skills & free time to film some videos for my youtube channel - I released one a day on the lead up to my single release calling them my ‘Isolation Sessions’.

Live streaming has been a bit of a godsend for me, to be honest. I love performing live and really crave that connection you get with an audience, so although it’s a little different now with live comments instead of applause, it really keeps me motivated and uplifted and I hope I give the same feeling to people watching. As I’ve lost my income from busking and gigs now, financially live streaming has been helping a lot with PayPal tips. We’ve got some more live planned in the next few weeks which I’ll announce soon.

Q) A big moment for you must have been getting noticed by Jeremy Vine, and subsequently being asked to perform on his BBC Radio2 show. I for one remember the moment and was quite intrigued as to how this all came about?

A) Haha yes, I always love reminiscing about that moment. So I was busking at Charing Cross station, and afterwards I noticed my twitter had blown up. Turns out Jeremy Vine had seen me busking and tweeted “just seen the most amazing busker at Charing Cross, can’t remember her name but it had walker in it” so people had tagged me. I was out to dinner with my dad at the time who reminded me Jeremy had a Radio 2 show and I knew I needed to seize this incredibly rare opportunity, so I slid into his Dm’s and asked if I could send him my music to be considered for his show. He was delightful and 4 days later, he played Heartbreak Song on BBC Radio 2. It was MAD. The feedback was so responsive that I thought I’d try my chances again and asked Jeremy if he wanted me to come on the show to be interviewed… the rest is history. I think it just proves sometimes you just have to be at the right place at the right time, and even then - make sure you make the most of those opportunities. If I hadn’t followed it up repeatedly with basically pushing my luck, that tweet would have just stayed as a nice tweet (from the nicest man in the world). I honestly owe Jeremy so much.

Q) Following on from the last question, what sort of opportunities have come from playing to millions on Jeremy’s show?

A) Well, right off the back of performing live on his Radio 2 show, I sold around 350 CDs and was booked to support Wet Wet Wet on 5 of their UK tour dates & a slot at the Isle of Wight festival. Myself and Jeremy have kept in touch and he has since appeared on my podcast, Lucy May Walker & Friends and I was lucky enough to perform on his Channel 5 TV show in December - which was insane. The opportunities Jeremy gave me generally just really boosted my profile and gave me that credibility that I really needed, because being a “busker” was not something people talked about in interviews as a particularly positive thing before.

Q) Which would be your favorite gig or performance to date? 

A) I LOVED the Wet Wet Wet tour because it felt massive to me, the venues were so beautiful and I got such a great response from their audiences. A stand out gig for me also has to be supporting Lucy Spraggan in Wolverhampton, we have a really similar fanbase, so I think my songs just seem to connect with them. The best gigs are always up to the audience, and I’ve played enough rubbish pub gigs to appreciate a listening ear!

Q) You have already made guest appearances for some impressive artists including Tom Speight, Lucy Spraggan and The Dunwells. Are there any more artists you would like to share the stage with?

A) My dream artist to support would be Lucy Rose. I’m such a Lucy Rose fan girl it’s actually verging on embarrassing, but she has been a huge huge inspiration to me for so many years so she’d be the main one. I have a massive list! In terms of sharing the stage, I’d love to feature on a Bombay Bicycle track - that’s how I discovered Lucy Rose initially.

Q) Who are your main influences?

A) Of course Lucy Rose, Nina Nesbitt, Maisie Peters, Jade Bird, Ward Thomas… Basically female singer/songwriters that are absolutely smashing it. They inspire me so much.

Q) How long have you been making and performing music?

A) I’ve been performing since I was tiny, I have a musical theatre background and did performing arts at University. I didn’t actually start writing my own songs until quite late, I was about 21 when I wrote my first song.

Q) What genre would you describe your music as?

A) I find this a tough one because I always describe myself as ‘folky-pop’ but I’d love to know what other people think. I guess it’s mainly pop, but I have folk and country influences in there too and I think you could give different songs different genres with me.

Q) You have just shared your latest single Bad Day, it sounds an upbeat kind of jolly number but there seems to be a more sinister side to it. What’s the song about?

A) Hahaha, yes. It’s for anyone in your life who’s done wrong by you and deserves a bit of bad karma sent their way. It’s not like you want that person to suffer REALLY bad but if they stubbed their toe or missed their train… you wouldn’t be too mad about it. I’m not THAT evil, promise… (but they do deserve it)

Q) When we get back to some kind of normality will you be touring?

A) Trust me I am DESPERATE to perform live again, so once everything is fully back to normal it’ll be the first thing I’ll be doing.

Q) Have you got a message for your fans?

A) I want to thank them for continually surprising me with their support and generosity. They have been amazing, funding my entire EP, sending me videos, joining my live streams - I can’t begin to express how grateful I am. Thank you for sticking with me, always.

Thanks Lucy - all the best for the future!

 Folk      Pop 

Listen to 'Bad Day' below:

Author: Andrew Braithwaite

Andrew is the founder and Managing Director of Music Talkers. He's also a keen music enthusiast and plays the guitar.