Nailsworth-based musician Molly-Anne Chinner says the reaction to her latest album has left her ‘overwhelmed and very proud’.

Molly-Anne, who played her first gig in public at the age of 12, released her album ‘Songs from the South’ earlier this year and the track has been praised by fans and critics alike. “There’s nothing better than seeing positive and supportive comments, I don’t make music to receive praise but it’s always nice when people say positive things about my music,” Molly-Anne said.

Writing poetic, upbeat songs, Molly-Anne looks set to achieve even greater things, something she could have only dreamed about when she played her first gig over a decade ago.

She continued: “I’d only just started secondary school when I played in public for the first time. It was at the Nibley Music Festival, I played on one of the smaller stages. The support of the people there was amazing, it’s always stuck with me.

“Looking back that was probably the most important gig of my career, even though I was only 12 it gave me so much self-confidence and that desire to want to make a career out of music.

“I haven’t been playing professionally for too long though, maybe just over a year I’d say.

“Songs of the South was inspired by a tour I did in the South-West of England. The songs are based around the beautiful areas I’ve been to. I recorded it in an amazing studio in Painswick, it’s an album I’m very proud of.”

Molly-Anne has enjoyed recent airplay of her track ‘Young Fever’ on BBC Introducing, and she’s determined to build on the positive momentum that’s built up over the last 12 months.

She continued: “There’s so many amazingly talented artists out there so to even be mentioned alongside them is fantastic. Writing and performing is what I love doing, I’ve been fortunate to have played a lot of gigs do far this year and every single one has been memorable. As a musician there’s nothing better than seeing people enjoy my music.

Molly-Anne’s musical style has been described as a mix of country and folk and it’s some of the most well-known artists from those genres that have inspired her to make a career out of music.

Molly-Anne added: “Eva Cassidy would definitely be one of my musical icons, I adore her. Bob Dylan would be another, lyrically he’s on another level to most musicians. Laura Marling is someone I admire and there’s Cara Dillon, I’m supporting her at the Subscription Rooms in Stroud next year which is going to be amazing.

“2019 will be a big year as I’m hoping to go to Nashville and play some shows and hopefully perform at a festival as well. I also hope to record another album, there’s plenty to think about!”