Profiles

Singer songwriter Jenna Witts only has to look out of her window to get all the inspiration she needs for her songs.

Jenna, 19, lives in Woolacombe in North Devon and she has used the sights and sounds of the beach as inspiration for her debut album which was released in the summer of 2007.

The CD, Barefoot and Eager, is full of laid-back acoustic songs which are just perfect for the summer.

Jenna was discovered by Show of Hands' Steve Knightley when she was 13, and her album is recorded on the Exeter-based folk duo's label, Hands on Music.

"I'm so pleased with it," said Jenna. "The idea behind the album is what you see is what you get, so it's as acoustic as possible. It's really stripped back."

Jenna finds inspiration from the beach

The album is produced by Steve and engineered by his Show of Hands partner, Phil Beer.

Jenna plays guitar, piano and harmonium; Steve plays guitars, acoustic bass and mandocello; Phil plays slide guitar, fiddle and mandolin.

There are 10 songs on the album, and Jenna has written seven of them. She also performs Steve Knightley's You're Mine, the traditional song, Flora, and an acoustic version of Pink Floyd's classic, Wish You Were Here.

The title track, Barefoot and Eager, is all about her 16-year-old brother, Josh.

"He rushes in from school, dumps his stuff and he's straight out to the beach.

Steve Knightley

"I was writing poppy songs about love and stuff and wasn't enjoying it at all. Then Steve said: 'Why don't you look at what's around you and write about that'.

"So I looked out of the window, and the beach and surf is a way of life in Woolacombe.

"Whenever I need inspiration, it's right here on the doorstep in the sea and landscape, and no two days are the same – it changes by degrees all through the seasons."

Jenna toured as a special guest with Steve in May 2007, which she said was "great fun", and she's hoping this is just the start of her musical career.

Steve believes she has all it takes to become a star: "It was my mum who said 'you must hear this girl sing'.

"I was seriously impressed by her voice and songwriting ability – she was only 13 at the time.

"I think she has a bright future ahead."

Jenna says all she wants to do is make music: "My ambition is to be a musician - not necessarily a famous musician - but just make enough to make a living. That would be awesome, a dream come true."

Barefoot and Eager was released on 30 July 2007 on the Hands on Music label.

Listen to some of the songs from the album by clicking onto the link to Jenna's myspace website.

And you can listen to Jenna's appearance on John Govier's Late Night Radio Show, using the audio link.