Watch: Stourbridge singer-songwriter Susy Wall performs a song from her new album which celebrates the Black Country

Black Lights shines a light on the creativity, landscape, places and people of the area and features songs inspired by some of its artists, poets and writers.

Susy will be revealing her new songs at her album launch which takes place at the historic Workers’ Institute at the Black Country Living Museum on Friday, July 4.

The former teacher, who has been singing since she was very young, has been performing as a solo artist for around three years.

She released two EPs in 2023 and her debut album, The Spaces In Between, in September 2024.

Susy received Arts Council funding to produce Black Lights, her second album, and to host the launch event, which will feature music, poetry and spoken word.

“The album was kind of inspired by photographer Tom Hicks and poet Liz Berry when I went to the launch of their book, The Dereliction,” she explains.

“I was blown away by their creativity and their work inspired me to write a collection of songs for an EP, which I entered into an album writing collection. I won the Best EP category in the competition.

“After I released my first album last year, I decided I wanted to do something about where I live building on the EP, and that’s how it first started.

“I was also inspired by the work of photographer Pete Donnelly and his son, Simon,” adds Susy. It has been a journey of discovery for Susy, who has enjoyed learning more about her adopted home. 

She grew up in a small town on the edge of the Brecon Beacons in South Wales and now lives in Stourbridge.

“It’s been a fountain of inspiration – I could have written 25 or 30 songs. I was seeing the area through new eyes and seeing things that perhaps people who had grown up here might not see. It’s been a really lovely journey and I’ve learned so much,” she explains.

The album features a number of collaborations, including one with artist and poet Claire Tedstone.

“She has a lovely voice and a really honest and expressive approach to poetry and spoken word,” explains Susy.

“Poet Martin Kennedy Yates has written a piece for the album’s title track, Black Lights. It’s really evocative and sounds fantastic.

“Claire and Martin are both amazing poets with different performing and writing styles and they both fit perfectly with the tracks I picked for them to collaborate on,” she adds.

“Singer-songwriter Matt Sayers has sung some of the backing vocals on the album – he has a lovely, rich voice.”

Matt will be sharing the stage with Susy at the launch along with Russ Sargeant and Simon Riley to perform all the tracks from her album. 

There will also be poetry performances by Claire, Martin and John Homer as well as a special appearance from some of the Gentlemen Songsters Male Voice Choir.

Black Lights, which has been produced by Chris Pepper at Saltwell Studio, will be released in early September and features cover artwork from Susy’s 18-year-old daughter Mae. 

An accompaniment booklet with more information about the songs and their inspiration will also be available.

Susy says she is looking forward to sharing her new songs at the album launch event. 

“It’s been such a rewarding experience and it’s been lovely to make these connections with other creative people in the area and they have been a joy to work with,” she adds.

Tickets for Susy’s album launch are available from www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/west-midlands/the-black-country-living-museum-the-workers-institute/susy-wall-black-lights-album-launch/e-moblxa¶For more information, visit susywallmusic.co.uk