By Saul Cooke-Black

A SINGER based in Stroud has launched a fundraising campaign in a bid to release her debut album.

Saskia Griffiths-Moore, aged 23, needs to raise £2,500 by October 18, to pay for the production of her first album, Gentle Hearts – Join the Fun.

Saskia, who used to work as a massage therapist, gave up her day job in spring to focus on her music.

“I really enjoyed working as a therapist, but I love music even more,” she said.

“Singing has been my passion for as long as I can remember.

“I didn’t have lessons, but I went to a very creative school.”

The album will comprise of 14 songs, all written by Saskia, and drawn from her life experiences.

Taking inspiration from Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell and Eva Cassidy, she composed all the tracks over the course of the last nine years.

It has been a busy few months for the Stroud-based singer-songwriter, who was recently featured on Johnny Coppin’s Acoustic Show on BBC Radio Gloucestershire, and reached number one in the reverbNation folk charts for Bristol, as well as performing at Stroud Fringe.

She now plans to launch a tour of her album at the Sub Rooms on February 5.

“It has all happened so quickly,” she added.

“Within five months of starting out, I have a small theatre tour booked in, playing to large audiences in the east of England, starting in October. And now I am pulling out all the stops to get into the studio and get this album together.”

“It is all really exciting.”

To listen to Saskia, or to donate, visit musicsongandsoul.com