It all started when I was fifteen years old. I was a nervous, self doubting, Catholic school girl with a husky voice and an appetite for debate and even though I loved to argue. my lack of confidence was a major struggle. A career in music was not part of my plan, I actually wanted to be a barrister like my dad.

When I was 17 my sister Helen convinced my parents to let me go with her to see the band Shoe Phone. She snuck me in, pushed me to the front and told the band I was a singer. Shaking and dying on the inside, expecting to be laughed away, the front man asked 'what do you want to play'? 

The obvious choice was Mustang Sally and that's where I had my first stage experience and where I got the taste for performing and I will always thank Justin Ngariki for that.

Music is your only gig. How do you make it pay?

You have to be versatile, ready all the time and have confidence. So by having a couple of bands and a duo you open up more opportunities to play. I have my main band 'The Hotshots' we play the blues, the Baby Legs Duo, we play pub standards with a touch of soul and The Steel City Three which a mixture of rock, blues and jazz. I have also teach private singing lessons which I love. 

Which singers have inspired you and why?

My mum introduced me to Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, Joe Cocker and their voices inspired me and taught me that no matter what you have lost or how hard times may be there is always hope and don't give up. My dad on the other hand played anything from Ireland and lucky for me the 'Pogues' featured in his playlist and to me it has the same message, it's Irish blues. 

How did the Hotshots start? 

I was playing at the Beaumont Street Fair eight years ago when a man in a cowboy approached me and told me he was moving to Newcastle and had been looking for a singer and told me I was the one. So Killer and I started the Hotshots. Six months into it, I fell pregnant with my daughter and Killer thought that would be the end of the band. I played through the pregnancy,even on my due date, and three days after having my little angel Francesca I played at the Gloucester Blues Festival. 

What have been the highlights of your career so far?

The biggest highlights so far for us has been the Airlie Beach Music Festival three years running, where I sat on Joe Camilleri's lap, the Vacy Blues Festival - I met Diesel, and having the opportunity to sing with my soul sisters Nadine Quinn and Helena Kitley - two amazingly talented strong women in a male dominated industry.