That's Amanda on Solent TV!

Following the recent episode of Junior Star Singer Songwriter on Voice 103.9 FM in Southampton, Amanda Neale, main presenter for the Junior Star Singer and Songwriter radio tour was asked to be interviewed on the That's TV network in Southampton itself.

Taking the train down to the coast, Amanda enjoyed listening to some relaxing tunes before she arrived in the beautiful city of Southampton. 

As one of the topics in the show was the story involving Ed Sheeran being sued for copying a song by X Factor winner Matt Cardle, Amanda took the opportunity to brush up by listening to the two songs herself. Certainly, if you listen to the two songs - Ed's 'Photograph' and Matt's 'Amazing', there is more than a passing similarity - is it possible to write the same melody or chord progression twice? Or can it just be a coincidence? This would be reviewed later that day.  

On arriving at the TV studios in Cosham, Amanda met with TV journalist and presenter Shan Robins and was introduced to social historian and gastronomist Emma Muscat.  

Together, Amanda and Emma talked with Shan about the Queen's birthday celebrations across the nation; the importance of marriage vows; the latest research which has aided the cure for Breast Cancer and the latest developments on the Junior Star Singer Songwriter Radio Tour.  Great sofa chat ladies!!! 

Amanda will be returning to That's Solent TV again to have another panelist discussion on the latest news, entertainment and current affairs later in the summer.  So look out for further news on the Junior Star Singer Songwriter Radio Tour.

And it's off to sunny Southampton for the next leg of Junior Star Singer Songwriter

It's a long way from Junior Star Singer Songwriter HQ to Southampton and our next radio station, 103.9 Voice FM, which meant an early start for Amanda, Rachael and special guest Georgia Lois.  With the summer sun in abundant supply, the girls on tour decided to stop for their customary Caramel Latte top-up at the nearest available Starbucks before heading off into sunny Southampton.

Another destination, another branch of Starbucks....

The presenters and DJs on the show Jay Radcliffe and Dan Jon helped to host and co-ordinate the line up of contestants and features for the day.  

Amanda and Rachael with Jay and Dan of VoiceFM

Our contestants Ben Rosie, John-Paul Lizarondo, Rebecca Wise and Andrea De La Rosa arrived in the early afternoon and were greeted by the presenters before being taken into the radio station waiting area to have their photos taken.  Check out the smiles below!  They were all very brave contestants as it was all their first time on live radio.

Rachael Summers has been promoting her EP on the tour, so contestants were also lucky to pick up a signed card from her EP as Rachael was promoting her track ‘It’s not over for me’ on the show.  There were more smiles!!!!!!!  You can check out Rachael’s website here.

Then the start of our show with our first contestant Rebecca Wise singing 'This is Gospel' by Panic at the Disco.What a remarkable voice! Well done Rebecca !!!!  Our next young contestant was Ben Rosie who gave his views on original songwriting and sang his rendition of James Morrison and Nelly Furtado’s song ‘Broken Strings’.  We welcome all views on singing and songwriting, so don’t forget if you are on one of our shows this year, this is your chance to shine and tell us all!!!!

Our third contestant was John-Paul Lizarondo who melted the girls’ hearts down at the station with his version of Michael Buble’s ‘Feeling Good’.  Finally Andrea sang the very challenging song from Adele ‘When we were young’ with great passion. Well done to all of you and good luck in the competition and your future careers in music.

As always, the show gave the lowdown on Youth Music as the radio tour is to promote the charity’s great work and all the amazing achievements it has made for children across the UK in music.  Rachael talked us through Youth Music’s great work helping under-privileged kids to take up music.  A fantastic cause so please text “TOUR11 £5” to 70070.

All-in-all, it was a very enjoyable, jam-packed show, with even the presenters letting themselves go with a boogie at the end!!  

Thanks to Jodie Newman, Jay and Dan for making it a fun afternoon and for giving us the chance to promote Junior Star Singer Songwriter for Youth Music on Youth FM.  We'll be posting the show here shortly, so stay tuned!

When girls just wanna have fun....

If it's a long way from Junior Star Singer Songwriter HQ to Southampton, it's also a long way back too, which means finding inventive ways to pass the time.

With three keen singers in one vehicle, it was therefore only a matter of time before a sing-song started. Inspired by James Corden's Carpool Karaoke, Amanda, Rachael and Georgia decided to burst into their own rendition of Cyndi Lauper's True Colours....

Presenting the Junior Star Singer Songwriter show on Southampton's VoiceFM

Here it is folks - the moment you've all been waiting for! Click here to listen to our show on Southampton's VoiceFM 103.9, starring Amanda, Rachael and our special guest Georgia Lois.

Junior star Singer Songwriter hosts, Rachael and Amanda

Special guest Georgia Lois, sang 'Glances', from her new demo