Introducing

Louisa Gaylard (by Max Weir)

Things may have been different had we been discussing Louisa Gaylard two years earlier, before Lily Allen and later Kate Nash provided the yardstick for all female singers who largely opt for spoken lyrics rather than traditional singing.

Now, in 2008, it's easy to tarnish young singers who use a similar style of delivery with the same brush, even if neither have been an influence.

In Louisa's case her conversational vocal style, which thankfully strays away from any Cockney twang, is a result of her dad's record collection.

"I got my style from from 70's punk," Louisa said. "I heard the Sex Pistols and things like that, which my dad always listened to, and thought I'd transfer it into my music.

"I started to get tired of comparisons (to Kate Nash and Lily Allen) but I thought 'what's the point?' If I'm being compared to these excellent singer/songwriters then I'm really flattered.

"It's really nice to be compared to people like this and means I must be doing something right."

Finding herself

Louisa was making music before her teenage years and this early exposure allowed her to experiment before producing an EP, Hippy Hill, and album, Point?

"I heard some old recordings of me the other day and I was singing in an American voice, which was embarrassing to listen to. I've gradually started to speak in a really English/Suffolk accent in my vocals, so I'll let my voice do what it wants really."

Louisa's lyrics cover the joys of falling in love, going out with friends as well as the less-heralded quiet night in watching Ugly Betty.

"Avril Lavigne was a big inspiration during my early days and I heard her talk about really sad things but nothing sad had really happened to me. So I started to write about things that happen in everyday life and that everyone experiences, and also relationships.

"It's mainly about life. It seems to work for me and I enjoy writing that sort of song."

Louisa can expect fresh lyrical inspiration to come from her impending move away from Ipswich as she heads to Surrey to study music, specialising on vocals.

"I'm starting my education at the Academy of Contempary Music in Guildford, which I'm excited about but really nervous.

"I've had music lessons and guitar lessons but I'm not that passionate about that sort of thing - my voice is the thing I'm most passionate about.

"I'll also be learning about music theory and music composition, which will get me better at what I do.

"But my parents still live here and I really love Ipswich, it's still my home. I'm really going to miss it but I hope to break out in the London scene."