http://www.leighmarystokes.co.uk/ http://www.myspace.com/leighstokesmusic Leigh Mary Stokes, as a song on her soon to be released debut E.P. suggests, is Skint. And yet somehow, in just 6 months, Leigh and her band have managed to record BBC radio play listed songs, land a UK tour with a national booking agent and attract serious label interest; all for the price of a bus journey home. Almost. Leigh writes infectious, emotive indie pop. BBC6 introducing has said simply ' Wow!' Using a cobbled together home studio in her guitarists spare room, Leigh and her band started off the year recording a 3 track demo to give away at gigs. Such was the popularity of the demo that it found its way to being play listed on BBC 6 Introducing, local BBC stations and student radio stations across the country, with Leigh being asked to make regular live appearances. Quickly realizing the importance of releasing her material across the proper channels, Leigh set about recording more songs to form part of her debut EP. Unfortunately, artwork, distribution and printing prices soon threatened to mount up along with the potential costs of a tour but Leigh and the band found the solution in themselves: With the drummer becoming the graphic designer, the bassist the tour manager and the guitarist the salesman, Leigh used her apparently unending charm to secure a cost free deal with Europe's leading digital distributor, ensuring an international release across over 100 digital retailers including, but not exclusively, I-Tunes, Amazon, E-Music, Napster, all Mobile phone networks and Last FM. The EP, now finished, is due for release on the 16th of November with a UK tour following from the 18th, definitely one not to miss. All in all, Leigh and her band have managed to release and tour an EP for less than the cost most bands will spend on a three track demo. The tour van might be rusty, the E.p. may not have been finished by a top end producer and the artwork might not be perfect... But it's still very good.
