Johnny B (John Broadbent), not really a song writer but multi-instrumentalist singing and playing with 'The No Frills Band'
Brixton, London, 16/04/2017, (c) 2017 Katja Heber

Sean O'Hagan with the 'High LIamas' singng 'Dorothy Ashby'. Camberwell, London, 18/07/2017.

Atsuka Kamura singing Chapel Of Atheists. Birmingham, 14/05/2017, (c) Katja Heber 2017

Karl Blake and his song 'Slugabed', he wouldn't pose in his house (apparently he is a bit of a hoarder - shame surely would have made a good background).

Yumi Hara-Cawkwell had trained as a psychiatrist before realizing that - in her own words - music was her 'calling'. She then proceeded to study music at City University up to PHD level. Over the years Dr Yumi Hara has been working and collaborating with many artists (some quite well known) as well as producing solo work. She lives in a small room in a shared two bedroom flat in Hackney.
She makes a living by teaching music at a London University. This song is called 'Fortitude'. Sadly I found that I had to crop the song because of the existing size limits of this website. Please follow link below if you want to hear the full song.

'Cherry blossom in March' by Fluff - Barbara Donner. She is an East London song writer, producer and composer. Sadly I had to cut the song short because of file size restrictions on this website. Please find below a link where you can listen to the complete song.

Kathy Hulme and her song 'Trawling', which was initially recorded and performed with the C siders. Peckham, London 02/04/2017

Matt Armstrong with 'The Windsors' aka 'Kenny Process Team', he is playing the bass. The song is called 'Beautiful Arse'. It all started with the 'Kenny Process Team' which was founded by Kevin Plummer and Matt. They met and wrote songs together, although Matt would describe himself more as an arranger than a songwriter most of the time. Kevin is no longer playing with the band now. They don't have a website at present but I added a link to a YouTube video recorded at a live gig at Club Integral. Hopefully there will be a new album coming out at some point.

These portraits are of song writers and musicians. Each portrait comes with a link to a song. With this series I mean to celebrate creativity in music and those artists that haven't 'made it big'.

To reveal a little more about them I decided to take the portraits in their homes.

I love the music I find in the underground club and pub scene in England. Of those I photographed only few manage to forge a living solely from music and they are usually holding down a full time job, in order to be able to forge a living whilst simultaneously following their real passions.

Weekends and evenings are usually taken up by song writing, band rehearsals, recording sessions, gigs and honing their skills.

Katja Heber Photography

SONGSMITHS