Amy Hopwood is a singer-songwriter based in Weymouth, Dorset, and in 2019 launched her second album “All at Sea”. She performs as a duo with Tobias Raven, singing traditional folk with new arrangements, and her own thoughtful, beautiful songs, written in a folk/acoustic style.
Amy sings in a pure, natural voice, suiting the humanistic nature of her songs. The story and emotion are foremost, so depending on the needs of the song, the accompaniment may be minimal, or full and luscious, with a wide variety of instruments such as tenor guitar, bass, banjo, harmonium and whistle. Her influences include Suzanne Vega, Elliott Smith, Nick Cave, Tunng and Karine Polwart.
“Gorgeous”
Tom Robinson, BBC Radio 6 Music
Her lyrics hold a wit and a wisdom and betray a genuine curiosity about the world around us and the inner workings of our minds. Songs on “All at Sea” range from The Call of the Wind Witch, a story song based around the old tradition of selling magical knotted ropes to sailors on the quayside (and an allegory about not getting too cocky!); to The More I Look, the Less I See, with its philosophical and metaphysical subject matter.
Throwing Stones at the Sea is a fantastical but compassionate look at the roles of men in today’s society, while The Seagulls Cried is based on a real event and mourns the poverty and mental health problems rife in out-of-season seaside towns. However, Amy is not one to ignore the amazing lyrics and tunes already in existence, and Sea Fever is a new setting of John Masefield’s wonderful poem of longing; while When the Boat Comes In is a new arrangement of a favourite childhood folk song, using rounds and harmonies.
“Good music makes you think, and this is good music.”
Folking.com
“A rather lovely album”
RnR Magazine
Amy and Tobias had a great 2019 playing various folk and literary festivals in the South West of England, and were delighted to be selected as part of the FATEA Showcase Sessions (Autumn 2019).
Tracks from “All at Sea” are regularly being played on Radio Caroline, Blues and Roots Radio, regional BBC radio stations, and in 2020, Tom Robinson selected both “The Snow it Melts the Soonest” and “Sea Fever” to be played on his shows on BBC 6 Music.
As for most musicians, Covid-19 has thrown a spanner in the works and prevented any live performances during Spring/Summer 2020. However, Amy has kept herself busy running an online lockdown songwriting project (see Projects page for details); writing new songs for her third album; and most crucially with with her day job in health and social care policy!