Music – Travel Writer

Debbie Campbell shares her heart through the magic of music

For some, music holds the magic of time travel. A song can take you back to a specific time decades ago and draw out the very emotions you were feeling at the time. For some, music brings happiness, even joy. Breaking the ice in a silent room where people start to dance, and strangers become friends. And, of course, music nurtures love. The eternal soundtrack to the beating hearts, gentle breathing and whispered sentiment shared in lovers’ arms. For sure music is magic in many forms and here in Prestwick, on the west coast of Scotland, our very own Debbie Campbell wields that magic well.

It was of a Saturday night in a pub called The Eagle, once legendary in the Ayrshire music scene, that I first encountered Debbie spreading the warmth of her music with her group, The Splinters. Their set covered everything from Punk Rock to Country featuring classics by Blondie and the Eurythmics to name but a few. As those, less shy than myself, graced the dancefloor to the strains of ‘Sweet Dreams’ by the Eurythmics, I started to realise this lady has a big voice and an even bigger heart.

Debbie’s son Lucas takes a leap of faith

Recently Debbie has taken a quantum leap of faith with the launch of her Debut Album aptly named ‘About Time’. The album is a project where Debbie, her partner, Robert and friends Scott and Alex share a love of writing, music, and life. Produced in Dramatic Studios by Brian MacDonald, one half of the famous Macdonald brothers, it’s about triumph, love, laughter, and loss. For the rest of us, it’s a joy to be a part of.

The music has a folky, foot tapping feel that’s easy to dance to and make you feel good about yourself. The opening track, ‘Never Had The Hunger’, is a declaration of war on the kind of fear that made this girl once think she couldn’t sing. In keeping with the album, it’s a triumph over shyness and a joy to get caught up in. Tracks like ‘Beyond Belief’ (Written by a mutual friend, Alex Frew) and ‘Love, Love, Love (Never Forget It), Written by Debbie’s partner Robert Neil, have a timeless romantic feel that underscores the passion in the writing overall.

‘Beyond Belief’ is a declaration of love by Alex Frew written to honour his wife who tragically passed away from Cancer. ‘Love, Love, Love (Never Forget It)’ is Robert Neil’s tribute to Terry Hall, lead singer of The Specials. It is said that those were Terry Hall’s last words before he tragically passed of Cancer in December 2022. And, if you get the concept of a shooting star becoming a meteor which crushes your car, you’ll get the lighthearted lift that comes from ‘I’m Lonesome, I’m Lovesick & I’m Cold’ co-written by Robert and Scott. Scott Nicol, a major part of the music scene in Ayrshire and an inspiration for many aspiring songwriters and singers has been a constant support for Debbie and her music and has been a huge part of producing, promoting and releasing About Time.

Debbie says she was once a shy girl who auditioned but never got into the choir at school and believed she couldn’t sing. I remember that feeling myself. I got kicked out of the school choir in Primary School when asked to sing descant for a song. I was simply baffled at the idea of singing the same song as everyone else but to a different tune. That Debbie overcame those barriers to emerge as the amazing and powerful singer that she is today, I for one am extremely grateful. As to me and my shyness, I’ve even found myself occasionally leaving the safety of the bar for that big scary dancefloor to the tune of Debbie’s music. Such is its power, that of a star that should never fade.

To find out more about Debbie’s music or to get a copy of ‘About Time’ visit the Debbie Campbell Music Facebook page here. Copies may still be available as Debbie Wrote on her Facebook Page at the end of January, “I still have some cds left, priced at £10, available from me or at one of the following amazing businesses that have supported me right from the start of my journey. Get one before they are gone (and help a hungry musician at the same time.. win win!)”