Northern Irish musician Amanda St John drops new single 'Take A Leap'

Fresh after receiving BBC Radio Ulster and RTE Radio 1's Album Of The Week mantle, Amanda St John has released her new single 'Take A Leap'.

Recorded in the iconic FAME Studios, Muscle Shoals, the song was inspired by Amanda's walks on the beach at her home on the North Antrim Coast.

Her sophomore album, The Muscle Shoals Sessions, was released on May 8, and she has since collaborated with Arvo Party on their latest track 'Made Myself A Name'.

Amanda became the first independent Irish artist in history to record in FAME Studios in Alabama two years ago, following in the footsteps of her musical heroes Aretha Franklin & Etta James.

The singer-songwriter describes the experience of recording her second album as a "dream come true" for herself and band members Paul Tierney and Producer Michael Mormecha.

"Swampers" bass player David Hood (Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Percy Sledge, Paul Simon, Alicia Keys) and piano/keys/hammond player Clayton Ivey (Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Joss Stone, The Supremes) also recorded alongside Amanda.

After releasing her critically acclaimed debut album Grow, Amanda later worked with artists like Brian Kennedy, Eddi Reader, Mary Coughlan, Gareth Dunlop, Ciaran Gribbin (of INXS) and Grammy award-winning writer and producer Jon Tiven.

Known around the festival and gig circuit, Amanda is fast establishing herself as one of Ireland’s leading vocalists.

Her new single 'Take A Leap' is out now on all streaming platforms. Listen to the track below: