“DON’T LET obstacles and barriers hold you back just because of where you’re from.”

That’s the message being sent to aspiring musicians by Cara Hammond, a twenty-two-year-old from Wrexham who currently lives in London, making her way to the music industry.

Ms Hammond, who was born in Wrexham, was recently on Wandsworth Radio in London, where the presenter asked her the question "are your friends, family and home town behind you?". She obviously answered yes, but now she has spoken to The Leader to share her story of her quest for a career in music, which began when she was singing upstairs in the Nags Head pub in Wrexham when she was fourteen years old.

She said that music has been something she’s always been passionate about and cites her early music lessons in school as inspiration for her career choice.

“I’ve always loved singing since I was very little, but I started having guitar lessons in school, and that’s when I began to write my own music and sing my own music, and I knew that singing was what I wanted to do.

“I started playing gigs when I was fourteen years old, my first gig I was supporting another local artist and my gran still has the poster for the event.”

Ms Hammond played FOCUS Wales while she was in sixth form, and eventually went to study at Leeds College of Music.

She has also attended song writing sessions in Copenhagen, Stockholm and Rotterdam, before moving to London in September 2018, to further pursue her dream of a career in music.

She explained how she has been exposed to much more opportunity since moving to London and described the difference in lifestyle.

“Of course, it’s majorly different in England’s capital, since I’ve been there, I’ve had a lot more opportunities come my way.

“London is very different, so much busier, so much more congested, it does make me miss the fresh air and the countryside of North Wales, I really do.

“Since I’ve been here I’ve been writing and recording with loads of different musicians and artists, as well as producers.

“I’ve got a new single coming out in June this year, and I’m working on an album as well.

“I’ve also gotten the opportunity to play Boomtown Festival and PennFest too, it’s been absolutely crazy so far.

“Currently I have an independent record label deal in the works, which will hopefully push me on that bit further to sign with a big record label deal somewhere down the line.

“The main thing for me though is to keep doing what I’m doing, I love what I do and I’m lucky to get to do this and if I can continue to do this and go as far as I can then I’ll be happy.”

Ms Hammond concluded by praising the music scene in North Wales, while issuing an optimistic message for any aspiring musicians from Wrexham.

“The music scene in North Wales is getting so much better, there’s loads of really great bands and artists coming up that previously might not have got a chance.

“Things like Ty Pawb and FOCUS Wales are so important for Welsh music, and they both gave me a platform to perform and I hope they continue to the same for others for years.

“I guess my message to anybody who feels like they can’t make it would be, don’t let obstacles and barriers hold you back because of where you’re from.

“When I first moved to London, I thought it would be really scary but it wasn’t anywhere near as scary as I first thought.

“If you’re passionate and you love what you do then take chances and believe that you can do it.”