Lowestoft singer-songwriter Jody Sturman battles back

Check out the video to Happy is Where I Want To Be by Jody Sturman on her website. Photos: Caroline Lawrence (Image: Archant)

“It’s about finding happiness and looking on the positive side of life,” said the 20-year-old from Lowestoft, who co-wrote it with her singing tutor of three years Paul Phoenix.

The design student and part-time model has had a terrible 12 months or so. She had a dangerous femoral hernia that became strangulated, resulting in emergency surgery. This was followed soon after by a second hernia operation and the loss of her grandfather, with whom she was very close.

“Everything (happened) all at once, but it’s made me stronger as a person,” said Jody, who was unable to sing for weeks after both ops.

Now fighting fit, she’s excited the attention Happy is Where I Want To Be, recorded in Lound, is getting from local radio stations. She’s also appeared on Mustard TV.

“Happy was just a song to try out to see if anybody would be interested. It has a nice, contemporary sound to it. I think it’s a song people can relate to as well.”

Singing with choirs a few years ago and a bit of karaoke when she was 12 aside, Jody’s audiences comprise friends, family and her currently broken karaoke machine. The result of overuse?

“I think so,” she laughed. “My room is right next to the lounge... The amount of times I hear ‘Jody shut up’ because they’re trying to watch the telly and it’s my voice over the top.”

The more lessons Jody had, the more she loved singing. Constantly performing around the house, her parents suggested she should think about doing it professionally.

“I haven’t got any management; I haven’t got my music for sale yet or anything so that’s the next step really. I would like to do some gigs once I’ve got more material together; I’ve actually started writing a song which is going to be a dance track.”

Check out www.jodysturman.wix.com/singersongwriter to watch her music videos.