She explains how she came to cross not only the ocean, but also cultural lines, trading in tea for moonshine. "I’d been on vacation in California in the mid 90’s and heard country music for the first time, loved it, and started writing - what I thought were - country songs. I began reading country music magazines etc. in the UK and one had an interview with Graham McHugh (a Brit on Giant Records, at the time). The article said they were looking for songs, so I sent a tape to his manager. A week later, I was sitting in my writing room in my Manchester house when this guy called and says his name is Richard Orga, Graham’s manager. He said he loved one of the songs, “I Dream In Black & White” (that had been released by a UK artist), and had pitched it to Warner’s for Faith Hill’s second album and suggested that I should start coming to Nashville to write. I nearly fell off my chair. I remember going out in the snow and talking over the wall to my neighbor to tell her what had just happened!"
Lorna was born the middle child and only girl of three in the ' Steel City ' of Sheffield . "I was just a suburban kid in a city. I was into sport and music and the rest of my family weren’t, so I guess that made me the black sheep. I remember playing ‘air guitar’ in front of the TV when I was a kid and then started scribbling lines down without even, at first, knowing why I was doing that. Then I read every CD sleeve note and lyric and started absorbing stuff by osmosis. I think that gave me some sort of natural style of my own when I started writing real, complete songs…and the irony is that I still play “air guitar’ …but it’s a Voyage Air Guitar (a real one! – check them out – they fold in the middle and are amazing !!!)”
Lorna started a teaching career and was always involved in creative aspects with the children she taught, never knowing that she was also sowing the seeds to her success. "I was teaching in Manchester and had put on a big show with some kids that ended up on local TV. A colleague told me that if I could do that, I should be a manager (his wife was a singer). I didn’t think I knew enough of anything for that (and, really, I didn’t!) but I went to hear her, liked her voice, but not the songs (covers) and, long story short, we started working as a singer/writer team. Then we did a couple of showcases on the country ‘circuit’, started getting great reviews and gigs and we did well."
Since 1998, Lorna has been nominated 5 times for various of the awards in the UK Country Radio Awards for "Best Song" and has had 30+ independent cuts in England and abroad, three of which became #1 on the European Independent Country Radio charts.
"I’ve had so many highlights, and I have to remember that each one is a blessing because it moved me forward. It’s easy to forget, when you’re hoping for the major label cut, to be grateful for all the other things that happened along the way. I still can’t believe that I’ve been able to live here and do what I’ve done so far,” she exudes. "One of the most prominent highlights since I moved here was when Bobby Braddock told me “I’m Not Ready Yet” is a great song! It had gone on hold for Blake Shelton in June 2005, but dropped off again (my first hold, so that was pretty exciting), and my then-publisher told me to introduce myself to Bobby when I was at a Bluebird show he played. I only got as far as telling him who I was, and who my publisher was, and he shook my hand and said, “That’s a great song”. Now, heck, this was Bobby Braddock – who wrote probably the best country song ever! (He Stopped Loving Her Today)"
"I don’t think I’m a typical Leo. More like a scared kitten most of the time. I just roar to mask the fear,” she claims, but she's no shrinking violet. Currently Lorna is co-hosting (with Rick & Tammy Stewart) weekend writers nights at The Commodore, one of the best-loved venues in town. "We’ve had great nights so far with some awesome writers so we’re trying to build on that and keep the hit writers and great local ‘ones to watch’ booked. It’s 7-11pm on Fridays and Saturdays, so come and check it out."
Lorna also has a new production company (www.myspace.com/lornaflowersproductions and www.lornaflowersproductions.com) and can record anything from guitar or piano and vocals to full band demos and also album projects – all at very competitive prices and using all major label players and a great range of great demo singers. “So far,” she says, “we’ve cut 23 demos since July and my clients are getting great feedback from publishers and labels, so we’re happy about that. We love happy clients!”
On top of all that, “Just trying to make a living,” she says. Which is easier now that she has received her green card as a permanent resident of the USA . Lorna is still writing full time, working with her songpluggers to pitch her songs to the major artists and making some real headway these days.
Though the breezes have carried her far from her birthplace, this Flower has found the ideal spot to set down roots.
"I’d like to say what an amazing, amazing place Nashville is. I don’t think that people ‘get’ Nashville until they’ve been here. I always tell people that if you can write in Nashville, you can write anywhere – but I don’t think it’s necessarily true the other way around. I know it can break people’s hearts, but I have been totally blessed to be here, to meet the people I’ve met. I’ve written with some awesome hit writers who gave me time, advice and encouragement. I’ve never worked illegally (too much risk of being caught and deported because I want to stay here!) and somehow the Universe has supported me, financially and spiritually, through that – but I can’t deny that it’s been, and still is, scary at times! I’m also amazed (and grateful beyond words!) at the support I’ve had over the 12 years I’ve been traveling to/living here. It felt like home when I found Nashville . I think God’s angels all live in this town."
Lorna herself is one of those angels.
| written by Joshua Schrader
