Meet the performer

Today we'd like to introduce you to a remarkable Scottish-born singer and performing artist who has made waves internationally with her uncanny ability to channel Karen Carpenter. Her journey from small-town Scotland to sold-out theaters in the Philippines—and now potentially to stages across the US—showcases the power of persistence and authentic artistic expression.

Hi there! Thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory?

I actually started out as a piano player before progressing to singing. Growing up in Angus County in Scotland, I competed in various classical singing competitions, performing arias by Mozart and other classical composers. One of my proudest early achievements was winning the Morrison Trophy for Best Junior Performer, beating competitors from across the entire county. These competitions were judged by professional adjudicators from prestigious institutions like the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

My path shifted when I was accepted into the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain, which has an acceptance rate of only 6 percent—about 10,000 people apply for just 100 places. Following that, I was fortunate enough to gain entry into the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, where I was one of twenty candidates accepted out of over 6,000 auditioners.

The Conservatoire has an impressive list of alumni including David Tennant, James McAvoy, Sam Heughan, and Robert Carlyle. In fact, James McAvoy and Tom Ellis (who plays "Lucifer") were in my class! James was actually my dance partner in our weekly jazz dancing class. He was a brilliant dancer and excellent at acrobatics—fearless physically, which is why he excels in action movies today.

I'm sure your success wasn't just handed to you on a silver platter. Can you share with our readers a bit about the challenges and lessons you've learned along the way?

One of my most amusing missteps happened when I was playing organ at a funeral parlor, and my fingers were so cold that my performance was a disaster! The Minister tried to make a joke out of it. It's funny looking back now, but it certainly wasn't at the time.

The worst piece of advice I ever received was "Get a normal job and stop chasing rainbows." I'm so glad I didn't listen. Instead, I'd tell others in my field: "Don't give up and don't be scared to upload your performances online—you never know who is watching."

Had I not been brave enough to share my performances on YouTube and Facebook, I would never have connected with opportunities in the Philippines. I actually had over 5,000 followers on Facebook before my account was hacked, and YouTube was how I got spotted for my performances in the Philippines.

My biggest regret is not having the courage earlier in my career to share my work online. It can be daunting to put yourself out there, but you truly never know who might be watching.

Let's talk about your work. What should we know? What do you specialize in, and what are you known for?

My breakthrough came when I discovered my ability to sound remarkably like Karen Carpenter. Karen's lowest note was a D3—an extremely low note for a female singer that few women can hit. I've developed the ability to capture not just her vocal range but her unique timbre and style.

This vocal similarity led to what I consider my biggest break—being flown to the Philippines to perform as Karen Carpenter. My proudest achievement was performing live on "It's Showtime," a popular lunchtime show on ABS-CBN watched by millions of viewers. I also performed to a sold-out crowd at Theatre Solaire in Manila. After these performances, many people told me, "It is like listening to Karen"—a true accolade for a live singing performance.

Another significant project was playing The Witch from the musical "Into The Woods" for The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland's 150th Anniversary. It's one of the most challenging roles in musical theater. The Musical Director was Robert Scott, who has worked on many West End musicals including "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang," "Mack and Mabel," and "Oliver!"

I also appeared in a pilot show called "The Stair" for BBC Scotland. People involved in that show went on to achieve big success with a Scottish sitcom called "Still Game." Sanjeev Kholi, one of the writers, became a major part of that famous Scottish sitcom.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?

I believe in creating your own luck through hard work and persistence. However, I've been fortunate to have had a wonderful mentor—my mother. She had worked as a PA at Perth Rep and collaborated with many big names including Sean Connery. She was my best coach, and her innate instincts taught me to be a better actress, singer, and musician.

My mother was actually quite remarkable herself—the spitting image of Sandy Shaw, the 1960s pop star. She modeled for photographers' portfolios and was extremely beautiful, though sadly wasn't tall enough for catwalk work. I consider her an undiscovered star, and her guidance has been invaluable.

Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently?

Besides wishing I had shared my performances online earlier, I wish I had worked harder at the piano. I'm still working on improving so I can sing Karen Carpenter songs while accompanying myself like Richard Carpenter did.

Experience has taught me to be continually hardworking. I see my portrayal of Karen Carpenter as my "unfinished project"—there's always something to improve, whether it's her sound, breath control, mannerisms, American accent, or drumming skills. Combining drumming and singing requires tremendous dedication.

What's next? Any big plans?

I've recently been invited to perform in the United States and am currently working on my visa application. This is an exciting new chapter after completing a successful tour of the Philippines, where I performed at venues like Theatre Solaire and Newport World Resorts.

I still receive messages from Filipino fans that touch my heart. One person recently wrote: "You bring tears to my eyes whenever I hear, listen and watch your videos. Thank you and God bless you." Connections like these make all the hard work worthwhile.

Shoutout to someone or something that helped get you to where you are today?

I'd like to give a shout-out to all the instructors at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland who helped shape me as a performer. Their rigorous training provided the foundation for everything I've accomplished.

And of course, my mother, whose belief in me never wavered, even when others suggested I should "stop chasing rainbows." Sometimes the people closest to us can see potential that the rest of the world hasn't recognized yet.

Finally, how can people follow what you're up to?

You can find my performances on YouTube, and I'm working to rebuild my presence on Facebook after being hacked. I also occasionally connect with fans through LinkedIn. I encourage everyone to follow their artistic dreams and remember that in today's digital world, your next big break could come from anywhere!