Ponthafren's Singing for Wellbeing tutor, Cathy Beech, has released her new Christmas single Angel of Christmas in aid of Ponthafren Association. The single costs just £1 and all of that will go to Ponthafren Association.

Cathy has been involved with Ponthafren for many years and her Singing for Wellbeing sessions are very popular with the students.

We caught up with our own Angel of Christmas, Cathy, to take part in a Questions and Answers session:

What inspired you to write the song?

This song was commissioned by Hillz fm a local radio station in Coventry for Glasslip Records to produce a song to raise funds for the homeless in 2018. When Keith my producer and director of Glasslip Records played it to me in the studio in 2019, he wanted to revisit it with me singing the lead for a group performance and asked me if I would like to record it. I said yes, it has such a beautiful message and has a light-hearted way of getting that message out to people.

What inspired you to produce it as a charity single?

This year has seen me set different priorities in regards to how I work within the music that I sing and create, not being able to perform means that I have not been able to go out there and raise awareness on a big scale personally also, I have not been able to get to the studio as much so when my producer suggested to me that we re-release this song for a charity of my own choice this time, I was so overjoyed at his suggestion because it was already done and could be sent out there with minimal production or recording.

Why did you choose to support Ponthafren with a Charity Single?

Ponthafren has been a part of my life for over 12 years now, I have suffered myself from depression in many disguises from the age of 13, at times feeling suicidal, I was lucky to have such supportive family and friends to be able to overcome.  Back in those days if you were feeling depressed, the common phrase was “Well snap out of it.” Thank goodness most of that ignorance is gone now.

So when I discovered how much work this organisation did to help those who, for whatever reason needed either, emotional, psychological or personal support through so many different activities, courses and counselling, I was blown away.

Mentally my health has been up and down for many years, but through my continued love of music, (singing in particular), I have been able to find a balance that now supports my life.

Organisations like Ponthafren are amazing in helping people to tap into those different coping strategies and experience different types of therapies without any judgement. It is a wonderful organisation and I am mega proud to be able to show my support.

What does the song mean to you?

It is so lovely to be asked this question.

This song has a beauty to it that can only be felt through the lyrics and the music, that is always something that draws me to a song.

When I hear it, I see a young adult looking a a homeless person and wanting to help them somehow and be their friend, when I sing “All I want for Christmas is for you to think of me”  I imagine the homeless person and the young adult holding hands and singing to each other, I am a bit of a dreamer that way.  I feel it is important to believe in the goodness that is in all of us.

What do you get from your music?

My music always surprises me when I hear the finished pieces.

I have spent the last six years learning and developing as a songwriter, my first original album is being released on the 13th January 2021, which is a huge milestone for me, I feel like my songs are full of lyrics that touch your heart, as a lyricist first it is always my intention to give an emotional song… not to say they are all depressing far from it, I would say that what I get from my songs is a feeling of joy and being uplifted. That is what I want to portray and that is what my intentions are.

Do you use music to help your own mental health?

All the time!  Music is in my blood, when I am listening to it, it takes me away from anything that I don’t want to be near mentally, I still hold a brush in my hand and sing 80’s songs like a diva, even though I now own microphones.  I also pretend to rap with my youngest son very badly, I might add, to modern songs too, I find it great fun and very therapeutic.

And I believe in the power of singing for wellbeing so much that a few years ago now, I started a program for those wanting to learn how to sing but they have mental health or personal issues that prevent them from doing so, through Ponthafren Association I am able to provide the much needed singing therapy, it is a free session, I use zoom, so come and see for yourself how good singing and music can make you feel.

To download the single for just £1, click on the link below:
Angel of Christmas by Cathy Beech

Payments can be made via paypal or debit/credit card.