I grew up in Newcastle til going to Art school in Oxford where singing took a hold and trans-European busking began. Caught the travel bug and sang & collected songs and painted pictures around North and South America, Bhutan, Burma & Thailand & then discovered Africa.
Entranced by the pygmy singing of the Baka from a TV documentary, lived with husband Martin Cradick in the rainforests of Cameroon & together set up Baka Beyond (African/Celtic band) and Global Music Exchange (charity returning royalties to forest projects). The band has been going for 12 years and has played all over the world and for 2 summers Baka musicians have come to Europe to play alongside Baka Beyond.
Su Hart and the palpitations, RURAL TOURING with VILLAGES IN ACTION, DEVON NOV 08
(Clayhiden Village Hall)What the crowd said: "the warmth & vivacity of Su's performance and the exceptional musicianship of the backing group – the Palpitations, delighted all who attended this event.
By the end of the 2nd set, the few brave dancers who had earlier taken to their feet were joined by the majority of the audience - unable to resist the engaging rhythms and general “joie de vivre” of the evening. This was certainly an event to raise the spirits and get people of all ages joining in. Su Hart & the Palpitations are to be highly recommended! (Holcombe Burnell church concert).......''It's great to see 70 & 80 year olds jigging about in the aisles along with the younger things - just the job for a chilly winter evening."
A GREAT live band! We can play as a DELIGHTFUL DUO (Su and Eleanor) .....AN INTREPID TRIO with Martin Cradick...A FORMIDABLE FOUR (Stevie double bass) a FAB FIVE (With Leon hunt, banjo legend!) or any mixture of the above!! Always alive and heart felt to make you laugh and maybe even cry
READ MORE IN THE BLOG!!
New album!
Latest is a long brewing solo album, to be released on December 1st! Full of songs that I have loved and sung since what seems like forever! They're reborn with the help of lots of fantastic musician friends: Martin of course, friends through Baka Beyond - Ayodele Scott and Eleanor Churchlow, wonderful banjo riffs from Leon Hunt, accordion Tim Edey, and Ed Boyd (guitar) and Brian Finnegan (flute) from Flook. The mood is from lovey-dovey/folky to quirky calypso with a real treat of hearing Baka kids sing one of my songs deep in the forest.
This album takes me on a journey from my teenage singing to now. Hear it and I hope it takes you on a good journey too.
I've always sung and painted and used to have a dilemma about which art form to follow. Although I trained as a painter I always had more fun being whisked away to play sessions and sing with friends. This album brings the two strands of myself together as I have done the artwork.
See more paintings below...prints and music available at the Baka shop.
Track info
Power of prayer: I jammed at Edmonton Folk Festival with a talented young guitarist, Sarah Elliott. This transatlantic collaboration was the result. The song was written by our friend Ged Beasley, who now also lives in Canada.
United state of mind: A version of a song by fellow Geordie, Alan Hull, with backing vocals by Eleanor Churchlow, friend and ex-singer in Baka Beyond.
Zombie Jamboree: I love songs that make me laugh and this British-style calypso certainly does that.
Listen to me: A song by a special friend, hedgerow-weaver and songwriter Lucy White.
The Joy of Singing CD and Booklet
This booklet and CD contains a collection of fun songs from around the world, suitable for teaching to all age groups. Includes booklet of all the words and music with sugesstions of how to introduce singing to your group. Click here for further information.
Giving back
To give back from some of my musical experiences, I set up the Walcot State Choir in 2000 and spread singing everywhere. We really have fun and often sound good! The singing together has made really good friendships. I give ear-bending and mind-opening singing workshops in schools and in the community. I teach non-singing teachers to be able to teach singing through Jenny Mosely's consultancy.
^ A video of Nii and me being introduced at a Baka Beyond concert, with a smidgen of singing.
I edited my profile with Thomas Myspace Editor V4.4 (www.strikefile.com/myspace)
Baka Beyond track 'Nahwaia's Dream' to be aired on Merlin's Magical Music Moments; Wednesday 6th May 2009. Live on air; on Soundart Radio 102.5 fm 20.30 - 22.00 pm GMT. The full play list is now up on my blog.
01-10-2009 20:00atNational Demonstration: Saturday 10 January Join the national demonstration, March to Israeli Embassy, london Cost: • National Demonstration: Saturday 10 January March to Israeli Embassy, High St Kensington, London Stop Israel’s crime against humanity : Stop the War is asking all its local groups outside of London to book coaches or arrange other transport to help make this the biggest demonstration yet seen in this country in the cause of Palestinian freedom. Email details to office@stopwar.org.uk
JUST FLYIN ROUND THE INTERSPACE TELLIN FOLK ABOUT MY NEW E.P 'SPACEMAN FOR HIRE'...ITS FREE TO DOWNLOAD FROM MY BLOG OR STRAIGHT FROM HERE... THEONEMATTB-SPACEMANFORHIRE (E. zip .................................................................................... PEACE UP THEONEMATTB
NOUVEAU!!!! Disponible sur Myspace! Un morceau extrait du nouvel album du groupe Maltavern "Douce Tornade" Sortie prévue le 28 Juin 2008 Bonne écoute! A bientôt Et bon vent... Christo pour Maltavern
Entranced by the pygmy singing of the Baka from a TV documentary, lived with husband Martin Cradick in the rainforests of Cameroon & together set up 
This album takes me on a journey from my teenage singing to now. Hear it and I hope it takes you on a good journey too.
