Quick Facts
Biography
Maz Totterdell is a singer / songwriter from Crediton, Devon, UK. When she was 10 years old, she reached the final of the UK Unsigned talent competition, which took place at the Hackney Empire, London in July 2007. Her music is characterised by indie, folk-pop and poetic lyrics, and has been likened to Lisa Mitchell, Tracy Chapman, and Feist. Totterdell recorded a live BBC Introducing session in 2011. Maz Totterdell is signed to indie label, Series 8 Records based in Essex, and her debut single, Counting My Fingers was released in January 2012. Her debut album "Sweep" is due for release in the Spring of 2012.
Early Years
Born Marianne Elizabeth Totterdell in Exeter, Devon. Both of her parents are musicians. Her mother ran monthly open mic nights at The Lamb Inn, Sandford, and Totterdell started performing at these from the age of 6. When she was 10 years old, she reached the final of the UK Unsigned talent competition, which took place at the Hackney Empire, London in July 2007.
Totterdell's mother co-founded a recording studio in Exeter in 2008 and Totterdell spent time there playing and writing songs with other musicians from the age of 11. Between 2009 and 2011, Totterdell wrote around 40 songs. She is self-taught on guitar, ukulele and piano.
In 2011, Totterdell's song, Never Say Never was included on Postcards From Within, a compilation CD produced by Crediton Rural Arts & Music Project (CRAMP), featuring singer/songwriters from the South West region.
Smile On Sunshine
Totterdell recorded her debut album in June 2011 in a shed studio situated in Upottery, Devon. The album was engineered by Mark Tucker, who has previously worked with Fairport Convention, Thea Gilmore and Jethro Tull. After hearing "Smile On Sunshine" - one of the tracks recorded for the album - Steve Lamacq played it on his BBC Radio 2 show. Lamacq then invited Totterdell up to Maida Vale Studios on 8 August 2011 to record a live BBC Introducing session for him. The session included the songs: Little Puzzle, Counting My Fingers, Kaleidoscope, and an acoustic cover of Amy Winehouse's Back To Black.