Aly Berry

Chesterfield's Rising Jazz Star

'Aly Berry is a jazz singer and songwriter known for her smooth, sultry vocals and distinctive style that captivates audiences. Her music combines a passion for storytelling with a deep appreciation for jazz, creating a whole new sound.'

hotvox.co.uk

With 10k plus followers on IG and a YouTube video of her first release “The Wrong Man” heading to 100k views, Aly Berry is a name you need to look out for and one we’re going to hear a lot of in the future. Aly is from Chesterfield, attended Brockwell Junior School, St Mary’s High School and has spared some time to talk music and comfort food with us.

Aly works full time on her music career, 100% independent she is responsible for all elements of her art. Writing, composition, social media, venue bookings, promotion, marketing, website, streaming content, video, rehearsals, studio time… it’s all down to her. “I’m at the stage where I really need a manager or the support of a label,” explains Aly. “It will help enormously and allow me to concentrate on my music, I write my own lyrics and carry a notebook around with me all the time in which I’m constantly jotting stuff down.”

Right now, Aly is doing five or six shows a week in and around the jazz clubs of Mayfair and Soho after moving to London at the age of 18. The music press describes her as ‘one of the UK's biggest rising jazz artists’ and it looks like the move to London has worked out, but it didn’t happen overnight.

What was the plan – did you know it was what you wanted to do? “I was a shy kid at school,” says Aly. “I always knew I had a passion for music but started out modelling at 14 and halfway through year 13 I quit school and moved to London.

“I self-schooled myself and through my modelling work was able to save and launch my music career. It was very difficult moving away from home, but I had to give it a try.

“My uncle was in a band called St Etienne and so I started working with him, we experimented with my music as I tried to find my sound. My uncle moved away and as I moved around various places working I ended up as a sound engineer working at a venue in Mayfair.

“Paul Higgs came into the restaurant one day, I’d seen him on stage many times, he’s a highly accomplished trumpet player so I plucked up the courage to introduce myself and asked if he’d listen to a demo tape if I sent it.

“This was a game changer. I spent some time in his studio, and we ended up working together. He’s worked with the likes of Peggy Lee, Shorty Rogers, has performed in Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club and puts the melodies to my lyrical scribblings.”

I asked how Aly ended up singing jazz, it feels like the sound of an older generation and not something picked up by someone so young. “It’s all down to my time in London. I fell in love with jazz, Amy Winehouse, Eartha Kitt etc and it helped drive me, once I’d found my voice I was determined to make a success of it, I’m perhaps an old soul at heart.”

Aly was fantastic in drumming up some renowned artists to help her record her debut album, “I wanted to have the best jazz musicians I could,” she adds. “Dave Green, bass player with Charlie Watts, Neil Bullock who has played with Chuck Berry and Scott Hamilton, an amazing tenor sax player from America, I attended so many of his shows before approaching him to see if he’d like to record with me, it wasn’t an easy task to convince him but he eventually said yes, recording the sax from Italy.”

To date Aly’s performances have all been London centric but she hopes to be able to put on a small northern tour at some point soon. Her first live performance was just 18 months ago at The Ned Hotel, from here Aly has been busy producing showreels etc and this hard work and determination is starting to pay off.

I asked about Aly’s favourite venue in which to play and she mentioned the Boisdale in Belgravia, it was clear she loves performing and this was simply up there as a place to be. The owner of the Boisdale often attends Aly’s performances and put her forward for the Boisdale Music Awards – Jazz / Blues Artist of the Year 2025. An event hosted by Jools Holland where she met many great people and was runner up.

I was keen to know if Aly would like to collaborate with anyone, but her reply was one where she would have loved to perform with Amy Winehouse, Ruth Brown, or Peggy Lee.

When quizzed about her best dream venue it was a surprise to learn that it was something like the O2 Academy in Sheffield, a large venue, not typically associated with jazz and on the doorstep of her hometown.

Regarding home, Aly tries to get home as often as she can, but her London schedule means this is quite infrequent, she loves home and like anyone is homesick for her family. I asked about her performing at home, “I’d love to at some point, perhaps as a stop on my Northern mini tour if I get around to scheduling things in,” she says.

I thought we ought to try and find out what makes Aly tick away from music so quizzed her on five favourites.

• Film – Not one film in particular but any old school rom com.

• Season – Winter she said without a pause.

• Comfort Meal – Japanese food.

• Time of the week – She couldn’t answer this as in her life there are no weekends to split the week up, she often has to ask herself ‘what day is it?’

• Place in the world – home, “not too corny?” she added.

Please check out Aly’s music, her links are opposite. The album is being drip fed online with tracks released at timely intervals but if you want to check out the album or CD they are available to purchase from Tallbird Records on Soresby Street in town.

Last up if you want a few hours of laid-back jazz featuring some of Aly’s music Spotify has curated a playlist for us, just scan the QR to enjoy.

Huge thanks to Aly for taking time out to chat to us and I hope to see her live locally at some point soon.

www.alyberrymusic.com