b. Derby, Derbyshire, England. This UK singer-songwriter began playing guitar and writing songs in her early teens. Her first performing experience was with the Ferradays, a school-based acoustic group, but after completing her education she began working as a solo artist. Still based in her home-town of Derby, Collings began performing at local club nights and self-released a four-track acoustic EP that she sold at these gigs. Buoyed by the response to the EP, she then completed work on a debut album. Recorded in her spare room, with Collings producing and playing all the instruments, Flotsam was released in summer 2007. The album incorporated gentle electronic effects to back Collings’ acoustic-based songs, with tracks such as ‘All Else’, ‘The Last Post’ and ‘Follow You’ showing firm evidence of a major songwriting talent.