How daughters help inspire Liversedge singer-songwriter with new work

Zoe Shackleton, 43, originally from Thornhill but now living in Liversedge, has always loved singing and writing but only took up music seriously in 2016.

The mum-of -two joined a band and started writing songs and now her latest song ‘Flower’ has been awarded finalist status in the ‘lyrics only’ category of the UK Songwriting Contest 2020.

The national competition has over 9,000 entries and the winners are expected to be announced shortly.

Zoe, who lives with husband Mike, 49, and daughters Lily, 16, and Molly, 14, said: “I have entered the competition every year since 2015 and only ever made the semi-finals so this time it’s really exciting, especially as the song is about my daughters.

“I have always loved writing but I’m more a lyricist than a songwriter.”

HR manager Zoe sang in public for the first time at school aged 13. She won the solo category singing ‘Walking in the Air’ from the film The Snowman.

Family life and career took over and it was only as her daughters got older that Zoe – who performs under her maiden name Zoe Beech – decided to take it more seriously.

“After being a mum, a wife and a manager at work I just wanted to do something for me,” she said.

Zoe took signing lessons with Birstall-based Matthew Humphrys (CORRECT) in 2016.

A year later she had so many songs she decided to release an album. ‘Perfectly Imperfect’ contained 11 original songs, six of which had lyrics she composed.

“I never expected it to be a chart-topper – and it wasn’t,” she smiled.

Zoe started doing gigs and spent three years with a band called Limited Edition before she and guitarist Mark Butterfield went off to form a duo, performing as Cantata.

Mark sings too but Zoe doesn’t play an instrument. “I’ve tried lots of instruments but the only one I’ve mastered is the recorder – and no one wants to hear that!” she said.

Zoe isn’t dreaming of stardom and performs for the love of it.

“The music is something for me and something that I really enjoy,” she said. “I just love the creative process of bringing a concept to life through song.”