A YORK singer/songwriter has told of her delight after becoming the first white female solo gospel artist to be recognized by a top urban music website.

Libby Redman said she had also been performing to crowds of thousands this summer, with gigs at festivals such as Norjam in Norfolk, attended by thousands of Guides, and The One Event at Lincolnshire showground.

She said she would also be performing later this month at KingsStock, a grassroots music festival near Cambridge,and has been singing for the past ten days at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Now Libby, 25, from Woodthorpe, is working on her second album, which she will be recording at Melrose Studios in York and is set for release next year.

"My video of a live performance of the title track from my debut album recently reached over 1,000 views," she said.

"It has been watched by people across the globe. I also recently released a free audio download of this live performance."

Speaking from Edinburgh, she told The Press how she had been helped on her career path by Joe Johnson, lead guitarist with top York group Shed Seven.

She said he heard her sing at a party back in 2009, told her he thought she had great potential, and worked with her on bringing out at an EP.

Johnson has described her as an 'incredibly talented singer and songwriter,' adding: "Didn't know somebody from York could have so much soul!"

Libby said the high profile urban music website, Mobo.com, had said she had a voice that had absorbed all her gospel influences over the years, and said: "You must listen to her."

Steve Alexander Smith, author of the book British Black Gospel, also praised her, saying: "This Yorkshire Lass performs from a place that everyone can relate to. She writes, she sings, she composes, produces and I hear the blend of influences from across the Gospel frontier.'

Libby said she went to Oaklands School and York College before getting a degree in theology and then a Masters in community music from the University of York.