A teenage Borehamwood singer has released her debut single today.
Amy Boujenah's track is a unique cover of Emily Burns' Is it Just Me and highlights a topic close to many teenagers hearts – the pain of break up.
Eighteen-year-old Amy, who goes by the stage name of Bouj is known for her ballad renditions, but she has an unusually uplifting message for her peers suffering heartbreak.
"Don’t let anyone tear you down or make you doubt yourself. Don’t ever change because the right person will love you and only you for who you are. You’re a special person and you are enough", she said.
Amy recorded the song as part of an album of covers with producer Bryan Edery, while in the final year at school.
She met Edery as one of 10 teens in a band called Generation Z, which released a lockdown charity single last summer called Strong.
The single, which was co-written by Bryan, with partners Perrie Young and Daniella Joseph, reached No.16 in the UK iTunes pop chart, raising funds for Grief Encounter and YoungMinds.
Related: Hertsmere teenagers release charity 'lockdown' single helping to support mental health
Hampstead-based pianist and producer Bryan said: "The first time I heard Amy’s demo for Strong I actually sobbed with emotion. Amy has a unique tone to her voice and I said to her the whole world is going to hear her voice if she wanted that."
The pair kicked off their work together as a duo, in December last year, performing a virtual concert for the charity SeeAbility, which was broadcast worldwide and which raised £2,000 in one evening.
Amy, who is currently looking for an apprenticeship working to empower children with special educational need after qualifying as an early years practitioner, now has a raft of singing projects she is working on in a range of styles.
She said: "My covers album with Bryan is just the start. Reinterpreting ballads that I love and are close to my heart has been a great pIace to begin because I’ve always wanted to connect with people and share my own unique message with them. If they like my voice, that’s great too."
Amy added: "I’ve been writing also. There’s more I want to say in my own songs and I’ve started working on these already and hope to share these with everyone soon."
The pair plan to release each song from their album as singles and then make the album available.
Is It Just Me? by Amy and Bryan officially released on all platforms from August 6. The single is available on all streaming and download platforms and a music video will be made available this weekend.
Stream or download on Soundcloud here.
Amy is on Instagram: @bouj_music. Bryan can also be found on Instagram @bryanederymusic.com
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