SOULFUL Wordsley-born singer/songwriter Susanna Westwood will be showcasing her new music at a gig in Birmingham next week.

Former Stourbridge News delivery girl Susanna, now a dancer and musician, is these days busy concentrating on gracing the pages of the paper instead of pushing it through people’s doors.

Following travels in Africa, Israel, Canada and North America and a spell working as a dancer in New York, the 29-year-old has been busy of late writing and recording and has just released her debut EP Live Like This through her own record label Imprint Records - which she launched last year.

Released on May 9, the EP features the Black Country artist’s own soulful jazz take on Al Green’s classic I’m So Tired of Being Alone as well as the compelling title track which was named single of the week on BBC Radio Cumbria.

Susanna, who also runs Imprint Dance Company, is now hoping it will prove as popular closer to home when she showcases it and other new tunes at The Jamhouse in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter on Wednesday June 1.

She told the News: “So far there has been a positive response to the music; with BBC Cumbria naming it single of the week and Live Like This charting at number 3 on Music World Radio's Alternative Charts. It is definitely something I am proud of.”

Playing alongside her at The Jamhouse will be session musicians who have performed with the likes of Anita Baker, Westlife, Girls Aloud, Anastasia and Beverley Knight.

Admission to the gig is free. Susanna and her band will be on stage from 9.30pm.

Live Like this is available to download from iTunes and Amazon; tunes can also be heard on Susanna’s website www.susannawestwood.com