Wendy Guevara

We have all heard of people who have had massive challenges to face and have come through stronger. We have also heard of people who are not afraid to change their lives and go in an entirely new direction. British singer and songwriter, Wendy Guevara, (like Guevara in Ché Guevara) is one of these extraordinary human beings. She is a survivor and innovator who has become an inspirational voice and role model through her songs.

In Wendy Guevara’s autobiographical album, ‘Diversity Exposé’, she talks about her period of homelessness in the song ‘A Home That’s All Mine’, she asks us about our concept of Britishness in ‘But aren’t You A Jamaican?’ We see the saucy side of her in Tick Tock, her vulnerability in Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child and her strength in Just Go and Setting The Standard. Each song on the Album is self-reflective and unveils different parts of Wendy Guevara’s personality and character.

“Diversity Exposé is about me,” says Wendy. “It reveals to my Fans the parts of me that only those very close to me know about. I wanted to share my story. In doing so I have had many Fans tell how much a particular song off the Album has connected with their own personal experiences. They tell me how deeply a song has touched them and helped gain inner strength. When I hear stories like these it makes all the hard work of being a solo artist worthwhile.”

“In terms of the music itself,” Wendy Guevara continues, “I wanted the lyrics and music to be soul mates. As Diversity Exposé is an autobiographical album I wanted each song to have its own identity. The blues was therefore perfect for the story being told in Tick Tock and married with the genius of Chris Ingham, Before We Met is like the music from a music-box (one of my favourite things as a child and beyond) and is almost dreamlike.”

“For me,” Wendy Guevara states “Diversity Exposé is the result of my need to grow artistically and creatively.”

Before Diversity Exposé was released in the summer of 2010, one of the Album’s songs was chosen to be studied at Anglian Ruskin University in Cambridge. Her song-writing skills were also noticed in Europe as she was invited to be the special guest from the United Kingdom at The Biella Festival in Milan. This is one of Italy's largest cultural events for songwriters and authors. At well as performing at the Festival’s Gala Event, Wendy Guevara also be recording one of her own songs together with an original song sung in Italian. “Now this will be a challenge,” Wendy says. “But that’s what makes my career exciting.”

It now all seems a long time since Wendy Guevara joined her first band, a pop/blues band, called The Agency. They were together for almost a year after which she took a break from performing and went to work in the City of London. Wendy then returned to perform as a jazz/swing singer and had the pleasure to perform with many internationally renowned musicians. To name a few she has performed with the brilliant bass-player Peter Ind at London’s 606 Club. (Peter Ind has played for massive Legends like Billie Holiday and Charlie Parker.) Wendy now works with guitarist Dave King who has worked with Lulu and Barbara Dickson.

After having concentrated solely on performing Wendy Guevara eventually recorded an EP called ‘Oh Look At Me Now’. This recording of Jazz, a Bossa Nova and swing resulted in her being chosen as Unsigned Artist of the Week on BBC Radio 2 Courtney Pine's Jazz Crusade. The EP also received coverage on Trinidad and Tobago National Radio. This culminated in Wendy being invited to sing jazz for International Fashion Designer, Jasper Conran, at his home.

And for the future Wendy says, “I will continue being diverse as that’s who I am and who my fans are. I will continue to grow and change and connect and share special moments with my fans.”