Herbert, still just 26, lives in East London, was born in Surrey, and tours constantly from Halifax and Birmingham to New York and Istanbul.  She started singing at an early age, but it was while at Durham University, where she formed a duo with guitarist Will Rutter, that music became the most important part of her life. 

The pair gravitated to London where fresh from University they signed to tiny Indy jazz label Dean Street Records, recording the charming ‘First Songs’ in 2003 with renowned singer Ian Shaw at the helm.

       
Only 22 and still finding her feet as an artist, the album was a surprise hit and Herbert was signed by Universal. The resulting album ‘Bittersweet and Blue’ was critically acclaimed, but with its repertoire of covers, standards and originals selected with an eye on the Jamie Cullum audience, it didn’t really feel like her own record.  Indeed, while touring the album Herbert realised that she was no longer the artist they had signed:

Recorded at the beginning of the year, ‘Ten Lives’ then is the sound of an artist who has found her voice: nine perfectly crafted new songs, one cover - a wry take on Françoise Hardy’s poignant ballad Si C’est Ça - and a final track that offers an intriguing look back to her last album. It features the band Herbert only half-jokingly refers to as her ‘Super Heroes’ for their massive intuitive contribution to and empathy with her music and songs: pianist Steve Holness (who also plays with Adele), in demand double bassist Sam Burgess (a regular at Ronnie Scott’s), percussionist Dave Price (as likely to turn up playing a solo show at the BAC as he is with Aqualung or Herbert) and guitarist Al Cherry, whose sensitive, multi-textured playing is a key part of these songs. Together with engineer Robin Baynton and the very special ambiance of the Real World studios they have made ‘Ten Lives’, Gwyneth Herbert’s most eloquent statement yet.