Music awards nominee Lyneve hoping to 'put Gortnaghey on the map'

A popular singer who has been nominated for numerous accolades in a music awards show in the Netherlands says she is hoping to put her home village of Gortnaghey on the map.

Lyneve Newland has been nominated for six awards in the Red Carpet Award Show set to take place next year. 

The international awards ceremony for independent musicians is organised by Fair Play Country Music (FPCM Media) and will be held in Holland.

The Gortnaghey woman has been shortlisted in the categories of Musician of the Year, Country Pop Cover, Country Voice of the Year and Modern Country Cover.

She is also a finalist in the Traditional Original and Country Song of the Year categories.

Mum-of-three Lyneve says she was 'shocked' to find out she had been nominated for the awards however she is delighted and is looking forward to travelling to the awards ceremony with her family later next year.

“I was quite shocked when I found out,” admitted Lyneve.

“It's unreal to think that in the Netherlands they are listening to my music. When I released my music here, the support I got from Dungiven and my own wee family and friends was great but to think that someone in the Netherlands is requesting to listen to Lyneve Newland on the radio, it's mad.

“A judging panel will determine the winners of each category and singers will be given the chance to perform at the awards ceremony. I am looking forward to going over to it with my family and hopefully put Gortnaghey on the map.”

Heavily influenced by American country music while growing up, Lyneve says she began singing from a young age.

She went on to study music at school and while in her late teens, she released her own album, later taking a break when she became a mother.

However she admits that there was a time when she thought she would never be able to pursue her dream of becoming a singer.

“I was singing for about 10 or 11 years but then I had to undergo surgery in my ear and the side of my head and I had to give up singing because I didn't know if I was going to actually hear music again,” recalled Lyneve.

“Joe Kelly (local singer and songwriter) got in touch because he had written a song called 'My Bobcat and Me', which was about a woman working on a building site and doing all the things that men can do.

“I thought I'll give it a go and record it. I was just so happy that I was able to get back into singing again. The song was uploaded to YouTube and got something like 60,000 views in a week, it was mad how popular it was. I was in touch with Debra Dowler, a promoter, and she got me onto Hot Country TV. We had a video produced for the song and it was aired on television, it was great.”

Since then, Lyneve has performed at festivals and bars around the country, including the Mid Ulster Truck Festival where she will take to the stage again in 2025.

She has also released another song – a cover from the TV show Nashville - and is set to launch a new song in the coming weeks.

Lyneve, who works at Staffline Recruitment in Derry, says she loves performing on stage.

“Since I got back into the singing, I just love it. I love when you get up and start singing and everyone just listens,” she said.

“One motto that I have and that I always say to my wee girl is 'never underestimate playing your favourite song up loud and dancing like an idiot because it's the best feeling in the world'.

“Though I do want to apologise to anybody that has seen me in the car going to work in the morning singing my head off,” she laughed.

Lyneve is proud to have been nominated for the awards and is grateful for all the opportunities she has had so far however she would like to see more singers getting the opportunity to showcase their talent.

“I can't emphasise enough how I think music should be pushed more for young people now as so many doors can open with it,” she said.

“If you walk through the streets of Derry during the week and you just stop and listen to some of the buskers, their music is flawless and I think people should take more time to listen to these singers. “Years ago they used to do back-to-backs but you don't get that any more. I think it's time for all the raw and original music to come back again.”

While Lyneve wants to continue to release music and pursue her dreams, for now she is taking it all in her stride.

“When I released an album back when I was 19 years-old, I'll never forget John McNicholl (country star from County Derry) sending me a good luck card to the house and telling me to keep pursuing my dreams. I always keep that in my mind,” she said.

“I love music and I am really appreciative of all the opportunities - if it happens, it happens, if it's meant to be, it'll be. I want to just enjoy it all, but you have to stay grounded and that's the main thing.”