A GLASGOW spoken word artist has released an album of her whole archive, recorded live in a Glasgow music venue on Burn's night. 

Leyla Jospehine, from Prestwick, started off her career by performing spoken word in Glasgow venues. 

Since 2014 she has performed in every small venue in the city. 

Celebrating her years of work on the Glasgow Spoken Word circuit, Leyla has released 'Archive Live' for everyone to enjoy while on lockdown due to coronavirus.

Read more:  Leyla Josephine to record live album in The Hug and Pint on Burns night

Leyla said: "I wanted to release the album as soon as possible, but the gig was quite intense, a good intense, but I felt quite vulnerable afterwards because it had been so personal and magical.

"I needed time and to reflect before releasing it into the wild.

"It’s very different doing an intimate gig where everyone listening wants to be there and support you.

"Giving to the world and the internet is a bit scarier so I took my time. 

Glasgow Times:

"The reason I wanted to do it live is because I wanted the mistakes, the audience’s genuine reactions and the background noises, I wanted it to feel real and alive.

"I wanted to make an album that reflected who I am as an artist and a recording studio just wouldn't have the same vibe." 

Leyla is well known for her political poems about abortion, gender, and UK politics, and has had two successful runs at The Edinburgh Fringe.

Her first show ‘Hopeless’ toured with sold out shows across the UK and her most recent show, ‘Daddy Drag’ won the 2019 Autopsy Award as an exploration into toxic masculinity while playing her late father in drag.

"I think it’s difficult to archive as a writer because our feelings are in constant change and sometimes our poems don’t feel as relevant as when they were first written, so we stop doing them but as soon as you perform them in front of an audience it all comes back, if it was true when you wrote it, it kinda becomes timeless and you realise that it still matters."

Read more: Leyla Josephine on new role with Edinburgh Book Festival

Leyla has her own method of dealing with the coronavirus lockdown, although she is worried about how the pandemic will affect creatives once lockdown is lifted. 

Leyla added: "At the moment I’m just trying to adapt to life inside and trying to be creative as much as possible. 

"I think it’s going to be an interesting and tough time for artists when this is all done.

"I don’t think our landscape will be the same, there will be funding cuts and we’re scared for our local gig venues where most of our work is supported.

"We’re going to have to get inventive but I’m hopeful art always survives."