FOR some, it's not easy to pour your heart and soul into something – Cody Feechan just can't help it.

There is an inherent trepidation that accompanies the release of a new song; the self-conscious and self-critical rise while confidence can become fragile. This can be all-consuming when the song itself represents something deeply personal.

One listen through the back catalogue of Cody Feechan's work and it is quite clear that she is an artist that does not pull her punches. Her material is sonically diverse – some high-tempo and upbeat, with others stripped back and raw. Each track is nevertheless anchored by her dominating voice and poignant melodies she evokes – it is brimming with emotion.

This trend continues in the form of this month's release of Free Falling, which has already turned a few heads in the few weeks since. It was not an easy song to pen and deals with some difficult subject matter. The track is a treatise on the struggles of those facing entrenched addiction and related hardships. She draws upon her own personal and professional interactions, but the single will resonate with the many thousands of Scots who share similar experiences.

"I wrote the song about a year ago," Feechan tells The Weekender. "It tells the storyline of someone who is going through addiction. They are dealing with it, trying to fight, and going through a relapse. It's also about the escape; people take drugs to get away from the reality of their own lives.

"This one is a bit of a personal song to me, for a number of different reasons. But I am an addictions nurse, so I've seen it first-hand and so I know what some go through. People can be very negative towards drug user but when you look at the reasons behind why so many end up using drugs, it's just really sad.

"It breaks your heart. Most drug users will have experienced awful things. I wouldn't like to think where I would be if I had been through what they have. I think a lot of people can relate to it, either because they've been dealing with some sort of addiction or know someone who is going through it.

The Fife singer's new release has been a bit of breakthrough, with the track making moves into the iTunes charts while racking up a few thousand streams on Spotify. Feechan admits she was taken by surprise over the song's success but has made her hungry to record a few more tunes once the lockdown has subsided.

"It's been brilliant," she adds. "The response has been absolutely amazing. On the first day we managed to get to #6 the singer-songwriter chart and world charts on iTunes. And broke into the official iTunes chart as well.

"It's exciting to put out a new song, but there are always nerves there as well. You hope for the best, but I didn't think for a second that I would be making it into the iTunes charts. We had a good few reviews on the back of it, so everything has been going well. It's made me hungry to get some more music out."

Free Falling also features a saxophone solo – something which is particularly pleasing to the singer. It's not a common inclusion for pop or indy music, she was determined to give the song a twist.

Feechan recalls: "I was playing a gig supporting another band last year and they had a saxophone player. He spoke to me after and said if you ever want a sax solo in one of your songs, let me know. Now, if there is one instrument I love it's the saxophone – so I told him I'd make it happen. I think the solo makes the song, so I'm glad we did that."

While she is in a position now that she can add flourishes such as saxophone solos, it wasn't too long ago that Feechan was playing solo acoustic shows as standard. However, over the past two years or so she has been accompanied on stage by her band. The singer feels it has made a huge difference in both the writing and the performing sides.

"Started working with the band a couple of years ago and I just love it," Feechan says. "It brings whole new dynamics to the songs. I played gigs on my own for five or six years and I was used to doing that. But I just love being up there with a band – it's more energetic and gives you more confidence.

"I do still love playing acoustically, but I tend to get more nervous now on my own. But I've been with the band for a couple of years and it's just brings so much more to the set. The guys in the band are so talented. I love working with them and bouncing ideas off each other to see what we come up with it. It's just amazing."

Naturally, the Covid–19 outbreak has put paid to live events in the UK, with Feechan's tour plans and festival dates suffering. She is still scheduled to play Party at the Palace in Linlithgow this August, along with the rescheduled Gig on the Goil later in the year.

Feechan adds: "We had quite a lot of gigs and festivals set up for over the summer, but everything is still up in the air with the coronavirus going on. A lot of the gigs were cancelled or postponed to later in the year or even next year. A few other gigs are lined up, but just waiting to have them confirmed.

"And once everything dies down, we'll be getting straight back into the studio. I have a few songs sitting there waiting to be recorded. Of course, it'll all depend on when everything settles.

"The next release might have to be towards the end of the year. And with the reaction to Free Falling, I'm just excited to get more music out there to see what people make of it."