LIVE REVIEW: BUCKLE & BOOTS 2025 - THE PADDOCK STAGE - AYLA SCHOFIELD

Having covered Ann Doka and Lisa-Marie Fischer in the past, Ayla Schofield is not the first German artist that #TEAMw21 have written about. Few would've guessed quite what an interesting set she would deliver. The need for two microphones when she was only playing solo,with no special guest would soon become apparent, as would the use for the fiddle attached to the microphone stand.

Ayla would open with her single from earlier in the year "Address Unknown", which came with a tangled back story of being cheated on. The song was a straight country song, and alluded to events that Ayla had explained in the introduction. It came with a delightful payoff line regarding the letter that had been returned to her with the "Address Unknown" heading

"You're not that man I wrote it for" would extend out over many syllables keenly followed with the cutting

"I wrote it for a man with honesty

I wrote it for a man who'd stand by me"

Her playing would remain solid while her vocal conveyed the angry,disappointed and frustrated lyrics with conviction

It was only as she entered her second song, a cover of the KT Tunstall's "Black Horse & A Cherry Tree" that Ayla's talents would further appear, as she would utilize loops to great effect. Initially a foot stomp, she would gradually build her own backing band, mid song even finding time to add the violin to what was already an impressive sound, taking it into a more country direction.

The intro for "Changing For The Better" came with an intriguing tale of ending up in an apartment with no doors among other things. Starting with a slow intense guitar refrain, Ayla would open by recapping the chaotic period in her life

"Nothing stays the same - always changing picture

At times it's looking strange,then strange becomes familiar"

Gradually the pace would pick up, and Ayla would once more build her backing band - switching between microphones, adding in more fiddle.

It was all done in such a seamless way, creating a smooth cohesive sound, in a highly impressive manner and was certainly a tour de force. It was announced as being a teaser for her next project which we eagerly await.

From the future it was then back to where it all began with her first official single "Silent". Ayla's introductions were incredibly detailed and really gave insight as to what her songs were about. Composed after a year of being away from home and not knowing how to speak to friends and family. It would come with the most melodious of choruses, that gradually intensified in volume and delivery.

"Come Alive" would initially start with Ayla building up backing sound, guitars, backing vocals and violin over which she would give a mainly spoken introduction. Gradually additional elements would appear in what was a hypnotic mesmerising performance. The highlight being hearing Ayla, backed by her own backing vocals singing

"That's when you come, that's when you come

That's when you come alive"

Her performance seemed barely long enough!. Setting up loops does somewhat eat into available time however what we got was undoubtedly excellent.