A SINGER from Lugershall has achieved international recognition with his latest album at this year’s International Singer Songwriter Association (ISSA) awards held in Atlanta, in America.

Alan Garmonsway’s album Stories in Time was awarded a silver award in the Best International Album of the Year category.

The album includes themes such as travelling the USA, global warming, politics and folklore.

Mr Garmonsway’s work features influences from contemporary folk, acoustic and rock music – but he said his music falls more under the genre of indy folk.

The ISSA awards look to find the very best independent artists from around the world, in a variety of different categories.

Mr Garmonsway said this is the first time he has entered a competition on a global scale but he is already getting started on his next album in time for next year’s awards.

“I am absolutely delighted,” he said. “Not just for the album to be in the top three internationally, but for it to have been thought so by professional judges, listeners and fellow musicians.

“Because I work a lot on my own – writing, recording, playing various instruments, singing, mixing and producing, it’s really encouraging to get such positive feedback from all around the world.

Alan Garmonsway with his silver award in the Best International Album of the Year category

“Although music wasn’t my first career, I’ve written and performed in bands most of my life.

“Now I have more time to write and record, I’m pulling different aspects of song writing and recording styles together to try and create my own unique sound.”

Mr Garmonsway has also achieved 11 top ten listings over the past three years through the World Songwriting Awards and his songs have featured on the radio – including BBC Introducing.

He was joined on a number of tracks by his wife Sue, which he said offered a “different dimension” to the vocals, particularly on choruses.

You can find the album on Spotify and Amazon Music, along with the rest of his discography.