An Ayrshire music teacher has penned an uplifting song for a brave young girl battling cancer.
Powerful track ‘Little Things’ by Stevie Robson is hoping to strike a chord with Ava Bolton’s fundraiser for life-saving treatment in the US. Four-year-old tot Ava, from Mauchline, is fighting high risk stage 4 neuroblastoma – a rare but very aggressive childhood cancer.
The courageous youngster has undergone more than a year of gruelling treatment, including rounds of chemotherapy and immunotherapy.
She is aiming to jet off to New York this summer with her family to receive a new miracle drug being trialled at the Memorial Sloan Kettering centre, which could save her life.
Robert Burns Academy music teacher, Stevie Robson, wanted to do something special for Ava, after previously working with her Gran, Moiara, at Cumnmock Academy.
And the music man says he hopes the track is something Ava will be able to ask the DJ to play at her 18th and 21st birthday.
Stevie said: “The genesis of the idea was that I needed a high-energy track with positive lyrics that a small child, such as Ava, could dance to and enjoy.
“I used a few iconic ‘80s hits as templates, and wanted to write a song that makes your heart bounce and put a big smile on your face.”
Stevie says it only took a few days to pen the song, and he even managed to feature brave Ava, with a recording of the tot saying one of her catchphrases featuring on the tune
He added: “I’ve written songs before but it’s never happened as quickly as this one!” says Stevie, “I want it to be a track that Ava can give to a DJ on her 18th or 21st birthday and ask if they can play her song.”
Stevie, from Kilmarnock, rounded up an Ayrshire super-group ‘after Sunfall’ consisting of ex-pupil Connor Johnston – now frontman of popular wedding band Los Perros; and pal and multi-instrumentalist Jamie Clark from Saltcoats.
The number also features strong backing vocals from Kilmarnock’s Centrestage Gospel and Soul choir.
Stevie said: “Everyone at the Gospel Choir has been so supportive and enthusiastic about our project. I’m so proud that we could capture their energy on the track. The backing vocals sound so amazing.”
Further production assistance also came from south of the border, with English music producer Jesse Reuben Wilson of synthwave act, “L’Avenue” also lending a hand.
“After us working on the track for months, Jesse brought some fresh ears to it and suggested some subtle changes to the overall arrangement. I’m a huge fan of Jesse’s music, and we’re so excited and grateful about this collaboration with him.”
You can find 'Little Things' on the Bandcamp website here.
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