Vivienne Neville

Follow Vivienne on her official artist FACEBOOK page: Vivienne Neville

Vivienne was born in Woking, Surrey but at a very early age her family relocated to the North East of England where she still lives. Blessed with a talent for music, Vivienne spent much of her childhood practicing the piano and went on to study music at Oxford Brookes University gaining a BA Hons degree in music. She is also blessed with a beautiful voice and a gift for writing songs that effortlessly combine elements of Celtic music with contemporary sounds and styling producing haunting music of the highest order.

Having been involved in music all her life and playing and leading worship in numerous churches and cathedrals as well as occasionally playing with and for local christian bands and artists, in 2008 Vivienne released her first solo recording featuring her own self-penned songs (under the name Viv Neville), the EP Holy One which came to Plankton’s attention via the EPs producer Stuart Elwin, who himself had released albums through Plankton.

Encouraged by the response to the EP and to her initial live performance Vivienne pressed on and in 2010 released her debut album Veiled In Mystery on Plankton to great critical acclaim – and quite rightly so! Part produced by Gav and Dez from the now disbanded Y-Friday and featuring a guest performance from Iona’s Martin Nolan, the album drew comparisons to Enya, Moire Brennan and Iona’s Joanne Hogg. That same year she teamed up with her good friend, and fellow Plankton artist, Liz Clarke and release the four song Advent EP. Vivienne enjoyed a No 1 radio hit on both the NCM UK and Euro charts with her version of ‘O Come O Come Emmanuel’ from the EP. On top of this success she also won UK Praise & Worship artist of the year in both 2010 and 2011 from UKCMA.

Vivienne was now performing live more frequently and extensively and as well as touring in the UK and Ireland, she now tours in the USA annually and in 2014 is looking to tour in Canada.

2011 saw the release of an album of Christmas music with Liz Clarke. Emmanuel was also greeted with great critical acclaim and was named one of the 12 best Christian Christmas albums of 2012 by top UK website Louder Than The Music. A solo single and duet single (with Liz) have been released from that album.

Through her annual USA tours Vivienne became great friends with US singer Jackie Morris Bates and in 2013, following the loss of Jackie’s daughter following a long battle with cancer Vivienne organised the recording of the charity single “What A Friend We Have In Jesus” for which she did a wonderful arrangement of the old hymn which combined celtic, country and jazz elements. Vivienne was joined by fellow Plankton artist Liz Clarke as well as Jackie herself and another great US artist Mary-Kathryn. The single was released in early 2014.

Autumn 2014 saw the 4 artists combining again to release the compilation album “What A Friend We Have” which featured 3 solo tracks from each of the ladies and the previously mentioned “What A Friend We Have In Jesus”. The album was released Worldwide as a digital only release. It did feature 2 new tracks of Vivienne’s that had not been previously released.

On top of all her own music, 2015 saw Vivienne launching her own artist management agency – VJ Artist Management Ltd. To see their Facebook page click here and in 2017 she launched her own record label called Dove Records.

In 2019 Vivienne saw a book that she had been working on for some time published. Following much research, compiling and editing ‘Set Adrift. Clergy wives speak out’ was released to much acclaim for it’s sensitive, balanced and honest treatment of its subject matter which is an issue very close to Viv’s heart. The book is available from Amazon and all leading booksellers.

Vivienne’s Plankton releases (both solo and with Liz Clarke) are also available on all of the major digital music download and streaming sites around the world (including iTunes and Amazon)

PLANKTON DISCOGRAPHY:

“What A Friend We Have” album (with Liz Clarke, Jackie Morris Bates & Mary-Kathryn)
Released 2014 Cat No: PCDN 169 . DIGITAL RELEASE ONLY