Soul singer Terri Walker is one of the stars of Blackburn's Arts In Park. We caught up with her ahead of her set on July 23.

WHAT a year it has been for the rising star of the British soul scene Terri Walker.

Her latest album, I Am, has been receiving rave reviews from some of the most influential music magazines and now the organisers of Blackburn's Arts in the Park have pulled off something of a coup by landing her for the alternative stage at the free festival a week on Sunday.

Terri first shot to fame three years ago when her debut album Untitled was nominated for four Mobo Awards and for the coveted Mercury Music Prize.

A follow-up album L.O.V.E. failed to build on that success but this year, now on an independent record label, Terri has really been making waves.

"I just want to make sure that everyone enjoys themselves when they come to see me at Arts in the Park," she said.

"I just want to be out there with my band performing. You can just get out there and do your own thing."

Doing her own thing is what Terri did with I Am which was released in May. The title of the album illustrates her determination to make the record that she wanted.

"I had to think for a while about what I wanted to do next and it was then I decided that I had to make an album exactly the way I wanted it to be made.

"I wanted to be judged on my own writing and on my own performance.

"Being on an independent label Dekkor I was able to do my own thing and the reviews have been amazing.

"Now I just want to do as many performances as possible," she said.

"I want people to see me live and I want to sing live."

Terri has recently recorded a track with Badly Drawn Boy for his latest album.

Previously she worked as a backing singer for the Brand New Heavies before her solo career took off and has performed with a wide range of musicians, including singing with Jools Holland and his Big Band at the Royal Albert Hall.

"When I'm performing live I just try to enjoy myself as much as possible and then hopefully people who are watching will enjoy it too.

"There are a lot of people who don't know who I am and I'm always shocked when I look into an audience and see people singing along to my songs."

Terri Walker plays the alternative stage at Arts in the Park, Witton Park, Blackburn on Sunday, July 23.