No matter our aspirations we must find or create an income and I have worked in many jobs to keep going somehow. I can testify the definition of a "working person" is a misnomer based historically on tithes, taxes and lists of people "eligible" to pay the tariff set.  This description of what a "working person" is at last under scrutiny. The dawning realisation that so called self employed People actually "work". 

I was born in 1951 and grew into a Poet with the support of a gently intellectual Nun. Sister Columbanus had the task to improve my handwriting by writing out poems she had introduced me to. One day she suggested I could try writing my own poems. I am certain it was this non-judgmental teaching  support from Sister Columbanus that set free my "stream of consciousness" style of writing. We all have that stream of thought showing us answer to questions we needed, pictures and words that turn on at any time day or night. I took to keeping a notebook close by to catch the streams. Hey, You Too :)

One example of this 'stream' is 'A Man of Many Sorrows' which later I realised was inspired by 2 experiences, a discussion with a friend about the wrongs and rights of Communism had combined in the night with Documentaries shown on TV in post war Britain. The World at War, the killing fields of both WWI and WWII, Suffering and Brutal Extermination of our Fellow Humans, engineered and constructed by our fellow Humans.

Be very aware, no matter our Ideology it can be manipulate for our good or into an instrument of corrosive control. In a short Poem titled the "ism" and the "ist", I pondered on how simple it is for us all to slip right through into the vacuum pain and "extremism" create.

The limiting parameters set in the Industry of Music drove many of us to set up our own Record Labels and Publishing Companies. Sounds grand but the realities of “life, the universe and everything” as "they say" are far more difficult to handle than registering at companies House. The unvarnished truth is the Business is for "Creative People" Hard, Complex and Difficult to Navigate.

The Amazing Joni Mitchel inspired me with her remarkable Talent. She understood our blind spot when she wrote "The Wolf That Lives In Lindsey".

Oh yes there is a Wolf in Lindsey. Sounds Romantic... trust me "Wild is The Wind"

THE CRIME

The Crime for me is; anytime we practice Cruelty. There is no doubt we do and will. Lets do our best to keep it to a minimum.
Lou Osiavo a writer I have a lot of time for, on hearing a Live performance of 'The Crime' wrote this -“Gotta sell the water”...awesome body of work Sheila!!! Glad I didn’t miss this one!!!..love it instant classic!!!...”Don’t pay homage to the crime”...simply amazing!!! ;)"

More Comments on our Track

dj.PietrekB "Fantastic piece !!!" BLACKZONE "tight song keep shining..see u at the top..1..💯 yes"

Hear Me Beats "AMAZING GROUP OF TALENTED PEOPLE, GREAT SONG!!" Pierre Lacroix, Composer "Belle ambiance reggae !"

TheGat(s) "Spectacular deep reggae production - excellent stuff" SENNID "BLESS UP!!!

All Rights Reserved by Menu Records and A Plum Music Publishing IMRO/PRS/MCPS

ARTWORK

Another remarkable person who influenced me was Maria Souza RIP. Maria was born in Goa was previously a Portuguese Colony.

As a very beautiful young woman she travelled to Paris, where she studied Fashion, Couture design and dress making. Maria influenced me in so many ways as I grew up. It took me a few years before I truly understood how Maria gifted me the world of Gallery Administration and Art to me.

PLEASE NOTE:  SADLY - I am unable to Offer Our Music, Videos or Prints of my work for Sale - To be Legally compliant my Contact Form is no longer available  - Please Read Privacy & Terms of Use 

(My Original Artwork was Photographed and Reproduced INDIVIDUALLY as QUALITY LIMITED EDITION PRINTS by Murray Imaging Studios Ireland. Tony Murray is a Specialist in Reproducing Work by Professional Artists, Photographers and Illustrators.)

IF ITS MAGIC

You could think this is where my Career started. But since a Child singing in school breaktimes I did what I could to find my way in the "Mix Up World" of the "Arts". Joined Drama Groups, went to Art School, exhibited my work. Also did a little backing vocals, live and recorded. I acted in a few Plays, did Stage management, Set Design and worked in Galleries. Maria and my Mother that made it possible for me to study Music at Berklee College in Boston after the devastating collapse of 'Inch by Inch'.

Time has shown our musical partnership had real talent. Together we formed 'Inch by Inch' and became recognised as early trail blazers of Brit Funk with our Track  'If its Magic, we don't want it'. And believe me I didn't want the 'magic' I wrote about, but it broke my heart when I was "magically" forced out. Be aware there are "Wolves" in them there hills.

"If its Magic" took on a life of it own in Clubs, especially in France. The 12" Vinyl release 'IN THE RED' 6 of the best 80's Brit-Funk bands including us, INCH by INCH with Potion, Equa, Congress, Index and Spooky.

Thank you St James for your recognition and for spreading Brit Funk to another Generation of Dance Mad Clubbers...xxx

Composers David Lugay and Curtis Lugay, Writer Sheila Giles, Executive Producer my Mum, Bridget Giles RIP.
All Rights A PLUM MUSIC PUBLISHING (IMRO/MCPS/PRS)

VANILLA & VIOLET Feat TOT

Vanilla & Violet is the first love song I have written
A person in Japan uploaded to SoundCloud an Instrumental track he had Composed called Vanilla & Violet. I wrote to and asked if I could Record my lyrics onto the Track that had inspired me and this is the result.

Thank You TOT and even though you said you wanted no "Rights"

I have your name TOT listed with IMRO/MCPS as Composer. Music made by TOT. Lyrics, Vocal and Remix by Sheila Giles

OH SINNER PEOPLE

In Jan 2020 I promoted my version Via 'Reverbnation' to Readers of On-Line Music Press and Facebook Friends in 10 Days the track received 2,414 plays + on Soundcloud 3,500 plays

Oh Sinner People is adaptation of a powerful Song 'Sinnerman' that I first heard sung by the Legendary Nina Simone (EMI).

I believed it to be a Traditional Gospel Song but while researching I came across the Lester Baxter Recording on waltervdbus YouTube Channel and this explanation for its origin: "First recording by Les Baxter Orchestra featuring Will Holt Chorus of 'Sinner Man' (Baxter/Holt), possibly better known through later versions by The Weavers (1959), Nina Simone (1964) and Peter Tosh (1966/1971/1977), among many others. The song is clearly adapted from the 1954 gospel tune 'On Judgement Day' (Peacock 1743) by The Sensational Nightingales." (My Thanks to Minstrelcraft for the info)

TREES aka Strange Fruit

The power of “Strange Fruit,” describes a lynching, a lifeless body hanging from a flowering tree. The Lyrics originate as a POEM Written by Abel Meeropol. My Version was inspired by Nina Simone and Billy Holiday. I thought it best to share and Extract From the Essay by Cary O’Dell Added to the American National Registry in 2002, "Billie Holiday Original label Abel Meeropol (Poet and Writer) Considering the vivid images and sustained metaphor of the song “Strange Fruit,” it shouldn’t be surprising that it began as a poem. It was written by Abel Meeropol (1903-1986), a teacher, poet and songwriter, who published as Lewis Allan

LONELY TIMES

Despite all my work in building Menu Records, A Plum Music Publishing and 3 successful years promoting Business on behalf of The Confederation of British Industry in London, I found myself in freefall and Homeless for most of 15 years, triggered in the early 90's by one of many euphemistically named Banking/Economic crisis.

The Lyrics of 'Lonely Times' came to me as I walked back to the Emergency Accommodation in Dublin.

'You Too' was written on another day when the rhythm of my walking and the sight of "Bunkbeds" in a window set the description of the cityscape flowing into my notebook. Some Years later I was able to make a Video for "You Too" and it became a part of the Multimedia Show that the Ins-spire Gallery enabled me to Stage.

Press Reaction from a Dublin Street Magazine.

“Yes! Yes! Mix and blend! Let me see the punani! Wet till the weekend! Cut it, mix it, mash it up! Batty Freak pussie clot! Man fi dead fa less dan dat. See' in! Respec! Sheila G-La and Heinz, 'Lonely Times' on Menu” OVERSTALL 69% - Mongrel Magazine

ALWAYS TOO LATE

Our Original Recording was Engineered by Graham Pleath in his Home Studio in Hampstead, London. It was Re-Mixed at ARIWA in 1989 by The Mad Professor, Ezeke Grey and Sheila Giles for Menu Records. Promoting it I pitched up to Radio London for a live interview. The surprised DJ, Reggae/Lovers Rock Queen Miss 'P’ asked me, "what was the difference between you and the usual Lovers Rocker”? I hadn’t a clue what she meant. After a while of Miss 'P' patting her arm the Penny dropped, I mumbled something in Spanish about being milk in the coffee. Of course, there is a lot of Coffee in my Music and Artwork.

EZEKE GREY aka 'THE SUNSHINE MAN EZEKE' Sadly Died on Monday 21st March in Jamaica I will always respect and love him for the unconditional help and support he gave to me with my Music. So sorry for the Great Loss of our Friend. BLESS YOU EZEKE AND THANK YOU Dear Man