Local singers from Camerton, Timsbury and Carlingcott are among a group of musicians who have released a charity single which is gaining serious momentum this week and could be a contender for the coveted Christmas Number One. The single, which is available from this Friday, has already been played on Radio 2, featured on BBC Points West and ITV’s Good Morning.

The single was the idea of a musical family from Wells, who asked local contacts to help them cover an orchestral arrangement of ‘Together in Electric Dreams,’ by Phil Oakey and Giorgio Moroder, and will raise funds for Mind and Cruse Bereavement Care.

The video for the single features 155 photographs of some of the people who have died from Coronavirus this year.

The images were contributed by members of ‘Shine A Light To Fight Coronavirus’, one of the largest Facebook Covid Support Groups. It was set up by Lisa Bailey, a Medical Staffing Advisor for the Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, and quickly became a poignant shrine to lost loved ones.

Filmed during the November lockdown, singers recorded their performances at home and the single was produced by Jeremy Millington, featuring his daughter, Ciara, on the main vocals. After seeing it on the local news, it has also received the backing of musician, Midge Ure.

Jeremy Millington says Midge Ure’s endorsement has given the song a huge boost. “It’s all taken off! Our song pays tribute to all the families suffering loss this Christmas. We wanted to give a face to the statistics we’ve been hearing all year, and hopefully provide a message of comfort: our loved ones are always with us despite all the pain.

“We hoped it might lift people up just a little at a dark time, but Midge’s backing has sent us soaring: the Official Charts Company are now listing us as one of their contenders for Christmas Number One and major broadcasters have been in touch.”

Speaking to BBC Points West, Lorraine Millington added: “We got to learn the stories of all of these people who have lost their lives this year.

“It was a very emotional process, putting it all together.”

Wondering how much the single could make for the two charities, Jeremy and Lorraine said: “It’s a really tricky question, actually, because a single that is downloaded 200 times will only make something like £60-70 each for both charities. Now though, with the Official Charts Company listing us amongst the official contenders for Christmas Number One, even if we landed somewhere in the Top 20, the sums would be much higher. When the NHS choir reached Christmas Number One in 2015, their 175,000 sales would have landed them proceeds of £100,000 or more.

“So, it really depends on the success of the single, but things are looking really positive at the moment.”

Charlotta Martinus, from Camerton, told The Journal how the single grew. “There are a group of about twelve women who get together to sing twice a fortnight in the woods, (during lockdown we paused), but met every time we have been allowed, walking in the woods, or just sitting outside around a fire.

“A friend asked us to sing a chorus part for his song and we all felt so strongly that we wanted to do something to help – so we were sent the melody and the harmonies and recorded it in our homes and then he mixed it.

“We have performed once at Priston Festival and loved it, so we may well perform again in 2021 if it can go ahead.

“It is a lovely, uplifting space for community and connection – we really had no intention at all of singing publicly, even though several of the choristers have studied music.

“We have been going for a few years now, and once a month we are introduced to new songs with anything from four to six harmonies.

“It is a real bright moment for each of us when we get together.

“We really wanted to get involved in this because of the charity element – you could be completely oblivious to the way that so many peoples’ lives have been turned upside down and it really hits home, seeing all of those photographs of loved ones lost.

“We need to understand how this has broken hearts and families.”

Lisa Bailey, who started the ‘Shine A Light to Fight Coronavirus’, said: “The Facebook group was started by members shining lights in gardens or windows to remember those lost to Covid-19.

“People now come to us for support, to share memories and remember loved ones and I now have a large team who I owe huge thanks to for keeping the group so special.

“I’d love the song to reach Christmas Number One to honour all those lost, just when their loved ones will need it the most.”

‘Together in Electric Dreams’ is being released as a download by Lifelines Records on 18th December and features the Wells Lockdown Orchestra, the Skylarks Choir, duo, The Portraits, and singer, Ciara Millington.

The video can be viewed online at: https://youtu.be/Og0jQOBxo5Y or by searching You Tube for ‘Shine A Light to Fight - Together in Electric Dreams’. Readers who cannot wait for Friday can pre-order the single at: https://theportraitsmusic.com/together-in-electric-dreams