A TYNE Valley singer-songwriter is set to release his debut album next month.

Ovingham's Sam Shields, who performed at Corbridge Festival last summer, will release Orphans Of The New World Order on all streaming platforms on July 31.

The album contains a collaboration with Sam's close friend and fellow star of the Tyne Valley music scene, Lauren Simms.

The single, entitled Water on Mars, will be released on July 4.

Sam explained that the lockdown imposed by the coronavirus pandemic hadn't made life easy for the two recording artists.

He said: "We started before lockdown, but it's had to be finished off while we were social distancing.

"We had to use the internet to send files back and forth.

"It wasn't easy, but I'm happy with what we've done."

Sam also explained the rather unusual title for his album.

He added: "It's happier in places!

"The title is just a lyric from one of the songs. I thought it summed up what the album was all about."

Sam launched his debut, four-track EP, There’s a Place I Know, in December 2018.

Sam names Bob Dylan as one of his main musical influences, alongside the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Johnny Cash, and Nick Cave.

18-year-old Lauren Simms has performed at various venues around the Tyne Valley, including the Pele Tower in Corbridge, the Vault in Hexham, and the Anchor in Haydon Bridge, as well as the Cluny in the Ouseburn and the Sage in Gateshead. She also performed front of around 20,000 people at the Saltwell Fireworks display.