A Monmouth singer is set to release her debut album after working with a legendary record producer.

Debbie Clarke says 'Manhattanhenge' is a folk/ pop/ rock effort which draws very little from her classical roots.

The album features covers of songs by Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan and Del Amitri as well as original tracks co-written by Debbie and producer Tony Visconti.

"I write the lyrics and Tony does the music," said Debbie.

"Lyrics tend to come to me and then I work the music around them, Tony works the other way round so we work quite well together."

Since the album was recorded at Visconti's studio in London, Debbie has had a chance to catch her breath back in Monmouth before she heads out to Germany to start promoting it – she is signed to the German arm of record company Warner International.

"Myself and Tony looked around for an appropriate record label and it just happened that Warner in Germany liked what they heard," she said.

"Technically I am one of their domestic artists but the album is going to be released all over the continent, and there are a lot of big music lovers out there."

The album is being released in Germany this Friday (11th May) and will be available to buy at amazon.de

The launch will be accompanied by a TV campaign on Germany's ProSieben channel, co-ordinated by the station's own music label Starwatch.

"I will then be off on a TV and radio tour stopping in Belgium, Stuttgart, Munich and more – it's a big step."

Debbie says she excited about the tour but admits she loves nothing more than coming home.

"I have always seen myself as a Monmouth girl and every chance I get, I'm back.

"If I was to compare the album to anyone I would say it is a bit Van Morrison or Joan Baez. We're really pleased with it.

"I will never stray too far from my classical background – it never goes away from you – but at the moment I am enjoying the folk, pop side of things and Tony's influence from his work with acts like T-Rex and David Bowie.

"I am with a band now who are all German, we are working on all the tracks for a support tour and a tour of our own.

"We don't know where it is going to be yet, it could well be in the UK, but there is definitely a tour on the cards."