LISTEN: Lancaster singer-songwriter tells how music saved her life

A Lancaster singer has revealed how music literally saved her life when she was in a coma as a child.

Rowena Sian Hogg spoke to Nick Margerrison on The Unsigned Show on Beyond Radio on Thursday evening.

Rowena, who plays guitar and sings, and writes her own music, is a regular at open mic nights in the city.

She first picked up a guitar aged 12, and explained to Nick what inspired her to do so.

LISTEN to Rowena talking on The Unsigned Show on Beyond Radio

"When I was 10 years old I was run over by a car and I sustained a brain injury," she said.

"I was comatosed for four weeks and in hospital for a further five weeks, and I spent two or three years recovering from that.

"When I was in hospital my dad, who was a folk singer, used to come in and play guitar to me.

"When you're in a coma, sounds are really important, and what you can hear is really important.

"I got inspired by all that and I always had music around me.

"Just as I was getting my dexterity back in my hands, I thought it might be a good idea to learn an instrument. The first thing that came to mind, was the guitar.

"Music saved my life.

"It's a mode of expression that I believe is unlike any other, music and singing."

More recently, Rowena recorded a CD to raise money for the Child Brain Injury Trust, with help from her dad Paul Wilson.

"The whole experience of recording a CD was great," she said.

"Dad jumped in at the last minute and said he would do the backing vocals with me and everything.

"My partner loves to hear me sing and playing music, particularly because of the back story behind that and what it means to me, and how it's brought me back.

"It's important to me and it's important for him, to hear me continue to do that."

You can find Rowena on social media at 'Rowena Sian Acoustic Moods'.

LISTEN to Nick Margerrison talking to local musicians on The Unsigned Show every Thursday at 10pm on Beyond Radio.

*Rowena is also known locally as one half of the 'Lancaster Ghostbusters' with husband Simon.

They dress up as characters from the film 'Ghostbusters' at events and festivals, and are particularly busy at Halloween.

You can see them at 'The Haunting on South Road' fundraising Halloween display at 80 South Road, Morecambe on the evenings of October 30 and 31, and at the Espirito of the Dead Halloween samba drumming parade through the streets of Lancaster city centre on Saturday November 1 (6pm-7pm).