A YOUNG jazz singer has taken creativity to new lengths as she gears up to perform for millions of people.

Holly Taymar, now a familiar face on York's music scene, has created every cover of her new EP, making it a very personal artistic project.

She has also been chosen to feature on the BBC Two arts programme Castle In The Country.

The series is presented by veteran presenter John Craven, and Nicki Chapman, whose promotions company helped create household names such as the Spice Girls, Take That and Annie Lennox.

Holly, who is 19, and from the Scarcroft Road area, has been invited to perform on the show when it is filmed in September at Castle Howard.

The news comes on the back of the launch of a limited edition six-track, self-titled EP, and her own website - www.hollytaymar.com

The EP is her first new release since last year's acclaimed debut album, Less Than Nothing, which was written by York-based song-writing sisters Lisa-Marie Baker and Catherine Cowan, of GenieCake Records.

The duo discovered Holly two years ago in a Popstars-style audition, and have helped develop her talent.

"It was great to sing those songs at the time and it was a fantastic way to get started," said Holly, who has written all but one of her new songs. "But as you develop as an artist you discover your true music. Whatever is inside you will come out in the songs you write."

The former Tadcaster Grammar student and performing arts graduate now plays guitar on all her tracks, and has also created every cover of the £5 EP, making it a very personal project.

"I wanted to do things more organically. I painted all the covers. They are all individual," she said.

Describing her latest music as a guitar-led fusion of jazz and folk with piano instrumentation, Holly said: "It is not the big band stuff. It is more laidback and intermingled with folk. I am really happy with where my music is going and where I am. My music has changed a lot. I think that is a product of me discovering more about myself and my music and finding out what's really there.

"I am really lucky that I am 19 and have found what I want to do.

"Rowntree Park is a great place to get inspiration and sit and chill. Somebody walked past me once and said I should be in Fame Academy. I didn't know whether to take that as a compliment!"

Holly Taymar's EP is available Track Records or www.take1records.co.uk

Updated: 10:06 Wednesday, August 31, 2005