SINGER-songwriter Rhys Lewis, from west Oxfordshire, joined stars Pixie Lott, Maverick Sabre and Crystal Fighters in performing from their bathrooms to raise money for international charity WaterAid.

The isolated singers made a splash in the latest of the five-part Bathroom Sessions series for the charity.

Rhys, from Long Hanborough, near Witney, performed in the bathroom of his caravan on Tuesday.

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Other stars joining the effort included Joy Crookes, Bomba Estėreo, Crystal Fighters and The Busy Twist. They follow in the footsteps of Melanie C and KT Tunstall.

The Bathroom Sessions see artists raise awareness of WaterAid’s lifesaving work and encourage donations to its emergency appeal to help vulnerable communities protect themselves from the spread of Covid-19.

Witney Gazette:

Handwashing with soap and water, is one of the most effective ways to reduce the spread of infectious diseases, but in poorer countries three-quarters of people do not have somewhere to wash their hands with soap at home. WaterAid is racing to reach communities with clean water, handwashing facilities, and information about good hand hygiene.  

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Rhys, who is about to release his new album, Things I Chose To Remember, said: “I was so excited to be part of WaterAid’s Bathroom Sessions.

“It’s all for a very important cause.

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“Clean water and good hygiene are integral to preventing the spread of Covid-19, so there’s never been a better time to be shouting about the amazing work WaterAid does to help the world’s most vulnerable communities get these basic essentials and protect themselves against disease.”

Last year Rhys released his EP, In Between Minds, which, extremely presciently, reflected on the anxiety and uncertainty of modern times.

He said then: “We’re living in a weird time where we’re all anxious.

“Everyone has their own thought and fears, but it’s probably the same thing unifying them – and even though that divides us, it should unite us and bring us together.”

“In Between Minds is an important collection of songs to me. Each track on the EP has helped me distil and better understand some of the heavier emotions and anxieties that had been sitting at the back of my mind for the best part of a year.

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“Self-reflection, which currently seems to be at the heart of my writing process, can sometimes cause more harm than good; you can end up pulling your thoughts in too many different directions and tie your mind in knots. So writing songs has become a way for me to draw a line in the sand and be at peace with things whenever things get confused in my own head.”

The sessions continue with an electronic set tomorrow, headlined by Fabio & Grooverider, and then a global session on Monday headlined by Stonebwoy.

See wateraid.org/uk/blog/bathroom-sessions