Five-piece band Jack in Water are looking to build on their recent success with the release of their debut album.

The band, whose members live in Braintree and Stebbing, have already had impressive success with a competition win that led to recording time in Abbey Road studios and Arts Council funding for a rural music project.

Made-up of Will Clapson (vocals and guitar); Oliver Chapman (keys); Joel Blake (bass); Samantha Suffham (vocals and percussion); and Warren Woodcraft (drums).

The band, which was formed by Will, Oliver and Joel at Helena Romanes School in Great Dunmow, has spent the last year using their music to bring people together.

Will says: “As a band we felt that in spite of modern technology people just don't connect and interact enough any more.

“We wanted to see if we could change that in and around Essex by running a series of micro-projects that had the sole purpose of encouraging people to communicate with one another, with music as the backdrop.”

Be Part of Something began to take shape in March 2012 and attracted the attention of the Arts Council who gave Jack in Water money to develop the concept.

“The idea was to involve as many local musicians, artists and members of the public as possible in each project,” Will adds. “We hosted community choir events, live music and art exhibitions at a local church and also filmed a number of collaborative videos.”

While the band are currently working on their own debut album, they’ve just put up a selection of songs from the Be Part of Something project which are available free to download via jackinwater.com