Lead vocalist and guitarist of the Albion Band from 1993 until 1997, Chris While has continued to make her presence known as one half of a duo she shares with ex-Albion Band bandmate Julie Matthews. Their debut album, Piecework, released in 1998, was followed by the equally impressive Higher Potential a year later. A two-CD set, Stages, recorded at the Worden Arts Centre in Leyland Lancashire, was released in late 2000. Although her vocals have been compared to Jacqui McShee of Pentangle and the late Sandy Denny, While is no mere imitator. According to British music magazine Folk Roots, While "learns from many, takes from few and comes away her own woman."
In addition to being covered by Kathy Chiavola and Frances Black, While's songs have been featured on three solo albums: Look at Me Now, released in 1973; In the Big Room, released in 1997; and Still on Fire/By Request, which featured remastered recordings of early acoustic tapes, released in 1999. Her song "The Light in My Mother's Eye" was nominated in the Best Song category at BBC Radio 2's Folk Music Awards the same year. While's songwriting collaboration with Matthews has resulted in songs covered by Barbara Dickson, Christine Collister, and Black. Although they performed together in the Albion Band, from 1993 until 1997, While and Matthews first performed as a duo in 1994 when they toured Canada as the Women of Albion. Two years later, they joined with Collister, Helen Watson, and Melanie Harrold to form the female supergroup Daphne's Flight.
–
Craig Harris, Rovi