Sun Turtle Records, the student-run music label at Ayrshire College, has digitally released ‘Fix Your Heart’, the debut single from 18-year-old singer-songwriter Kayleigh today, Friday 30th May 2025.
Kayleigh (Templeton) is an HNC Music student at Ayrshire College’s Ayr Campus and was performing the song at an open mic night run by her class last September when lecturer Murray Baxter, who oversees the label, heard it for the first time.
Murray Baxter, Music and Sound Production lecturer at Ayrshire College, said: “As soon as I heard Kayleigh perform, I was blown away by her song and performance. I asked her to send me the demo and we had a meeting the following week.”
‘Fix Your Heart’ leans on Kayleigh’s love of pop and electronic music and has been transformed from an original stripped back piano demo into a modern pop song, drawing inspiration from artists like Billie Eilish and Gracie Abrams.
The single’s production brought together current and former Ayrshire College students and staff. Former student and music producer Daniel Beattie (Bluewave), once signed to the label, crafted a new instrumental arrangement and co-produced the final mix with Murray. Fraser McDonald, an HND Sound Production student, re-recorded a demo while Murray and fellow former student now audio engineer Kyle Roberts handled the vocal recording. Lecturer and sound designer David McAulay mastered the final mix of the track ready for release.
Murray added: “Kayleigh was happy for me to take the reins as producer and we worked well together ironing out parts of the song and working with Daniel to tweak the instrumental to suit. Kayleigh and I worked on press release and marketing plan using images from photography student Elena Vango for the artwork and gig poster.”
Originally from the Isle of Man, Kayleigh moved to Scotland at age six and now lives in Mauchline, Ayrshire. She will perform ‘Fix Your Heart’ at a launch night on Saturday 31st May at Meraki Bar, Kilmarnock, joined by a backing band of Ayrshire College students: Hollie Devlin on guitar and Maretta Wilkes on piano, both studying Access to HNC Music.
Kayleigh Templeton said: “I look at this career path as a way to help others to feel, heal and connect through music and lyrics, as that’s what music has done for me. I’ve been so lucky to have a great team supporting me during the recording process. Murray has been a pleasure to work with. I couldn’t thank him and Sun Turtle Records enough for what they’ve done for me.”
Sun Turtle Records was established at Ayrshire College in 2017 to support grassroot music in Ayrshire. The label gives students and Ayrshire musicians an opportunity to record and release original music, while at the same time giving Sound Production students real experience of the music industry.
Patrick Devlin, Curriculum Manager for Music, Sound Production, Performing Arts and Production Arts at Ayrshire College, added: “Sun Turtle Records is a not-for-profit music label that supports students in developing their practical skills, expanding their networks and gaining hands-on insight into the grassroots music industry. It’s inspiring to see former Ayrshire College students collaborating with our current cohort and staff to help share Kayleigh’s music with the world. It’s a great track and I wish her all the best with her debut release.”