RetroPop Issue 8 October 2022

BLUE NOUGHTIES BOY B A ND FAVOURI T ES A RE B AC K
RETROPOP OCTOBER 2022
Heather
Small
Three decades
of dance
excellence
ROBBIE
The Fizz WILLIAMS
Return
with joyous 25 years of
anniversary solo hits
album
MELANIE C
Spice Girl talks
success, sisterhood and ISSUE 8 | £4.99
embracing Sporty!
PLUS
ALPHAVILLE SYBIL BLANCMANGE DRAGONETTE
Trade synths for PWL powerhouse Continue creative Electro pop outfit gets
symphonic album celebrates pop legacy streak with new LP suited for comeback
RETROPOP | from the editor
RETROPOP
ISSUE 8 | OCTOBER 2022
Irresistible Ltd., Floor 3, 86-90 Paul Street,
London EC2A 4NE HEY THERE!
RETRO POP
Est. April 2020
n 1994, the pop world
retropopmagazine.com
@RetroPopMag
EDITOR
I changed forever when
five singers were
selected from hundreds of
Connor Gotto auditionees to form what
connor.gotto@retropopmagazine.com was to become the biggest
girl group of the decade:
ART DIRECTOR the Spice Girls
Owen Connolly For the next two years,
owenconnollydesign.com they perfected their look,
sound and style and, in July
CONTRIBUTORS
1996 rocketed onto the scene
Ian Berriman
and into the charts with their
Simon Button
breakout hit Wannabe. In the
Joe Matera
years that followed, they achieved global domination with
COVER IMAGE their unique brand of ‘Girl Power’ - but with the highs came
© Welbeck Publishing the lows and the quintet called it quits after three albums in
All copyrights and trademarks are 2000. Two decades later, however, the story goes on…
recognised and respected. Looking back over her life and career in a RETROPOP
exclusive, Melanie C gets candid on her time in the band
ADVERTISING and the years that followed, which have so far seen multiple
Media packs available on request. reunions, between which she’s released eight standout
Please direct enquiries to albums, scored hits with the likes of Bryan Adams and
ads@retropopmagazine.com Lisa ‘Left Eye’ Lopes, and toured the world.
It’s an incredible legacy and I’m very excited to have
GENERAL ENQUIRIES Melanie on the cover of this issue.
Please direct enquiries to Elsewhere this month, we celebrate 25 years of Robbie
contact@retropopmagazine.com Williams’ solo career as we look back over his early
beginnings and his journey to becoming one of the UK’s
Printed in the UK by Stephens and George
most successful male artists, while M People legend
on behalf of Irresistible Ltd. Distributed by
Heather Small tells all about her latest solo album ‘Colour
Select Publisher Services, Marion Manor,
My Life’ and reveals how learning to love herself helped
62 Wimborne Road, Bournemouth, Dorset
build her confidence as a musician and performer.
BH3 7AR.
Plus, having celebrated the 40th anniversary of their
selectmagazines.co.uk
1981 Eurovision win last year, The Fizz tell all about
Tel: +44 (0)1202 586848
‘Everything Under The Sun’ - which may just be their
ISSN 2754-7841 strongest album yet!
There’s plenty more where that came from: noughties
All contents © 2022 Irresistible Ltd. or published boy band favourites Blue look forward to their new album
under license. All rights reserved. No part of ‘Heart & Soul’ and reunion tour; Blancmange’s Neil
this magazine may be used, stored, transmitted Arthur talks rejoining London Records for his superb new
or reproduced in any way without the prior collection ‘Private View’; Sybil looks back on her stellar back
written permission of the publisher. Irresistible catalogue and reveals plans for her first LP in 25 years; and
Ltd. (company number 13729328) is registered Alphaville star Marian Gold revisits the group’s biggest hits
in England and Wales. Registered office: Floor for his brand new orchestral set.
3, 86-90 Paul Street, London, EC2A 4NE. All As always, I want to say a huge thank you for your
information contained in this publication is for continued support of the magazine. It’s been six months
information only and is, as far as we are aware, since we started publishing monthly and your response has
accurate at the time of going to press. Irresistible been amazing - I can’t wait for you to see what we’ve got
Ltd. cannot accept any responsibilities for errors coming up!
or inaccuracies in such information. Enjoy - and I’ll see you again in four weeks’ time…
Connor Gotto, Editor
RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM 3
RETROPOP
CONTENTS 28
8 20
48
INTERVIEWS
64 FEATURES
16 ALPHAVILLE Merseyside to world domination, 14 REMEMBERING OLIVIA

Marian Gold talks revisiting the Sporty Spice celebrates her epic NEWTON JOHN
group’s biggest hits and best- journey to the top Following her passing in August
loved recordings for his new at the age of 73, we remember
orchestral collection 48 HEATHER SMALL the late pop legend and celebrate
Embracing 30 years of pop her incredible legacy
20 SYBIL anthems with her epic new solo
Dance floor diva looks back on album, the voice of M People 40 ROBBIE WILLIAMS
three decades in music and returns From boy band poster boy to
reveals plans for her first album solo superstar, we celebrate the
in 25 years 56 THE FIZZ the former Take That star’s 25th
With 40 years of pop classics anniversary and his biggest
24 BLANCMANGE under their belt, the trio reunite career milestones
Neil Arthur unveils his with Mike Stock for their best
11th album in as many record yet
years and explains
why, after four 64 BLUE
decades, he’s Ahead of their belated
more creative 20th anniversary
than ever celebrations, the boys
reveal all about their
28 MELANIE C ‘Heart & Soul’ album
From Whiston,
16 and tour
14
4 RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM
RETROPOP | contents
24
56
40 72
RETRO REGULARS
R E V I VA L
72 DRAGONETTE 8 NEWS
As three become one, Martina Stay in the loop with your
Sorbara reveals where she plans favourite pop superstars
to take the act with her new
material 13 TOP OF THE POPS TALES
Madchester takes over the TOTP
80 ALICE D studio with two classic 1989
Singer-songwriter talks stepping performances
‘Into The Light’ on her new EP,
her musical influences and life REVIEWS
as the daughter of Bananarama 82 ALBUMS
legend Sara Dallin Mark Owen, Rina Sawayama,
Suede and more…
92 REISSUES
ABBA, Shakespears Sister, Toyah
and more…
95 COMPILATIONS
80 NOW! Music and more…
98 POP QUIZ
They went on to achieve massive solo
success, but do you know with which
groups these pop stars started out?
87
LINE-UP
NEWS | INTERVIEWS | RETROSPECTIVES
14
OLIVIA
NEWTON-
JOHN
Remembering the
late pop legend
18 20 24
ALPHAVILLE SYBIL BLANCMANGE

Marian Gold steps back Dance floor diva’s Neil Arthur continues
in time with his new good ‘n’ ready for long- his creative burst with
symphonic album awaited comeback ‘Private View’
LINE -UP N E W S
KYLIE MINOGUE
LAUNCHING NEW
MUSIC IN 2023
Kylie Minogue looks set to launch the this unique position of being our own entity
campaign for her 16th studio album early with our own purpose,” he explained. “That
next year. works brilliantly when you are talking to
The pop legend is hard at work on tracks our core artist community, which is iconic,
for the project and according to BMG established artists.
president Alistair Norbury will offer a first “We are seen as a home for artists who
flavour of the LP in the first half of 2023. want to be respected and want creative
In an interview with Headliner Magazine, control and total transparency in marketing
he said: “Next year we’ll start [the campaign budgets.
for] our third album with Kylie, and we only “And those artists are marketing BMG
expected to do one. for us. The success of Rick Astley led to the
“So the roster is building to a size where it is success of Kylie, and the success of Kylie
almost self-sustaining,” he added, confirming brought us Louis Tomlinson, who in turn
the label has planned its “Q1 and Q2” releases attracted the interest of Rita Ora.”
for 2023, hinting at a potential launch date. It was previously reported that Kylie is
PHOTO DARENOTE LTD

Kylie’s first release on BMG was 2018’s working with Kamille, who has penned
‘Golden’ and, reflecting on what brought her hits for the likes of Little Mix, Dua Lipa and
to the company, Alistair revealed it Mabel, on her latest project, with the news
was fellow ‘80s star and Stock Aitken coming after she celebrated the second
Waterman legend Rick Astley’s success that anniversary of her chart-topping ‘DISCO’
tempted her. album with a music video for fan-favourite
“On the label side, we very much enjoy track Miss A Thing.
DURAN DURAN’S Duran Duran’s new concert movie is set Games in Birmingham; and this featured
to hit cinemas worldwide this autumn. video of the song TONIGHT UNITED,
‘HOLLYWOOD HIGH’ The group announced the project on filmed at a special concert we did on the
CONCERT HEADED August 10 - aka Duran Duran Appreciation rooftop of the Aster in Hollywood, CA.
TO CINEMAS Day - with Simon Le Bon confirming ‘A “This track is part of ‘A Hollywood
Hollywood High, Duran Duran Live in High, Duran Duran Live in Concert,’
Concert’ is coming to the big screen. which will be released in cinemas in
In a statement on the group’s website, November, 2022.”
he said: “It has been an incredible year He added: “All of these things make us
(August-August) for the band. feel much more important than we really
PHOTO JONAS AKERLUND
“Landmarks include the release of are, but that’s OK, it’s an occupational
‘FUTURE PAST’ and all the attendant hazard in this business.”
successes: Our induction into the Rock TONIGHT UNITED originally appeared
& Roll Hall of Fame; our participation at on the band’s 15th studio album ‘FUTURE
the Jubilee concert for the Queen; our PAST’, which was released last October.
incredible show at BST Hyde Park in The LP features collaborations with Mark
London; being invited to perform at the Ronson, Giorgio Moroder, Tove Lo, Mike
opening ceremony at the Commonwealth Garson and Graham Coxon.
MADONNA launched Bros star MATT GOSS BRYAN ADAMS and ‘Pop Idol’ finalist
IN THE
her ‘Finally Enough and Hear’Say singer KYM MELANIE C have DARIUS
Love’ remix collection MARSH are the big pop released a new version CAMPBELL-
LOOP by throwing a roller

disco in New York with
NILE RODGERS
names set to compete on
this year’s ‘Strictly Come
Dancing’
of their hit duet When
You’re Gone
DANESH has
passed away at
the age of 41
LINE-UP | news
COLDPLAY ANNOUNCE 2023

‘MUSIC OF THE SPHERES’ TOUR DATES
Coldplay will return to the more than four million
live stage in summer 2023 tickets already and attracting
for a new set of ‘Music of rave reviews, the trek
the Spheres’ shows. has been heralded for its
Having completed a groundbreaking set of
triumphant run of six sold sustainability initiatives,
out nights at London’s which include a show
Wembley Stadium, Chris powered by 100 per cent
Martin and co. have renewable energy in almost
announced further European all locations.
and UK stadium shows, set It run off the world’s first
PHOTO JAMES MARCUS HANEY
to take place next year. tourable battery system and

The dates include the utilises power bikes and
tour’s first visits to Portugal, kinetic dancefloors, which
Spain, Italy, Switzerland, allow fans to help power the
Denmark, Sweden and the show, along with solar panels
Netherlands, alongside UK and wind turbines at every encouraging fans to travel by teased via Easter eggs in
shows in Manchester and venue. The group have also green transport, planting one the band’s music video for
Cardiff. pledged to cut tour emissions tree for every ticket sold. Humankind, with full details
In addition to selling by 50 per cent and are The new tour dates were available over on our website.
Darren Hayes unveils vibrant

comeback album ‘Homosexual’
Darren Hayes will release his fifth solo title is that in 2022, I’m living in a time and in
album ‘Homosexual’ this autumn. a country where the freedoms of LGBTQI+
The former Savage Garden star’s first long- people are more at risk than they’ve ever been.
player in over a decade features the singles “Moments like the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill in
Let’s Try Being In Love, Do You Remember?, Florida, or the constant attacks on trans people,
Poison Blood and All You Pretty Things. have made it clear to me that now is the time
In a statement about the release, Darren to be as loud as possible about who I am.
explains: “I named my album ‘Homosexual’ “So on the front cover of my album, I’m
for a variety of reasons. The most obvious, proudly lounging upon my version of a
is that I’m a gay man who grew up in stairway to heaven. Emblazoned across me,
an era when that word was used to in the brightest hot pink neon, is a word the
shame and vilify people like me, so 11-year-old me used to be terrified of.
I wanted to reclaim it. “I lounge proudly underneath the electric
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ARTIST
“I’m also a recording artist buzz of this symbol, this term that used to
who came up in an era be used to denigrate people like me. Now it’s
where being openly gay my word. Now it means whatever I want it to
was frowned upon and I mean. If you haven’t worked it out yet, I think
experienced first hand, the it means something magical, amazing, unique
attempted erasure of my true and essential.
identity from the marketing “My name is Darren Hayes. And I’m a proud
department of a major record Homosexual.”
label. But perhaps the most ‘Homosexual’ is out October 7 and available
important reason I chose this to pre-order now.
JACK SAVORETTI has JONI MITCHELL is reportedly DEPECHE MODE stars RICK ASTLEY has
teamed up with SOPHIE building up to a return to the Dave Gahan and Martin recreated the music
ELLIS-BEXTOR on a recording studio after playing Gore have returned to the video for his classic hit
duet version of his track her first full concert in 22 years studio following the passing Never Gonna Give You
Late Night at the Newport Folk Festival of founder Andy Fletcher Up as part of a US TV
this summer earlier this year commercial
LINE - UP N E W S
SHORTLIST
ANNOUNCED FOR
EUROVISION 2023
HOST CITY
Seven UK cities have made finished second on
the shortlist to host the 2023 the leaderboard this
Eurovision Song Contest. year with his hit Space
Birmingham, Glasgow, Man, the decision was
Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, made for the country
Newcastle and Sheffield are to step in and host in
all in contention to stage the Ukraine’s place.
event in May, the BBC has The European executive supervisor, said: the creativity and skill of one
announced, after 20 cities Broadcasting Union (EBU) “We’re exceptionally grateful of Europe’s most experienced
expressed an interest. undertook a “full assessment that the BBC has accepted public broadcasters whilst
PHOTO SARAH LOUISE BENNETT

The announcement means and feasibility study”, to stage the Eurovision Song ensuring this year’s winners,
major locations including concluding “security and Contest in the UK in 2023. Ukraine, are celebrated and
London and Belfast have operational guarantees” “The BBC has taken on represented throughout the
failed to qualify. required to host the event hosting duties for other event.”
The UK was chosen to host could not be fulfilled by winning countries on Ukraine will automatically
the contest after organisers UA:PBC, Ukraine’s public four previous occasions. qualify for the Grand Final
decided it could not be staged broadcaster. Continuing in this tradition of alongside the Big Five: the
by 2022 winners Ukraine. Martin Osterdahl, the solidarity, we know that next United Kingdom, France,
Since the UK’s Sam Ryder Eurovision Song Contest’s year’s contest will showcase Germany, Italy and Spain.
SOFT CELL UNVEIL LIVE ‘EROTIC CABARET’ ALBUM

Soft Cell are continuing to celebrate Marc adds: “In this album, I wanted to look at us as a society,
the 40th anniversary of their debut a place where we have chosen to put profits before people,
long-player ‘Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret’ money before morality and decency, food before the rights of
with a brand new live album. animals, fanaticism before fairness and our own trivial comforts
The new LP was recorded in before the unspeakable agonies of others.”
November 2021 at one of the duo’s two “I think it’s very much reflective of what’s going on in the
sellout concerts at London’s Eventim world,” Dave continues. “The fact we had someone like [Donald]
Apollo, Hammersmith and will be Trump in power. We’re not in a very good place globally. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ARTIST
issued on CD, DVD and vinyl. “Whatever your political beliefs are, the state [of the world] isn’t
Alongside songs from the group’s too good. And obviously, with all the global warming and all that
seminal debut, also featured are sort of stuff going on, it’s not fantastically happy times.”
cuts from their latest long-player The release comes after Dave was forced to miss out on the
‘*Happiness Not Included’, which marked Soft Cell’s return to the US leg of Soft Cell’s celebratory shows, with Grammy-winning
Top 10 of the UK charts earlier this year. producer Philip Larsen standing in on synthesisers for the
The album features 10 new tracks and, according to Dave, five dates.
“reflects the dreadful government we have at the moment and ‘Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret… And Other Stories: Live’ is out
the levels of hypocrisy and incompetence”. October 7 and available to pre-order now.
CHRISTINA HAZELL DEAN SHANIA TWAIN has WHITNEY
IN THE
AGUILERA is said returns with her been working with HOUSTON’s first
to be going ‘back to new ABBA covers producer Mark Ralph four albums will be
LOOP her pop roots’ on her

forthcoming English
language album
collection ‘8’, out
physically now and
digitally in October
on her forthcoming
sixth studio album
reissued on vinyl
throughout 2023
LINE-UP | news
Björk sets autumn

release for new
album ‘Fossora’
Björk has confirmed the title of her forthcoming studio
album ‘Fossora’, which is expected to arrive this autumn.
The follow-up to 2017’s ‘Utopia’ is billed as a deeply
personal set, with the musician telling The Guardian much
of the LP is centred on the death of her mother Hildur Rúna
Hauksdóttir in 2018.
Of her passing aged 72, she explained: “That’s quite early. I
think me and my brother were not ready to… we thought she
PHOTO WARREN DU PREEZ / NICK THRONTON JONES
had 10 years left.

“So we were like: ‘Come on,’ and getting her to fight and…
and it was like she had an inner clock in her and she was just
ready to go.”
Two tracks - Sorrowful Soil and Ancestress, are said to
directly speak of the loss, while the album also features
collaborations with Serpentwithfeet and Indonesian punks
Gabber Modus Operandi, along with contributions from her
son Sindri and daughter Doa.
According to the publication, the album’s sound is “organic
and spacious, earthbound rather than dreamy, and filled
with warmth and breath,” and notably a departure from the
“cloudy electronics” of her previous release.
Meanwhile, the album cover for ‘Fossora’ features Björk
as “a glowing forest sprite, her fingertips fusing with the
fantastic fungi under her hooves.”
DISCO LEGEND CERRONE UNVEILS NEW ALBUM

Cerrone will release his brand new “I was immediately seduced by Purple
album later this year. Disco Machines’s work as soon as I first heard
The disco legend’s latest long-player it. With this collaboration he succeeded once
‘Cerrone by Cerrone’ is a celebration of again in helping spread the spirit of disco.”
his 50th anniversary as a recording artist Purple Disco Machine adds: “Cerrone
and features 16 of his classic tracks and is one of my all time musical heroes, so
cult favourites. when I wrote to his label to ask to clear a
Reworked by guest collaborators and sample from one of his classic productions
mixed by Cerrone himself, it’s preceded by and they replied, ‘Why don’t we do it as a
the single Summer Lovin’ in collaboration collaboration?’, it was a no brainer to say yes!
PHOTO THIERRY LE GOUES
with Purple Disco Machine. “I’ve now been able to spend some time
Of the track, Cerrone says: “I have had with Marc [Cerrone] and he totally disproves
the privilege of being sampled a lot of times the famous quote about ‘never meet your
throughout the years, and this track means heroes’, as he’s a wonderful person as well as a
my music now crosses five generations, music legend.”
thanks to the many talented artists and ‘Cerrone by Cerrone’ is out October 14 and
producers that have been a part of my work. available to pre-order now.
HAPPY MONDAYS have Ahead of the release PULP will reunite in 2023 BEYONCÉ’s new album
paid tribute to the group’s of their new album for a string of live shows, ‘Renaissance’ is confirmed
late bassist Paul Ryder ‘True North’, A-HA will JARVIS COCKER has to be the first in a three-
with the release of the new release the film of the confirmed part project - however
‘Tart Tart’ EP same name in cinemas further details have yet to
on September 15 be confirmed
JUST CAN’T GET
ENOUGH OF THE
80s and 90s?
Then you’ll love Totally 80s and Totally
90s with Gary King! Listen every week
for free at www.X1Player.com
RETROSPECTIVE | Top of the Pops
Top Of The Pops tales

Step back in time as we revisit classic moments from the ‘Top of the Pops’ archives!
Ian Brown does his

best chimpanzee
impression.
How did Kirsty
MacColl get
#5 there?
MADCHESTER RAVES ON
November 21, 1989:
The Stone Roses - Fool’s Gold / Happy Mondays – Hallelujah
TOP 10
or a generation of indie kids, one Resurrection Of British Pop’, Davies says
F
THE OFFICIAL CHART
‘Top of the Pops’ stands out: the one he was, “in a real flap… trying to keep the FOR NOVEMBER 19, 1989
where, for seven mind-blowing two bands apart in case the Mondays spiked
minutes, the Madchester scene their drinks.” 1 NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
crashed Television Centre. The prankage was more innocent, though. You Got It (The Right Stuff)
The Stone Roses weren’t wildly enthusiastic. “When we did the warm-up, [bassist] Mani
2 LISA STANSFIELD
The day before had seen a calamitous went on the kit and [drummer] Gary Whelan
All Around The World
appearance on BBC Two’s ‘The Late Show’, from the Mondays went on the bass,” Ian
where their volume triggered a cut-out Brown told Robb. Come the final take, Factory 3 LINDA RONSTADT AND
switch. After trooping back to a YMCA, they Records boss Tony Wilson had talked them AARON NEVILLE
were inclined to ditch ‘TOTP’. In 2012 book out of it, though. “Only Bez was up for it in the Don’t Know Much
WORDS IAN BERRIMAN PHOTOS BBC / TOP OF THE POPS
‘The Stone Roses: War And Peace’, plugger end, so we sacked it off,” Shaun Ryder says in 4 PHIL COLLINS
Gareth Davies says they only relented after 2021’s ‘How To Be A Rock Star’. Another Day In Paradise
he arranged some miming-disguising props. The Mondays frontman’s main 5 KYLIE MINOGUE
“They were insistent on having amplifiers… misbehaviour was a run-in with “the bloke Never Too Late
The band arrived in two cars. John [Squire, running the studio”. “He was giving it all ‘I’m
6 IRON MAIDEN
guitarist] came up to me to say that the cars the boss, I’m in charge here!’ I said, ‘I don’t
Infinite Dreams (Live)
were waiting for a while, because if they give a fuck who you are, you silly little cunt.’”
didn’t like how it looked they were going. But Ryder was informed that the Mondays would 7 UB40
they went into the studio, saw the amps, and never appear again – but within five months, Homely Girl
they were fine.” (Puzzlingly, in the show as they did. For the Roses, however, it was to be 8 MILLI VANILLI
broadcast, no amps are visible…) their final performance on British TV. Girl I’m Gonna Miss You
Happy Mondays, meanwhile, had cancelled 9 MARTIKA
a Leeds gig to attend. Their appetite for illicit l Follow @TOTPFacts on Twitter for I Feel The Earth Move
substances had the Roses’ manager sweating. live trivia commentary on the BBC Four
10 MIXMASTER
In John Robb’s ‘The Stone Roses And The repeats.
Grand Piano
Remembering
OLIVIA
NEWTON-JOHN
26 September 1948 – 8 August 2022
O
livia Newton-John has she made it her mission to share that “She will be missed. She will be
passed away at the age beautiful energy with the world. remembered. She will be loved. Olivia,
of 73 following a battle “I was lucky to meet Olivia many I honestly love you.”
with cancer, prompting times over the years. I was honoured Others to remember the late
an outpouring of love for the singer- to be asked to assist in raising money to musician and performer include Natalie
songwriter and actress, as tributes build the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Imbruglia, who called her “a huge
from her friends and fans flooded & Wellness Centre in Heidelberg, inspiration to me and so many other
social media. Victoria. I know this hospital has helped young kids who where [sic] singing
According to a statement from - and will help - many people, and she into their hairbrush”; Elton John,
her husband John Easterling, the was so very proud of making this dream who emotionally remembered his
superstar “died peacefully at her ranch come to life. “warm and loving friend”; and Dionne
in Southern California [...] surrounded “Rest In Peace lovely lady. You will Warwick, who gushed Olivia was “one
by family and friends,” following a fight never be forgotten.” of the nicest people I had the pleasure
with the disease spanning 30 years. In his own post, ex-Savage Garden of recording and performing with”.
“Olivia has been a symbol of triumphs star Darren Hayes said: “Oh dear, sweet, Olivia was born in Cambridge, UK
and hope for over 30 years sharing her magical, eternal Olivia. You gave so and moved to Australia in 1954, where
journey with breast cancer,” he penned. much to this world and to this little boy she was raised. She achieved her
“Her healing inspiration and pioneering who saw acceptance in your twinkling musical breakthrough in 1971 when
experience with plant medicine eyes and glittering world. she released the Bob Dylan-penned If
continues with the Olivia Newton- “You made us all feel held by the Not For You, which hit No. 7 in the UK
John Foundation Fund, dedicated to sweetness of your voice and the charts and featured on an album of the
researching plant medicine and cancer.” capacity of your heart. I hope you are same name.
Among the first to remember Olivia in Xanadu.” She won four Grammy awards and
was her ‘Grease’ co-star John Travolta, Meanwhile, Mariah Carey shared scored seven US No. 1 hits between
who said she “made all of our lives so a gallery of snaps of the pair on stage 1974 and 1977, before going on to
much better”. together, writing: “I first fell in love with achieve global recognition as an actress
“My dearest Olivia,” he wrote. “Your Olivia’s voice when I was a little girl and alongside John Travolta in the 1978
impact was incredible. I love you so heard I Honestly Love You. Songs like movie musical ‘Grease’. Two years later,
PHOTOS EVERETT COLLECTION INC / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO
much. We will see you down the road Magic, Suddenly and Have You Never she fronted the musical fantasy flick
and we will all be together again. Yours Been Mellow showcased her beautiful ‘Xanadu’.
from the first moment I saw you and airy tone and signature sound. And In the years that followed, she
forever! Your Danny, your John!” THEN there was GREASE. continued to achieve hit singles, but
In a post on her Instagram page, “I was obsessed. I dressed up as Bad in 1992 was diagnosed with breast
Kylie Minogue credited Olivia as an Sandy for Halloween in 5th grade and cancer, forcing Olivia to put her health
“inspiration”, adding: “Since I was ten thought I was everything. Years later, first and take a step back. The disease
years old, I have loved and looked up to THE one and only Olivia Newton-John returned in 2013 and later in 2017, when
Olivia Newton-John. And, I always will. actually walked out onto my stage in it metastasised to her lower back and
“She was, and always will be, an Melbourne, Australia and we sang progressed to stage IV, but through
inspiration to me in so many, many our hearts out together to Hopelessly it all she remained an advocate for
ways. My deepest condolences to her Devoted To You. This is a moment I will breast cancer research, with a number
family and loved ones.” never ever forget. of charity releases and the building
“Dame Olivia Newton-John would “I was also blessed to be in her of the Olivia Newton-John Cancer
illuminate a room, just with her presence on many other occasions and Wellness Centre in Melbourne,
presence,” added Dannii Minogue. “Her and she was one of the kindest, most Australia, which continues to help those
heart was full of love and light, and generous and lovely people I’ve ever met. affected by the illness.
REMEMBERING | Olivia Newton-John
A MUSICAL LEGACY
With a career spanning five decades, here are just some
of Olivia Newton-John’s best-loved releases…
LONG LIVE LOVE 1974

Olivia represented the United
Kingdom at the 1974 Eurovision
Song Contest - the same year
ABBA won with Waterloo!
Although she later admitted that
she disliked the song, it saw the
singer finish in fourth place and
was included on her album of the
same name - alongside the five other
song candidates for the contest.
I HONESTLY LOVE YOU

1974
Shortly after Olivia’s Eurovision bid,
she scored a worldwide pop hit with
another track from that album. I
Honestly Love You was her first No.
1 single in the US and Canada and
remained her signature solo song
throughout the rest of the decade.
GREASE 1978
A starring role on the big screen
saw Olivia’s career soar to new
heights, when she was cast as Sandy
alongside John Travolta’s Danny in
the film adaptation of the Broadway
musical ‘Grease’. The soundtrack
topped the charts worldwide and
features the UK No. 1 hits You’re
the One That I Want and Summer Nights.
XANADU 1980
Olivia’s appearance alongside
Gene Kelly and Michael Beck in
the musical fantasy ‘Xanadu’ may
not have been met with the same
acclaim as ‘Grease’, but she made
sure to impact the pop charts with
its soundtrack, with Magic and
Xanadu topping the countdown in
the US and UK, respectively.
PHYSICAL 1981
At the start of the decade, Olivia
released her most successful studio
album ‘Physical’, showcasing a
more risqué, rock-oriented sound,
with its title track becoming one
of the most recognisable hits of
the decade. She told People at the
time: “I just wasn’t in the mood for
tender ballads. I wanted peppy stuff
because that’s how I’m feeling.”
REVISITING
Utopia
Forty years since synth-pop group Alphaville formed,
frontman Marian Gold is back with an album of
orchestral reimaginings of their best-loved recordings
- and there’s more new music on the way!
WORDS JOE MATERA
INTERVIEW | Alphaville
hen German synth-pop Lohr and Max Knoth. Because of them, UK hit. Their debut album ‘Forever
W outfit Alphaville arrived

on the music scene in
the early 1980s, they lit
up the charts worldwide with a string
of shimmering hit records.
it wasn’t much of an enterprise to give
the songs the touch they needed to
relive in this new environment.”
When the band first appeared on the
scene, Alphaville were seen as another
Young’ followed later that same year,
with the title track released as a single
too. It has gone on to become one of
the band’s calling cards, as well as the
choice cut for numerous cover versions.
Led by their irrepressible vocalist in the line of similar-styled, synth- “It is just a phenomenon how
Marian Gold, the combo achieved heavy German outfits such as Kraftwerk, attractive that song has been for other
commercial success with singles such but Gold believes they were able to musicians because there are so many
as Forever Young, Jet Set and their UK forge their own identity - one which cover versions of it” explains Marian
Top 10 smash, Big In Japan. separated them from their German about the song’s longevity. “The cover
To honour their latest milestone, counterparts. by Australian band Youth Group was
the band’s leader is revisiting some of “It wasn’t that hard because right from very nice, and I especially like how they
their best-loved numbers by giving the beginning we had our own style and left out one of the chords.”
them an orchestral makeover and, standpoint,” he affirms. “Kraftwerk Yet if it wasn’t for the foresight
having entered the studio with the were, in a way, an influence on of Alphaville’s co-founding
German Film Orchestra Babelsberg, us, but the greater part of the member Bernhard Lloyd, the
Alphaville return with ‘Eternally Yours’; influence came song may never
a 23 track album that reimagines and from English bands have been recorded.
revamps the greatest songs from their such as Orchestral The interesting “Bernhard originally
illustrious catalogue. Manoeuvres in came up with a tape
the Dark. That first thing was of it that he had
ETERNAL album by Orchestral that, though recorded some music
“What we wanted to achieve was not Manoeuvres in the on and at the time he
just using the orchestra as a kind of Dark, for me, was a symphonic gave it to me, it was
cheap excuse for a novelty album” revelation because music is a thing an up-tempo song
explains Marian, “but to really see what they were exactly in and I really liked it,” he
that kind of arrangement would do the same situation as from the past, recalls. “So, I sat down
with our songs. The interesting thing we were, where they and for some reason
was that, though symphonic music is weren’t well educated
what it did to our this line ‘forever
a thing from the past, what it did to our musicians, they were songs was make young’ came into
songs was make them kind of timeless.” just amateurs. Yet in my mind, so I began
He found reinterpreting the material all their limitedness,
them kind of writing lines around
within an orchestral format a lot less they were able to timeless. the idea of forever
laborious than he initially had expected. create that first album young and I wrote
“Maybe the reason for that is that the and their first single, the lyrics in about 45
core of the songs has, in a way, some Electricity. minutes. I then took
similarity to that old fashioned kind of “We were exactly the same, the tape and sang it to Bernhard
music” he mulls. “Alphaville was always as we could hardly play our and, after we finished it, I said
a band that loved to invent melodies instruments too. We were relying on that I was quite pleased with the verses
with a kind of old-fashioned approach, synthesisers, sequencers and drum but thought the chorus was a bit too
and also our songs are very melodic, machines but we had the music in our simplistic and wanted to change it. But
and maybe that is why it wasn’t a big heads. And because of that, I think it is Bernhard insisted that we should leave
task to do - especially when you look at the reason why we became significant it as it was, just as it was. So, he really
songs like Apollo or Forever Young. It right from the very first moment we saved the song.”
was all quite easy to do. appeared in public.” During the group’s four-decade-long
“What also helped existence, Alphaville has seen its share
was that we were MAKE IT BIG of line-up changes, and while the group
also supported by Alphaville have since 1993 been a constant on the
two really great released their touring circuit, when it comes to studio
arrangers debut single albums, it’s been more infrequent, with
who had Big In Japan the band preferring instead to take their
a lot of in early time to focus on the finer details, thus
experience 1984 and it slowing the entire process.
in doing garnered “We’ve been a little bit lazy concerning
such tasks: the band the gaps between new albums” admits
Christian their first Marian. “We were touring as well
[and] had been constantly working in new perspectives about what you’re
the studio. And being in the studio, we doing and also, they give you a new
were also very critical about what we perspective on the songs themselves.
were doing, so we were never really In the studio you’re watching the songs
satisfied. We would turn the song from your own perspective but in that
around and rearrange it and then start live situation, you are seeing everything
all over again. as if you’re watching a movie of
“The process to compose and write a your performance. And that is a very
new album always took quite a while for inspiring process.”
us, and then in between we were always Of the group’s past members,
touring, which we have been doing Marian still maintains an ongoing
since the mid-1990s, and basically in friendship with Bernhard, who departed
Europe and sometimes North America.” Alphaville in 2003. “I still have a very
The vocalist admits that, while the close relationship with Bernhard who
personnel changes along the way is the other half founding member of
may have affected the group’s sound Alphaville” he says. “Bernhard and I also
somewhat, they never departed from still work together from time to time.
their primary synth-pop values. But I have no further knowledge about
“Alphaville has existed for 40 years now,” Frank [Mertens] and Ricky [Echolette].
he beams, “and though there were Frank in a way was the Syd Barrett of
changing line-ups along the way, and Alphaville, and with Ricky we’re no
though these changes had an influence longer in contact, though I do know that
on the way the music sounded, I think he is living in the South of France.”
at the core of it and the general idea
to what Alphaville is all about, has FOREVER YOUNG
never changed. With a four-decade career under
“It didn’t change on any of the his belt, Marian is grateful to have
albums we released. So though experienced so many highlights
Alphaville has always over his lifespan.
been more of a In hindsight, one
project with changing The album particular moment
members, the idea of stands out the most.
the project has never that will follow “What always comes
changed.” ‘Eternally Yours’ back to my mind is
However, he still when we did this
relishes the benefits has the working concert in Beirut
he receives from
both the studio and
title of ‘Thunder in 1993,” he recalls.
“It was just some
live environments. Baby’ and a lot months after the end
“I couldn’t have the of the civil war there.
one without the
of material has “It was at the
other,” he asserts. already been invitation of the
“Working in the studio German Embassy
is a very introverted written. and so we discussed
thing where you’re the offer within the
following all your own band as to whether
ideas, so you don’t care about what we should go over there and play
other people might think or might and we decided to do it - and it
say about what you are doing - was just one of the strongest and
you just follow your own compass. And most overwhelming experiences I ever
when you’re rearranging the songs had in my life as a musician. Standing
for a live tour, it is quite the opposite in front of all these young people who
PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE ARTIST
thing, you become in some way a kind went through hell just months before,
of prostitute as you want to really sell and here they were now in front of the
the music. You are thinking about how stage and they were screaming for joy
you can approach the music in a live and totally getting into the music. And
situation so that it becomes even more they were so happy and so grateful that
attractive and more convincing to the we had come over and played there.”
people. And that is an extroverted thing. In retrospect, is there anything he
“But both of these situations are would go back and change today? “Yes,
absolutely fantastic, as they offer you I do have regrets with a lot of things,”
INTERVIEW | Alphaville
he chuckles. “But that is all I’m going to

say about that subject. But one thing I
definitely would change relates to my
first solo album ‘So Long Celeste’ (1992).
That album was more of a rock album
than what I would normally have done
with Alphaville and I did that because,
at the time, I wanted to free myself
from pop music. So I had presented
the album to the record company and
they said, ’Oh this doesn’t sound like
Alphaville’. And I said, ‘Yeah, it’s because
it’s a solo album!’. But they asked me
to do something about it and to go
back and make it more sounding like
Alphaville. So, I agreed to it and went
back to the studio and started all over
again and changed the music into
something that was more melodic and
more rhythmic and of course, more
Alphaville sounding. And I must admit,
it actually did sound better than the
previous version, so I was quite satisfied
with it all.
“I presented it again to the label, and
this time they liked it and released it.
Then I asked them about an American
release for the album, and so they sent
it to the American label and I went over
to New York to discuss the release with
the American label [Warner Music] the
following week and they told me, ‘You
know, Marian it’s a nice album but it’s a
solo album, and it sounds too much like
Alphaville!’ And I replied, ‘Yeah, I have
just re-recorded it all.’ But I refused to
do it all again. And it was a big mistake
on my behalf because Warner in the US
never released the album in America.
“If that same situation happened
I still have a very today, this time I would accept it. I
still have this unreleased album in the
close relationship archives and who knows, I may do
with Bernhard something with it in the future.”
Looking to the future, Marian has
Lloyd, who is already unleashed plans for another
the other half Alphaville album. “I’m actually already
working on a new album which will
founding member come out after ‘Eternally Yours’,” he
of Alphaville. But reveals. “Then next year we are going
to do a tour with an orchestra which
I have no further will take us to the second half of 2023.
So, I’m already occupied in my mind
knowledge about with the album that will follow ‘Eternally
Frank Mertens and Yours’ which, at the moment, has the
working title of ‘Thunder Baby’, and a lot
Ricky Echolette. of material has already been written for
the album.”
l ‘Eternally Yours’ is out September

23 on Neue Meister (Edel).
‘N’
Good Ready
Having scored a string of top dance hits in the late 1980s
and early 1990s, Sybil disappeared from the music scene
in favour of a career in education - but now she’s back and
working on tracks for her first album in 25 years.
WORDS CONNOR GOTTO
n 1986, New Jersey-born vocal sing and not have vocally been destroyed would be in the music business
I powerhouse Sybil launched onto

the music scene with a series of
singles that made waves on both
sides of the Atlantic.
Having broken into the UK Top 40
by living a crazy life - I’m excited by it. I’ve
met some wonderful people and travelled
the world, and I’m able to deliver songs
that mean something to others, as they
meant something to me when I did them.
as a singer. I always wanted to
be a songwriter, but at that time I
was an editor and a proofreader
for a publishing company in
New Jersey. It was my first job
with the single Let Yourself Go, she out of college and I remember
rocketed to the Top 5 of the US Dance Where were you at personally and my dad, after I graduated, said,
charts with its follow-up My Love Is professionally when that journey began? ‘You can have the summer off,’
Guaranteed, before a pair of Dionne Well, the funny thing is I had graduated but then when he found out I
Warwick covers - of Don’t Make Me college in ‘85 and I was 22 or 23. Actually, had been offered a position, he
Over and Walk On By - saw her rise to when I started, I didn’t anticipate that I said, ‘You might want to take
global prominence. that…’ And I did.
In the years that followed, she But on the weekends, I was
released six studio albums and scored singing. I was travelling the
massive success with tracks such as US and I was part of a group
The Love I Lost and the Mike Stock/ called CeCe & Company with
Pete Waterman-penned-and-produced CeCe Rogers, who did the song
When I’m Good and Ready. Someday - and I got a record
Celebrating more than three decades I did Don’t Make deal before he did. So I was doing that on
in the music business, the dance floor Me Over and Walk the weekends, working Monday through
diva looks back over her pop legacy Friday, and then Friday night, Saturday
as she prepares to return with a brand On By - and then the and Sunday I’d be doing gigs.
new album. In 1986, which was almost a year after I
next hit record
graduated, I was approached about doing
It’s been 35 years since you released I had was The Love a demo - I thought it was a demo for
your first album ‘Let Yourself Go’. someone else. And ultimately, that demo
Can you believe that?
I Lost! If nothing ended up being my first record, Falling In
I don’t know how that happened else, I knew how to Love, for Next Plateau Records.
when I’m only 25! [Laughs] I’m really
fortunate when I think about it. I was do covers! Wow. So you were pretty much
having a conversation with a good headhunted - they heard the voice and
friend of mine, Ultra Naté, and Ultra had to have you!
and I have been in the business longer Yeah! What happened is SRP Sound had
than most. When I think about it I’m just been trying to sell this track and Eddie
appreciative, because to still be able to O’Laughlin, who was the President at
Q&A | Sybil
you have to understand, I’m sitting

here thinking, ‘I’m an educated
woman, I’ve got a college degree,
my parents have paid for me to go
to school…’ And with the horror
stories that I’d heard [about the
music industry], I was really fearful
to be honest with you, because I just
did not want to fall into a lifestyle
that I thought was going to be
adverse to me in the long run. But
I remember my mum said, ‘You are
23 years old - this is the time to do it.
Don’t wait until you’re old to do this
stuff. You’re bright enough and you
have something to fall back on.’ So I
was always in that mindset, because
I had a family who supported me and
I knew that I would never, ever not
have a place to live. I knew that I had
my family’s support and my mum
said, ‘Go for it!’ - so that’s what I did.
Your first album, ‘Let Yourself Go’,

featured what was to become one of
your biggest hits - a cover of Dionne
Warwick’s Don’t Make Me Over.
What’s your affinity with her music?
I’m from New Jersey and growing up
Dionne Warwick was an icon, thus my
initial reluctance to do the record. The
funny thing is, I had wanted to do Walk
On By - I really, really wanted to do Walk
On By, because I was more familiar with
that song than I was Don’t Make Me
Over. But Don’t Make Me Over was her
first hit record in 1962 - I wasn’t even
born at that time - but my mum was
familiar with it and it was my parents
who said, ‘Try it’ - and to be honest, I
hated it. I didn’t hate her version, I just
hated it for me, and it was not until Tony
King, Phil Harding and the guys at PWL
did a remix of it, which was off the back
of the Soul II Soul vibe, that I said, ‘Oh
Next Plateau said, ‘I like the track, but to Champion Records in the UK. All of my God, I really love it.’ To me, it didn’t
you need to get me a singer on it.’ And my early stuff was on Champion, and work the way it was in its original form,
so inevitably, what happened is I was then Don’t Make Me Over initially was but when they changed the groove it
brought in to do the demo and when on Champion as well, and thus the made sense.
he heard the demo he said, ‘Who is this bidding war, so to speak, came between I was a little bit frustrated because
singing?’ He said, ‘I’ll take the record, but I PWL and Champion about who would as a creative and someone who can
want her. I want the singer too.’ have the ‘Sybil’ album. I was fortunate write and who can create songs, I felt
So subsequently, Falling In Love was that there were people that wanted me, like, ‘Why do you keep giving me these
my first record. It came out October 1986, but I really, honestly did not anticipate covers?’ It was so funny because people
but everything kind of went full charge in that I would have a career in the music were like ‘Well, the one thing you can
‘87, because I did Let Yourself Go, which business. I just didn’t think about it. do is you do covers well.’ Because think
I wrote, because I was adamant about about it, I did Don’t Make Me Over
being able to be a writer on the next song. How did you feel about that at the and Walk On By - and then the next
So Let Yourself Go came and then My time? hit record I had was The Love I Lost!
Love Is Guaranteed, which were signed I was really the reluctant artist because, If nothing else, I knew how to do
covers, and I think it’s because I am an
artist and I’m a creative, but I’m also very
rhythmic and musical, so I know how
to interpret them in a way that works
for me without losing the sense of what
made it really great in the first place.
But it was difficult. It was very, very
difficult and I think that was my issue.
You get pigeonholed into being a
certain type of singer. My thing is that
people knew I could do a cover, so every
time I turned around they wanted me
to redo somebody else’s song and yeah,
that’s nice, but when you talk about
dollars and cents, you’re just making
more money for other people. If you’re
not writing and producing, it’s not a
win-win. So I’ve made a lot of money
for Burt Bacharach and Hal David -
who already had a lot of money - then
[Kenny] Gamble and [Leon] Huff for The
Love I Lost.
I’m not mad about that. I’m
appreciative, because the songs really
helped me put my voice out there. But
I appreciate the people who remember
me for the songs prior to that.
You were already pretty established

when you moved to PWL and started
working with Stock Aitken Waterman.
What inspired that move?
I wanted them to remember that too! It’s
so funny, I think they actually sought
me out through my label and I think
that Eddie O’Laughlin thought that he was able to work in different markets come from where I came from, they had
was doing something in my favour because of what I did with them alternative lifestyles that they loved and
negotiating that deal. I didn’t think and it expanded my base. The gay lived out loud. That’s what I wanted. And
it was a bad thing; they didn’t have community, the soul community, so that was kind of the catalyst for me
anyone like me, and I think that they the house community, they always really being committed to the label and to
thought I would be a good fit for them, supported me - prior to me signing with and working with PWL.
because although I was a Black artist PWL. But PWL opened up a different I worked primarily with Pete
from America my base was very diverse, avenue and platform for me, which I’m [Waterman] and Mike [Stock]. I think I
ethnically and musically, and I think thankful for. worked a little bit with Matt [Aitken] before
that they wanted that at that time. he left the team, but I’m appreciative - I
They’d had a great deal of success, but They worked with some huge talents don’t want to sound angry, because I’m
I’d had my own success doing what I but, honestly, you have one of - if not not, but I have to say, for transparency
had been doing. the - best voices they recorded. sake, that it’s unfortunate that a lot of
I don’t know if it was a blessing or a Thank you. I’m gonna tell you artists don’t get compensated adequately.
curse - I’m just being very, very honest something, I think what sealed the And I’m not the only one. But in the
- because some people felt as if I had deal for me even working with them end, what it did do for me was it allowed
let them down, because they felt that or feeling comfortable working with me to be able to be seen and heard and
I was leaving what it is they’ve known them was the fact that I was and still am appreciated by people. To still be here,
me for and I felt really guilty. I felt really, a major Donna Summer fan. I love her 30 years in an industry, where it’s rough -
incredibly guilty because that was not voice, I love the records that she did and it’s a business and it can really, really tear
my intention, but I understood after a the work that she had done as an artist. I you down…
while why they felt that way. But I had a remember thinking that if I could have a
great deal of success - I’ll put it this way, career like hers, I would be really happy In the ‘90s, your career went in two
they benefited greatly. Let me just say because I felt as if Donna Summer’s different directions: R&B for the US
this: I don’t know what a royalty cheque audience was really diverse and that’s and a more Europop sound for the UK
from them looks like. what I aspired to have: an audience and Europe. What was the driver behind
The one good thing for me is that I that didn’t look like me, they didn’t that and how did you find balancing
Q&A | Sybil
those two careers? absolutely love it! They think it’s the into the lives of others, but to also have
It’s funny, I laugh and say, ‘The Gemini coolest thing, [they say,] ‘You know who my life sewn into by people who remind
in me has no problem with doing it like my coach is?’ They think it’s the greatest me that it’s OK to share the stories of
that.’ It’s so funny because the name thing ever. what I’ve done and what I still do.
Sybil in the US is synonymous with One of our engineers who graduated
multiple personalities, because of this from our entertainment technology In terms of the vault, is there much
woman who had psychological issues class came over to see me, his name is left unreleased?
years ago, so I always joke and say the Josh, and Josh actually worked with me Oh, yeah! There’s a song in particular
duality of who I am - it is what it is. on an endPoverty record that I did to that was written with a good friend
I am a Gemini, OK, and my name is help raise money for homelessness. He of mine called I Found Love and I
Sybil. I think it just kind of par for the came and he said, ‘Auntie Sybil, I had absolutely would love for that song to be
course that I would have two different to come and check on you and let you released. That was recorded at PWL and
albums in multiple territories. know that I’m doing OK.’ Things like that it was after they did the merger and they
mean everything to me, that’s what it’s became Coalition, so that record got
In the UK, BBC Four plays ‘Top of all about. lost in the shuffle. I do have it, but I’m
the Pops’ reruns on Friday nights and not sure how we can do it. I may have
there’s been so much love for The Love to rerecord it, because I was one of the
I Lost and When I’m Good and Ready. writers on it, but that’s a song that I want
Are there any plans to re-issue your to get out there.
albums at any point? There’s a song that I did for United
There’s been a push and a request by Way - a nonprofit in the United
various labels who do the reissues and I've got probably States that helps to address issues of
I’m not sure what’s creating the gridlock homelessness, food insecurity, those
in discussions. It would be nice and I am upwards of 15 or types of things - so I submitted a song,
appreciative of the fans who continue to 20 really, really Piece of My Heart, to the project, but it’s
support and still say, ‘I love this record,’ such a good song that it needs to be out.
or, ‘This record did this for me.’ strong records, so So I’m looking to have that done.
It’s funny because different songs we're going to pull I’ve worked with a gentleman
were big in different markets. For who’s had hits with Beyoncé and he’s
example, I cannot go to Asia or any parts them together and someone that I know well, and he said,
of Africa without doing Make It Easy On ‘We really, really need to get this song
Me, which was a big record outside of
see what can be out.’ So under the guise of that being a
the UK. It was a major record for me in created. possibility there are two songs - I Found
certain territories and did really well for Love and Piece of My Heart - which are
Stock Aitken Waterman. So it just really there in the vaults, and I think that they
depends on where we are… should be heard.
I do have a record that I’m working
Speaking of which, ‘Let Yourself on, a kind of Afrobeat record. It’s called
Go’ and ‘Good ‘N’ Ready’ aren’t Cheers and I’ve done it with a group
available digitally. Are there plans And it allows you to still do music on out of North Africa. So there’s things
to get them up on download and the side… that are in the pipeline - just because
streaming platforms? At this point in my life, I don’t want to people don’t hear me on the radio with
They aren’t. I don’t know what the plans be that 60 year old woman who has to a new record doesn’t mean that I’m
are because some of the catalogue be on the stage because all she’s ever not creating.
has gone to Warner and we’re trying done was that. I have other things that
to figure out where things are. Once I’m capable of doing. I don’t want to be Does that mean there’s even more new
that’s cleared up, then them being made the old chick in the club. I don’t want to music on the horizon?
available digitally will become a real have to be out there to earn a living, so at I’m excited because Ultra Naté and I - I
possibility. I’m sitting here thinking, this point in my life I do it on my terms. actually did a project for her Deep Sugar
‘Look, I’m trying to build into my IRA And it really feels comfortable. label years ago, a record called Troubled
[Individual Retirement Account], OK?!’ The gift for me is the fact that I’ve got Waters - we were working together in
[Laughs] young people who look up to me, who the UK about a month and a half ago.
want and aspire to be in the industry I asked her, ‘Do you have the stems for
Tell me what happened after that, that they know, and I can remind them the songs that we did?’ She went in and
because in the late ‘90s you stepped that it’s still a business, so let’s handle she called me so excited - [she found]
away from music and started a whole the business. Because I didn’t have six records we had done!
different career in education. someone telling me how to handle the I’ve got probably upwards of 15 or
Fortunately for me, there are other business. I thought that I did - I had 20 really, really strong records, so we’re
things that I’ve been gifted to do. I have people that I could go to, but they didn’t going to pull them together and see
two degrees - a bachelor’s degree and a know the business. So I stayed grounded what can be created. So I’m excited.
master’s degree - and I work in higher and rooted, simply because I know that We’re hoping 2023 will be a really good
education with young adults. And I I’m really fortunate to still be able to sew year.
EVERYTHING
is
CONNECTED
Preparing to release Blancmange’s 11th studio album in as many
years, Neil Arthur is on a creative roll and shows no sign of slowing
down as he celebrates 40 years of music!
WORDS SIMON BUTTON
lancmange star Neil Arthur is putting out new music mostly through The man who once sang, ‘Here
B nothing if not prolific!

‘Private View’, the new album
from the synth-pop greats - of
which he remains frontman and sole
member - is his 11th studio collection
his own Blanc Check label. “They were
a wonderful label and they gave us a
massive free rein. We embraced pop
and loved making it but they also let
us experiment. They were fantastic,
comes a love song, there goes the
bannister,’ on Feel Me is still serving up
the wordplay he’s been interested in
ever since he first started writing lyrics
back in art college in the late 1970s.
in as many years (along with 2020 so to go back and have them excited He’s dyslexic, “and I can’t spell to save
remix LP ‘Expanded Mindset’ and 2021 about releasing this new album is really my life,” he quips, “but there are lots
archival release ‘Commercial Break’, wonderful.” of things and people around to help
of course). Heavy on analogue synths and with that - my girlfriend being one of
It began with ‘Blanc Burn’ in 2011, mixing familiar tropes with sonic them. She said, ‘Don’t worry, the ideas
conceived when Neil and Stephen experimentation, ‘Private View’ is a are more important than being able to
Luscombe reformed to make new record that Neil is reluctant to categorise. spell the words correctly’. I used to be
music together after 25 years, but the “After you make these things, you tend embarrassed about not being able to
latter was forced to retire due to ill health not to listen back to them too much,” spell but now I don’t give a shit because
shortly after the reunion, leaving the he explains, “other than to learn the it can get corrected further down the
group’s vocalist to single-handedly keep songs if you’re taking them on tour. line and sometimes the anomalies you
Blancmange alive for the past decade. But it feels like a solid album. The songs come up with are more interesting.”
With various projects on the go, seem to link and pull together quite The title track of the new album is an
the 64-year-old shows no sign of nicely. We certainly had a lot of fun example of his nifty way with words. It
slowing down and, as he reunites with putting it together.” could relate to a private viewing of an
London Records - the label that put out By ‘we’ he means he and producer exhibition, an insight into someone’s
Blancmange’s debut long-player ‘Happy and musician Benge, with whom Neil feelings or their literal point of view. The
Families’ in 1982, along with ‘Mange has also collaborated under the name cover painting, done by Neil’s art college
Tout’ (1984) and ‘Believe You Me’ (1985) - Fader, and guitarist David Rhodes, who student daughter, shows the back of a
he’s thrilled to be celebrating 40 years of has worked with Kate Bush and Peter painted figure looking into the distance.
hits with new music. Gabriel, among others, and who played “You don’t know what they feel about
on ‘Happy Families’ along with other the view they’re taking in and I like that
SOME TIMES THESE Blancmange records. “Benge started idea,” he muses.
‘Private View’ comes out almost 40 years replacing some of the stuff I’d done “The song itself is a tiny snapshot of
to the day that ‘Happy Families’ was on VST [Virtual Studio Technology experiences one might have through
released, when it signalled the arrival of software] with real instruments. Another your life, then they get warped through
a new synth-pop combo with a knack major contributing factor to the way it the process of putting a song together.
for catchy melodies and quirky lyrics. sounds is when David put some guitar There’s only one thing for certain: We
“It’s a bit of a dream really and I never on there,” Neil laughs.“What he did was come in one side and we go out the
thought it would happen,” says Arthur certainly better than my chug-chug- other. The song is about the start and
of returning to London Records after chug guitar.” the end and all the bits in between.”
INTERVIEW | Blancmange
It was quite a shift,

being recognised
and all that stuff.
I know it goes with
the territory but it
didn’t sit comfortably
with me.
When it comes to musical influences
on the new long-player, there are
many; Krautrock has been a constant
reference point throughout Neil’s career
and ‘Private View’ also includes nods to
glam rock, Roxy Music and more recent
artists like Ed Dowie. “There’s a lot of
stuff flying around on there and a lot of
influences that have nothing to do with
music, like books I’ve read or images I
might see.”
Does he enjoy confounding
expectations? He laughs: “I don’t write
music with an audience in mind, I just
have to get it out of my system. I’ve
been doing it for quite some time now
but it still surprises me when the left
hand doesn’t know what the right hand
is doing. I’m still on a learning curve
and I’m always keeping my ears and
eyes open.”
So while ‘Private View’ was largely
written during the pandemic and
spells of lockdown, he was determined
for the situation not to define his latest
body of work. “I didn’t want it to be
about that,” Neil insists. “I wanted it to
be something that moved beyond it
because for better or worse we have
no choice but to go forward and face
the issues that are ahead of us. I quite
like a challenge, although I’m a bit of a
Music eventually
scaredy-cat, and I thought ‘There’s no got the better of
doubt the future is coming’. The album
reflects the fact that ‘Yes, we’re in this
me. I thought I’d
but it will move forward and we will have a go at it and
have to deal with all the difficulties, the
sadness and the tragedy’.” I’m still having a
go more than 40
WHO AM I
Along with Blancmange and Fader, years later.
Neil also collaborates with Jez Bernholz
under the moniker Near Future, with
both acts releasing albums of new
material in recent years - but where
does all this music come from?
“I’m lucky that I enjoy writing,” Neil constructive criticism. If there’s one his professional future, although he’d
understates. “I have my small record constant it’s, ‘If that melody is working, always been interested in music. “And
label and that means I can release more don’t put another one in there. Leave it music eventually got the better of me,”
than I might be able to on a major label.” and move on. That idea you were going he recalls. “I thought I’d have a go at it
He puts his prolific output down to to apply to layer it, use it somewhere and I’m still having a go more than 40
moving into composing for films and else.’ It’s all about keeping it simple. I years later.”
TV after Blancmange split in the mid still think there’s an awful lot going At art college, he met fellow student
1980s. It means working quickly, as he on sometimes in Blancmange songs Stephen and, along with drummer
explains: “You’re often brought in at the and sometimes I wish there was a little Laurence Stevens, they decided to form
last minute. You’re not brought in at the bit less,” he sighs. “Maybe I’ll get it right a band. Stevens left shortly afterwards
11th hour, you’re brought in at half past one day.” to pursue a career in graphic design
the 11th hour. You’re expected to come The Lancashire lad didn’t grow up (he later became known for his sleeve
up with something that fulfils a brief. with aspirations to be a popstar. After designs for records by Eurythmics and
“One of the main things I learned leaving school, he moved to London Annie Lennox) so the duo soldiered on
was quick decision-making. My at age 18 to study the history of art and with Neil as the frontman and Stephen
partner is a painter and we spend a lot illustration at art college in Harrow as synth player.
of time looking at or listening to each and began working as a graphic The story surrounding their unusual
other’s work, then giving advice and designer. That’s where he envisioned choice of band name is amusing
INTERVIEW | Blancmange
shift, being recognised and all that stuff.
I know it goes with the territory but it
didn’t sit comfortably with me.”
More hits followed for the reluctant
‘Top of the Pops’ regulars. Waves from
that first album, along with Blind Vision
and Don’t Tell Me from follow-up
‘Mange Tout’, all went Top 20. Their 1984
cover of ABBA’s The Day Before You
Came only reached No. 22 - but then so
had the Swedish supergroup’s original
version two years earlier.
It came about when Neil and Stephen
were holidaying with their mate Vince
Clarke in Tenerife. “We had a Sony
Walkman and I had ABBA’s ‘The Singles:
The First Ten Years’ on double cassette.
Steve and I both loved ABBA and
decided we had to cover one of their
songs. So we chose The Day Before You
Came because we loved the story in the
lyrics and the idea of me as this great big
lanky Lancastrian singing it. Vince said,
‘One day I’m going to do some ABBA
stuff as well,’ and of course with Erasure
he did.”
However, the record company wasn’t
convinced. “They were going ‘Are you
sure, guys?’ because ABBA weren’t
viewed with the reverence they are
today. It’s very difficult to imagine it now
but they weren’t cool - but that didn’t
matter to us. As I say, we absolutely loved
them so we stood our ground.”
After the song was recorded, they
received a signed letter from all four
of ABBA saying how much they loved
Blancmange’s take on it. They also
allowed the duo to include clips from
ABBA videos in Neil and Stephen’s own
video for the song, with Neil marvelling
now: “We were really gobsmacked to get
the ABBA seal of approval.”
Subsequent singles failed to match
previous successes and Blancmange
called it quits in 1986. They’d grown tired
to say the least. One night Stephen like Vicious Pink Phenomena, Big In of the grind so they went their separate
was hosting a party and, for a joke, Japan, Cabaret Voltaire and The Young musical ways, with Neil concentrating
he made blancmanges and jellies in Marble Giants, but we wanted ours to on scores and Stephen working under
rabbit moulds. On his way there Neil be throwaway.” the name West India Company. Their
got himself a takeaway curry but when reunion in 2011 for ‘Blanc Burn’ may
Stephen opened the door he spilled it HERE WE GO have been short lived, but Arthur has
on the doorstep and scooped it up into After signing with London Records, kept the Blancmange flag flying across
a pint glass whilst Stephen was standing they released the singles God’s Kitchen 13 albums and counting - and in his
there with a blancmange in his hand. and Feel Me - hitting the UK charts heart at least, Stephen is still very much a
They were having a good laugh about at an underwhelming No. 65 and 46 part of the band.
that whilst wondering, with their first respectively. Then came Living On “I always think of Stephen both on and
art college gig approaching, that they The Ceiling, which climbed to No. 7 on offstage,” he says. “He’s a very dear friend
needed to come up with a name. the UK chart and also went Top 10 in and we had such fantastic times together
“So we called ourselves The Australia. The song’s success took them playing live. When I do the old songs
Blancmange. It was either that or by surprise. “With the previous two there are lots of fond memories.”
A Pint Of Curry. We then shortened it records it was like, ‘We can always go
to Blancmange. There were a lot back to graphic design’, then suddenly l ‘Private View’ is out on September
of brilliantly-named bands around, we had this big hit song. It was quite a 30 on London Records.
THE
SPO RT Y
ONE
As one-fifth of the Spice Girls, Melanie C
carved a legacy as one of the most successful
acts of the 1990s, before going it alone with
a chart-topping solo career - a journey she
fondly looks back on ahead of the release of
her first ever memoir…
WORDS SIMON BUTTON
hen the Spice Girls arrived on the pop scene in
W 1996 with their cheeky breakout hit Wannabe, no

one could have foreseen the lasting impact the
five-piece would have on the music industry.
The track topped the charts in 37 countries and ‘Spice’ - the debut
album from Emma Bunton, Geri Horner, Mel B, Melanie C and
Victoria Beckham sold more than 23 million copies worldwide,
becoming the best-selling album by a female group in history.
Follow-up ‘Spiceworld’ went on to shift a further 14 million copies
globally the following year.
During the album campaign, however, Geri quit the band in 1998
- but as the group was thrown into disarray, Melanie rose from the
ashes a year later with ‘Northern Star’, a triumph of a solo album
COVER FEATURE | Melanie C
I’M VERY PR
OUD
TO BE SPOR
TY SPICE.
I USED TO S
EE HER
AS A CHAR
ACTER
AND AT ON
E POINT
SHE WAS SO
MEBODY
I WANTED TO
DISTANCE M
YSELF
FROM. NOW
I FULLY
EMBRACE H
ER.
THE MOST
THING
INCREDIBLE
ACHIEVED
IS THAT WE
T OUT TO
WHAT WE SE
TED TO
DO. WE WAN
E S T BA N D
BE THE BIGG
LD AND
IN THE WOR
PLE OF
FOR A COU
ERE.
YEARS WE W
showcasing a brand new sound the album feeling so positive it was

worlds away from the pure pop of the something that I think was needed at
Spice Girls. that time.”
Two decades on, bridges have However, the situation did have its
been built and off the back of a UK positives as it spurred her on to put pen
stadium tour with the band and her to paper and write her autobiography
most successful solo album in years, after decades of resistance. “I still
Melanie is looking back over her struggle with being a celebrity,” she
incredible life and chart legacy with admits of her reluctance to big herself
the release of her brutally honest up in print. “It’s something I often
and strikingly candid memoir ‘Who Beaming with feel very uncomfortable with. But I’ve
I Am: My Story’ - and what a ride my mum and dad suffered with things that many people
it’s been! sometime in ’75. go through - eating problems, anxiety
Nice tank top, Dad!
- and I think it’s really important to go,
SPICE UP YOUR LIFE ‘You know what, I’m just like you’. We
Following the Spice Girls’ triumphant achieved incredible things with the
2019 ‘Spice World’ trek, talk of the group Spice Girls but at the end of the day I’m
taking the production internationally just human and fallible. Reading about
was thwarted when the pandemic struck, other people having those issues made
leaving Melanie with an unprecedented me feel less alone and it’s important for
period of downtime. Instead of lounging me to share that same connection.”
on the sofa in front of Netflix, however, Melanie writes candidly about how
she set to work on her latest, self-titled tabloid attention over the three decades
album and unleashed a string of bangers since the Spice Girls catapulted her to
including Who I Am and Blame It on Me, stardom contributed to her unhappiness
which featured on her most successful at best and depression at worst. She’s
long-player since 2003’s ‘Reason’. disarmingly candid about issues with
She was, of course, thrilled by the Top body image and eating disorders, but the
10 chart placing and ecstatic fan reaction. book isn’t all doom and gloom - this, after
“The comments were so lovely and for all, is Melanie C. She doesn’t shy away
me that was when social media really from the dark times in her life but the
came into its own,” she beams of her Old school photo. tome is also a summation of everything
work over the past two years. “I have she has achieved over such a long
this love/hate relationship with it but it career, both as Sporty Spice and as a
was a wonderful way to stay connected. More gymnastics solo artist.
success at
It felt like the fans were really grateful Fairfield Juniors. “That’s the thing which stresses
and actually having them there was also How baggy me out a little bit,” Melanie admits of
helping me.” is that leotard? the book’s impending publication.
Crafting the new music, Melanie “In interviews, everybody dwells on
was in a positive place after reuniting the issues and the negative things.
with Emma Bunton, Geri Horner It’s a life of 48 years, so of course
and Mel B, but her ambitions for the there are going to be bad bits but
project were sent into disarray. “I loved there are loads of bloody good bits
being back on stage with the girls and I too. I’m making a conscious effort to
wanted to make a record that was very go, ‘There’s so much celebration in
danceable. I was feeling quite defiant this book and hopefully humour’. I
and upbeat,” she recalls, “then when the wanted to give an insight into some
album was finished I was really looking of the behind-the-scenes stuff. We’ve
forward to getting out and promoting it. all seen the iconic photographs,
Unfortunately, because of lockdown, I whether it be meeting Prince Charles
had to promote it from my living room, or performing at the BRITs or the
which has its benefits but it was quite Olympics, but I think it’s fun for people to get a
frustrating. I was worried about releasing it, but with glimpse into the background stuff.
“I’ve enjoyed delving into all that impressed by the fact they were not just
and the most incredible thing is that The calm before singers but all-round entertainers.
the storm: Taken
we achieved what we set out to do. on a holiday to Melanie studied Madonna’s videos
We wanted to be the biggest band in Maui with the girls and writes in the book: “She didn’t just
the world and for a couple of years we before ‘Wannabe’ push the boundaries, she flat out broke
was released.
were. We broke America, we travelled them: fashion, music, feminism, sex
the entire globe, we became part of positivity, body positivity, philanthropy
pop culture and our legacy will live on and even politics were all in her
a lot longer than we will. That’s what wheelhouse.”
I’m most proud of.” It’s no wonder, then, that she was
As she notes in the introduction, beyond thrilled when the Queen
when the Spice Girls first came together of Pop invited the Spice Girls to her
they were told that girl groups were dressing room at the 1997 MTV
a non-starter because girls wouldn’t Video Music Awards (VMAs), with
buy music by other girls, magazines Madge telling them she loved the
wouldn’t put them on the cover and ‘Spice’ album and that Mama was her
there’s no way they’d sell out arenas, let favourite track on it. The next year,
alone stadiums. Boy, did the Girls prove Madonna invited Mel to dinner in
the naysayers wrong. New York.
Sporty, Scary, Baby, Ginger and Posh She marvels at the memory. “It’s
went on to shift 100 million records mad, isn’t it? I’ve met some of my
worldwide and became stadium-filling absolute idols, some of the most
superstars and the biggest British pop incredible people in the world, and
act since The Beatles, with Melanie for them even to know who you are is
grinning: “If people haven’t worked mind-blowing.”
it out by now it’s a case of ‘Never But the first song Melanie sang
tell a Spice Girl what they can’t do - in public wasn’t from Madonna’s
because that’s what they’ll go on to do’! repertoire, it was Whitney Houston’s
Whether it’s pinching Prince Charles’ Greatest Love of All - a big challenge
bum or selling loads of records, the for a 14-year-old girl who was in the
ammunition we needed was being told school choir, knew she could hold a
we can’t do it.” tune but wasn’t sure if she had any
real talent in that department. It was,
WHO I AM she recalls, a cringe moment, but she
Melanie Jayne Chisholm was born in A really early picture of us loved singing as well as dancing and
Whiston, Merseyside, and raised in girls on our first trip was in no doubt that her future lay
to LA. Plus random waiter!
Widnes. She initially studied dance in entertainment.
and was a perfectionist as a The plan was to move to London,
teenager, practising her moves land a part in a West End
over and over again for local show, “and from there,
Our first radio roadshow.
competitions. ‘Wannabe’ wasn’t even somehow, I’d become a pop
She grew up listening to released and everyone star”. How she, Emma, Geri,
Stevie Wonder (‘Songs in the knew all the words! Mel and Victoria became
Key of Life’ remains her all- the Spice Girls and took the
time favourite album), Tina world by storm is the stuff of
Turner, the Rolling Stones and, showbiz legend!
it goes without saying for a Ego clashes between Mel
Merseyside lass, The Beatles. B and Geri, the hard graft
She was mesmerised by the of honing their vocal and
whirling dervish that was Kate dancing skills, coming up with
Bush performing Wuthering “this quite mad, quirky song
Heights on ‘Top of the Pops’ that we were calling Wannabe”,
and later got into Michael Simon Cowell saying no, he
Jackson and Madonna, wouldn’t sign them and Simon
IN INTERVIE
WS ,
EVERYBODY
DWELLS
ON THE ISSU
ES
AND THE NE
GATIVE
THINGS. IT’S
A LIFE
OF 48 YEAR
S , SO OF
COURSE TH
ERE ARE
GOING TO B
E BA D
BITS BUT TH
ERE ARE
LOADS OF B
LOODY
GOOD BITS
TOO.
OME
I’VE DONE S
HERE
SESSIONS, T
EW
ARE SOME N
SONGS AND
THE
I’VE BEGUN
R THE
PR OCESS FO
.
NEXT ALBUM
Fuller saying yes, he’d manage them… Melanie looks and Viva Forever. Then after we did the Olympics in
back over the group’s earliest years, while sharing 2012, Wannabe and Spice Up Your Life sort of came into
stories about recording in the studio, bumping into their own. Before it was like, ‘They’re the silly songs, the
Elton John in a lift in Los Angeles, Geri and Mel B more frivolous Spice Girls songs,’ but I think they really
blagging their way into Courtney Love’s hotel room, represent who we are and the energy of the band.”
Annie Lennox telling them at the BRITs, “There’s a And her favourite Melanie C song? “I’ve been singing
lot of bastards in this industry,” Northern Star in my sets again.
Melanie telling Victoria to I’ve been singing it acoustically
“fuck off” that same night, Tattoo Mania, and it’s such a special song.
Sunset Blvd.,
and Liam Gallagher refusing It’s definitely up there.” As
pre-Celtic cross and
to attend a subsequent BRITs before I discovered indeed is When You’re Gone,
ceremony because he said if heavy weights! her 1998 duet with Bryan
he bumped into the Spice Girls Adams. Having joined him
he’d chin them. on stage to sing it at Widnes
Their time at the top was a DCBL Stadium in July this
blur. It was only when Melanie year, she recounts: “We met
read through the diary she kept him on ‘Top of the Pops’, then
at the time that she realised I bumped into him in a lift
just how crazy their schedule in LA, then the next thing
was: Making the video for Who I know we’re doing a song
Do You Think You Are, flying together. We’ve been really
to Germany then Belgium, good friends ever since. He’s
back to London to record supported me through so
a Pepsi ad at Abbey Road, many moments in my life.”
launching a new McLaren
car, popping to New Orleans FRIENDSHIP
to do a photoshoot, laying NEVER ENDS
down more vocals at Abbey Throughout the book
Road, performing in Italy and Melanie is nothing if not
jetting to Dublin to perform honest - writing about
at an awards ceremony. All being abruptly dropped
within 12 days. by Robbie Williams after a
She wasn’t always brief fling, the collapse of
keen on having to hock her relationship with Jay ‘J’
merchandise, the oddest Brown from 5ive, bust ups
slice of which was probably One of our first with Mel B (“She’s a pain in
a Spice Girls pizza. promo trips, singing the arse, but I love her”), and
Apparently Victoria found karaoke in Tokyo. how the girls had grown
one in her mum’s freezer apart when it came time to
a few years back. “Which is record the ‘Forever’ album
pretty random and I don’t in 2000.
remember there being such a thing as a Spice Girls She’s also philosophical about her solo output, noting
pizza, but it seems there was.” Was there any merch that ‘Reason’ lacked clarity and admitting that ‘Version of
she did like? “To have a doll of yourself is probably the Me’ (2016) was done on a tight budget and was all over
ultimate accolade. I’m very proud that there’s a doll of the place musically. But she’s understandably proud of
me with its gold tooth and tattoos.” the ‘Northern Star’ album, which hit No. 4 in the UK in
Melanie has kept bits of memorabilia, most of which 1999. “That was a magical time for me. It was like being
is housed in her mum’s loft. “There’s all sorts of stuff up a kid in a candy store, working with the best songwriters
there and lots of trainers, not just my gazillion pairs of and producers in the world. It felt like a really creative
Nike Air Max but also Spice Girls ones. There really was time and I felt very liberated, being able to express myself
no stone unturned with Spice Girls merch.” as a solo artist.”
What’s her favourite Spice Girls song? “I think we did That said, she’ll always be Sporty Spice. “I’m very proud
the most beautiful ballads like 2 Become 1, Goodbye to be Sporty Spice. I used to see her as a character and
at one point she was somebody I wanted WE BROKE AMERICA, Every time you revisit it you want to
to distance myself from because I was so change things. Who knows how I’ll feel
determined to be taken more seriously WE TRAVELLED THE in ten years’ time but it’s definitely a
than maybe the Spice Girls were being snapshot of how I feel about the last 48
taken at that time. Now I fully embrace her.”
ENTIRE GLOBE, WE years of my life right now.”
Melanie’s all smiles and lives up to her BECAME PART OF Recent reports suggest the girls
namesake in a midriff-revealing white are in talks to do a docuseries, with
vest and shorts, but she admits to feeling
POP CULTURE AND Mel B pretty much confirming the
daunted about the book’s release. Having OUR LEGACY WILL project in an Australian interview and
resisted penning her life story for so long, suggesting even the elusive Victoria
she confesses, “ I did ask myself again if I LIVE ON A LOT would be featured. Faced with the idea,
should do it,” before laughing: “It’s a bit late LONGER THAN WE Melanie neither confirms nor denies it
saying that now!” herself. “We’re constantly talking about
The turning point was when the WILL. THAT’S WHAT different things that we want to do and
Spice Girls, minus a reluctant Victoria, I’M MOST PROUD OF. a documentary is something we have
reunited in 2019, prompting Melanie to been discussing but nothing is set in
truly appreciate the scale of the success stone yet.” However, one thing’s for sure:
she’s accomplished. “It felt like such a “We don’t feel like the Spice Girls is a
momentous occasion and chapter that’s been closed.
there was so much It’s an ongoing, incredible
reflection and a part of our lives and who
realisation of all the knows what will happen
incredible things next?”
we’d achieved, how There’s also new
we’d affected so Melanie C music in the
many people in such pipeline - although there
a positive way. I had may be a wait for it to
this moment of going, surface. “It’s had to take a
‘Fucking hell, I’ve bit of a backseat because
done so much,’ and writing and promoting
it put everything into the book has been a
perspective. Taking the US by storm. lot more work than I
“It allowed me to go It was mind-blowing being anticipated. But I’ve done
on Oprah!
‘I can be a Spice Girl, a some sessions, there are
solo artist, a mum and some new songs and
all the other guises I I’ve begun the process
have in life’. I’m all of for the next album. Back
those things all of the in the day there was this
time. It’s not like I can only cycle of writing, recording,
do one thing at a time. promoting, touring.
Also, there’s so much Technology has changed PHOTOS CONOR CLINCH, WELBECK PUBLISHING
information out there, isn’t so much that now it feels
there? There’s so much like you can do everything
out there about everybody at the same time. And
in the public eye, myself music is my passion.”
included, so I thought She grins: “Doing a book
‘Maybe it’s time for me has been fun but if it keeps
to put it out there in my me away from music for
own words’. too long I’m gonna get a bit
“The toughest thing bitter about it.”
Saturday Night Live
about writing a book - with Rob Lowe.
and I liken it to making l ‘Who I Am: My Story’
an album - is that you is out September 15 on
never think it’s finished. Welbeck.
MOMENT OF
I HAD THIS ,
O IN G , ‘F U CKING HELL
G
O MUCH,’
I’VE DONE S
N D IT P U T EVERYTHING
A
ECTIVE.
INTO PERSP
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Let m e
EN T E R
FEATURE | Robbie Williams
TA I N y o u !
As Robbie Williams prepares to celebrate 25 years of solo
success with ‘XXV’, an album of revisited recordings of his
biggest hits, we look back on how the 16-year-old boy band
heartthrob became one of the world’s biggest pop stars.
WORDS CONNOR GOTTO
t’s often said that stars are born and not
I made - and if ever there were a case for that

being true it’s the life and spectacular career
of Robbie Williams.
Born of Anglo-Irish stock, the young mega-star
in the making always had his eye on a career in
show business, from taking on the role of the Artful
Dodger in a school production of ‘Oliver!’ to the day
he successfully auditioned for a spot in what was to
become one of the most successful boy bands of all
time: Take That.
Five years into their initial run, however, he departed
the group and, within months, the remaining quartet
split and Robbie launched a solo career that took
him from boy band fodder to one of great British
entertainers in pop history.
COULD IT BE MAGIC
Having spent 25 years at the top of the charts as a solo
artist, it’s hard to imagine Robbie Williams as anything
other than a bonafide pop great. But in his early years,
no one would have predicted the success that was to
follow.
Born on February 13, 1974 in Stoke-on-Trent, the members of the band feared his behaviour could
son of Janet and Peter - who separated when he was impact their future success and, in July 1995, he
three years old - had a reputation for his mischievous departed the group - which wrapped the ‘Nobody Else
ways during his time at school, which saw him fail his Tour’ as a four-piece before calling it quits on February
GCSEs and land a career as a salesman after exiting 13, 1996. It was also Robbie’s 22nd birthday.
education altogether.
The system may have left him high and dry but ROCK DJ
his mother had other ideas and, having seen an A year after shocking the pop world with his departure
advertisement seeking members for a new group, from Take That, Robbie continued to make waves,
Janet urged her son to audition for manager Nigel having been snapped partying with members of
Martin-Smith, who had his sights set on creating the Oasis at Glastonbury, and the tabloid’s latest regular
UK’s next big boy band. On the day, he met fellow fixture set tongues wagging as he hinted towards
band member Mark Owen and, having plans to launch a career of his own. But
impressed with his soulful vocals and it was far from plain sailing as the star
slick dance moves, earned a spot as faced a legal battle with the group’s label
the baby of the group, alongside Gary BMG, who had him locked in a contract
Barlow, Howard Donald and Jason that apparently prevented him from
Orange. becoming a solo singer if he ever left the
Although Gary was touted as Take outfit.
That’s frontman and quickly became Still, he fought on and on June 27,
the group’s main songwriter, Robbie’s 1997 Robbie announced that his contract
appeal and charm won him legions of was coming to an end and that he was
fans worldwide and he swiftly became now signed with Chrysalis Records,
the most popular member of the group who released his solo debut - a cover
among their frenzied followers, who of George Michael’s Freedom - which
sent Could It Be Magic - their cover of peaked at No. 2 in the UK. It’s a feat
the Barry Manilow classic which was matched by his first original solo release,
released as the seventh and final single Old Before I Die. It was Spice Girls’
from the group’s debut album ‘Take Wannabe and R. Kelly’s I Believe I Can
That & Party’ (1992) - to No. 3 in the UK Fly that kept him off the top spot with
charts,becoming their highest placement his initial set of hits - and surprisingly
yet. none of the subsequent tracks from his
It was an early sign of the rising star’s debut ‘Life Thru A Lens’ (1997) - including
popularity and one that continued to the 1993 BRIT the signature tunes Angels and Let Me Entertain You,
Awards, which saw the track take home the prize for which peaked at No. 4 and 3, respectively - managed to
British Single of the Year - beating Shakespears Sister’s hit the peak of the charts.
Stay, Wet Wet Wet’s Goodnight Girl, and Take That’s However, sales were strong and Robbie set to work
earlier releases It Only Takes a Minute and A Million on his follow-up record ‘I’ve Been Expecting You’
Love Songs. (1998), which launched his career into the stratosphere,
But a life in the limelight soon took its toll on the topping the UK charts alongside lead track Millennium
fledgling superstar, who turned to alcohol and drugs and later release She’s the One. The success was
amid increasing discontentment within the group, reflected in his output and in 2000 Robbie nodded to
which led to conflicts between the singer and Nigel, his achievements thus far with the release of his third
owing to the behaviour rules for members of Take solo long-player ‘Sing When You’re Winning’, featuring
That, and escalated to the point of him suffering the chart-topping single Rock DJ and Kylie Mingoue
a near-overdose ahead of the group’s scheduled collaboration Kids.
performance at the MTV Europe Music Awards in 1994. Not only a hit performer, Robbie also achieved
According to reports, he was increasingly frustrated notoriety for his songwriting and that same year
with his lack of creative input, while the remaining appeared on the Aussie superstar’s seventh studio
album ‘Light Years’ (2000). Having been drafted in
to pen hits for her return to pure pop following the
commercial disappointment of her previous album
‘Impossible Princess’ (1997), Robbie offered up
Loveboat and Your Disco Needs You, helping place her
career back in the public consciousness.
For his next move, however, the all-round

entertainer stepped away from the world of pop and
off the back of the success of his cover of Have You
Met Miss Jones?, as featured on the soundtrack to
‘Bridget Jones’s Diary’ (2001), released his first big band
album, the aptly titled ‘Swing When You’re Winning’
(2001). The collection features swing covers lifted from BACK FOR GOOD
the Great American Songbook, leaning in to his love In October 2004, Robbie took a moment to look
of Frank Sinatra - with whom he collaborates on the back on his career to date with the release of his first
posthumous duet It Was a Very Good Year - alongside solo retrospective ‘Greatest Hits’, which also featured
duets with actors Rupert Everett, Jon Lovitz, Jane a number of new recordings including the single
Horrocks, and Nicole Kidman on the No. 1 single Radio, which gave him another UK No. 1. The album,
Somethin’ Stupid. meanwhile, topped the UK charts and went on to
Entering the charts at No. 1, Robbie followed-up become the best-selling LP of 2004 - despite being
the success with the release of the concert recording released 10 months into the year.
of his 2001 swing gig at the Royal Albert Hall and the Riding high on its success, he set about work on its
following year inked a record-breaking £80 million follow-up, ‘Intensive Care’ (2005), which was recorded
contract with EMI, allowing him greater creative at Robbie’s home in the Hollywood Hills and became
control and committing to helping the Brit break the another massive success, with the performer taking
US market. As a result, it saw Robbie take a more active home the MTV Europe Music Award for Best Male
role in the creative process, working that year and entering the Guinness
with various collaborators outside of Book of World Records when his 2006
his long standing partnership with Guy World Tour sold 1.6 million tickets in a
Chambers. single day.
But when it came to launching After taking the show around Africa,
‘Escapology’ (2002), it was the pair’s Asia, Europe, the Americas, and Australia,
composition Feel that was issued as the Robbie released his dance/electro album
record’s lead single. According to Robbie, ‘Rudebox’ (2006), featuring big-name
most of the vocals featured on the final collaborations with Pet Shop Boys,
release are from the original 1999 demo William Orbit, and Mark Ronson, among
recording, as he was convinced he others. It topped the charts worldwide
couldn’t better himself - and while it and was credited by the musician as the
may not be his most polished release, it album that made him “excited about
was a runaway hit not only in the UK but making music” again, but the departure
across Europe, where his fifth album also in sound proved controversial with some
became a Top 10 smash. fans and one track in particular, The 90’s,
His phenomenal success continued made headlines for lyrics that appeared
in 2003 when Robbie played to 125,000 to take aim at Take That’s former
raucous fans on each of the three nights manager, who demanded it be removed
that he played at Knebworth, surpassing from the record altogether.
audience numbers of music legends such as It was particularly topical as the boy
Queen, Led Zeppelin and Oasis at the venue and band - sans Robbie - had reunited
securing his place in the history books. Moreover, in earlier that year for ‘The Ultimate Tour’ and, one
the years up until that point Robbie won a whopping month after Robbie’s release, topped the charts with
10 BRIT Awards as a solo artist - adding to the four he’d their comeback album ‘Beautiful World’. However, it
already secured as a member of Take That - and took would be another four years before bridges were built
home the Best British Male Solo Artist prize for three between the fivesome - in which time Robbie set to
consecutive years, in 2001, 2002 and 2003. To date, he work on his eighth solo long-player, ‘Reality Killed the
has 18 BRIT Awards to his name - more than any other Video Star’ (2009), returning to the charts with a more
artist in music history, and in 2005 the British public familiar sound on Bodies and receiving acclaim for the
voted Angels as the Best Single of the Past Twenty-Five album - which remains his only record not to top the
Years at that year’s ceremony. UK charts, having been beaten to the No. 1 spot by a
margin of less than one per cent by ‘X Factor’ runners-
up JLS’s self-titled debut album.
But it was far from cause for concern as Robbie was
working away in the background on another project,
a full band reunion with Take That for a new studio
album, ‘Progress’ (2010), and tour. Following months
of speculation, which saw Robbie reunite with Gary
Barlow on the hit single Shame from his latest best-of
album ‘In and Out of Consciousness: The Greatest Hits
1990–2010’ (2010), they announced the news on July
15 of that year, with a statement reading: “The rumours
are true ... Take That: the original lineup, have written
and recorded a new album for release later this year.
“Following months of speculation Gary Barlow,
Howard Donald, Jason Orange, Mark Owen, and When You’re Winning’ reached that peak in 2001
Robbie Williams confirmed they have been recording and, in September 2013, he announced a follow up
a new studio album as a five-piece, which they will to that album, titled ‘Swings Both Ways’, for release
release in November.” in November, featuring a combination of standards
Lead single The Flood peaked at No. 2 on the UK and originals, with guest appearances including Lily
charts and, following its release a week later, the Allen, Olly Murs, Rufus Wainwright, Kelly Clarkson, and
group’s first full-band album in 15 years hit No. 1, Michael Bublé.
becoming the biggest-selling record of 2010, the Having delved into the vaults for his first ‘Under The
third fastest-selling album of the century and the fifth Radar’ release - much to the annoyance of collaborator
fastest-selling album of all-time in the country. In Guy Chambers, who Robbie claimed was “not happy”
support of the reunion project, Take That embarked on with the project, but insisted: “I am an impetuous
a 35 date stadium tour, with the UK leg wrapping with bugger, and I want them out now, now, now!” - in
a record eight nights at London’s Wembley Stadium, May 2016 it was announced that Robbie had signed a
and during the trek they released more new deal with Sony Music and later that
new music - the EP ‘Progressed’ (2011) year ‘The Heavy Entertainment Show’
- marking their final recordings with became his 12th UK No. 1 album, which
Robbie to date. he followed up with parts two and three
of ‘Under The Radar’ and, alongside Ayda,
LOVE MY LIFE a judging stint on ‘The X Factor’ in 2018.
As the stars aligned for Take That’s That same year he performed at the
massive comeback on stage, behind the 2018 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony
scenes Robbie was also experiencing in Moscow, Russia, during which he gave
great happiness as he and partner the finger as part of his Rock DJ encore,
Ayda Field tied the knot at his home in attracting backlash from networks across
Mulholland Estates in Beverly Hills on the globe. He later apologised for the
August 7, 2010, and welcomed their first incident, but it didn’t seem to harm his
child together, Theodora Rose (Teddy), career as, the following year, his first
in September 2012. The arrival saw festive album ‘The Christmas Present’,
Robbie pull out of a performance with which features guest appearances from
the group at the closing ceremony of the boxer Tyson Fury, Rod Stewart, Jamie
2012 Olympic Games, but marked the Cullum, Helene Fischer and Bryan
beginning of a bright chapter for the new Adams, topped the charts in the UK and
dad, whose family became his number one saw Robbie continue to smash records,
priority. tying Elvis Presley for the most UK No.
In the years that followed, Robbie and Ayda 1 albums at 13 and shifting over 10,000
continued to expand their brood, welcoming three cassettes in 7 days - the most in two decades.
more children - Charlton Valentine (Charlie) in October Now, as he prepares to revisit tracks from across
2014, Colette Josephine (Coco) in September 2018, and his storied career, Robbie shows no sign of slowing
Beau Benedict in February 2020. However, that doesn’t down; earlier this year, he teamed up with his regular
mean music has taken a backseat and, in the years collaborators Tim Metcalfe and Flynn Francis to record
since becoming a dad, Robbie has released five studio the trance track Sway under the new alias Lufthaus.
albums along with three ‘Under The Radar’ collections He also told fans during an Instagram Live chat he’s
of demos, B-sides and rarities. “got songs coming out that will not be under the name
Having wrapped the Take That tour and settled of Robbie Williams,” suggesting there’s more to come
into fatherhood, Robbie got back to work and signed from the side project.
with Island Records, and in August 2012 announced But for now, all eyes are on ‘XXV’, which not only
the release of his solo comeback ‘Take the Crown’, highlights the strength of Robbie’s superb catalogue
preceded by the chart topping single Candy. It marked of material, but also showcases his voice which, after
the first time Robbie had a No. 1 single and album more than three decades at the top of the pop world,
at the same time since Somethin’ Stupid and ‘Swing remains in fine form.
He may have started out as the baby in the boy band,
but 25 years into his unstoppable solo legacy, it looks
like Robbie Williams is only getting started.
l ‘XXV’ is out September 9 on Sony. Robbie’s UK

tour begins October 9 in London.
MNOV IN G
O UP
Voice of M People Heather Small
dominated the charts in the 1990s with
her powerhouse vocals and an unfaltering
run of stellar dance floor tunes - a legacy
she revisits 30 years later on her first solo
record in over a decade!
WORDS CONNOR GOTTO
n the early 1990s, Heather Small shot to fame as the
I frontwoman of dance-pop group M People and took the

charts by storm with her standout vocals and uplifting
house anthems.
Having scored massive hits such as Moving On Up, How Can I
Love You More?, Sight For Sore Eyes and Search for the Hero, she
stepped away from the band after a decade of success and released
the UK Top 20 solo album ‘Proud’, before carving a career on the
live stage in recent years, performing decades-spanning sets to
crowds across the globe.
Now, 16 years since her last solo effort, she’s back with ‘Colour
My Life’ - a collection of orchestral reworkings of classic hits,
collaborations and brand new original recordings that mark the
beginning of a brand new chapter in her vibrant career.
INTERVIEW | Heather Small
IS A
T H I S A L B UBMR ATION
RE A L C E L E
M Y M U S ICAL
OF N D I J UST
G E
HERITA PEOPLE TOA
WANT ONG AND
COME ALHE RIDE.
ENJOY T
LOVE ME OR NOT
“When you’re creative and you can’t create, you
can’t go and entertain, you can’t go and perform, it’s
unsteadying” says Heather of the early stages of the
album, which was conceived and recorded over the
past two years. “You start thinking, ‘Will I still have the
ability? Will this ever end?’” record them with a different tempo, different kind of
The unprecedented state of the world may have style, you realise that a good song is a good song - and
driven her back into the studio, but the idea of an they were good songs.
album of re-recordings dates back four years, when “That’s what’s helped me keep them alive and kept
in 2018 she announced the planned ‘Heather Small: me happy singing them, because I only put my vocals
Orchestral Greatest Hits’. However, the project was to songs that I love,” she insists, citing the diverse
axed and, when she was approached to record new audiences that attend her gigs as proof that a quality
material, she jumped at the chance to pick up where song stands the test of time. “That’s the beauty of
things left off. music, that I was able to revisit it, and luckily for me it
“When there was the opportunity to do this, I thought was a period of time that people seem to love. I do the
to myself, ‘Yes, it’s a good way of bringing past, present ‘80s and ‘90s, festivals - Rewind, Let’s Rock - and it’s so
and future together’,” Heather explains. “Because there’s much fun. The age groups are so diverse and there’s
a couple of new recordings, there’s a back catalogue just everybody, regardless of colour, creed, gender,
that’s been revisited - but in a different way - and I sexuality - it’s a real celebration. And for me, that’s
thought that sums up where I am and how I feel right what this album is; it’s a real celebration of my musical
now. And to do it with an orchestra was absolutely heritage and I just want people to come along and
amazing. That sound is big, so it’s familiar and fresh all enjoy the ride.”
at the same time.” Alongside the reworks on ‘Colour My Life’,
With a catalogue so beloved, it’s always a risk to original lead track Love Me or Not became an instant
re-record and reinterpret past material, and while the radio hit and offers a direction for the future of
majority of the tracks remain faithful to the originals, Heather’s music while remaining unquestionably
others differ significantly. “How Can I Love You More? timeless. According to the hitmaker, the track was
is so different,” she explains. “I went into the studio that penned especially for her and is one she hopes will
day and it was going to be how it was originally, in that “help people get to that place of loving themselves and
pace, and I just wasn’t feeling it. I said, ‘I feel like it just accepting themselves quicker”.
needs to be slower.’ “We’ve all been in a situation where we’re not feeling
“I did it at home and it just felt so natural, but when the love, whether it was for our colour or gender
I tried to do it on that day, in the same way I’d done or sexuality - and what do you do? You can’t bend
before, it just wasn’t happening for me. I just wasn’t yourself out of shape,” she says. “I’m not going to wake
feeling it. So it was that organic that I could say, ‘Like up one morning and turn white, you know what I
this, in this way, how I’m feeling it today,’ and it just felt mean? If you’re LGBTQ, you’re not going to wake up
fresh to me. It didn’t feel like I was trying to replicate and say, ‘Yeah, I’m straight,’ to please people. So you’ve
anything; it was just to show the love I have for those got to embrace yourself and say, ‘Whatever you think
songs for all those years.” about me, I have enough love for myself,’ and then you
The process proved illuminating. “You always want just follow the light, you follow the love and stay within
to have songs that stand the test of time and you hope the love.
that they do and you’re still singing them and people “I think to myself, ‘Yeah, love me or not. But you
are enjoying them,” she muses. “But when you record know what, see me? I will love myself.’ And it does
them again, and you record them with a different sometimes take a minute to get there, because you
producer, you record them with an orchestra, you have all things thrown at you that say, ‘You’re not good
enough, you’re not worthy.’ But you have to learn.”
SEARCH FOR THE HERO

I NEVER STARTED SINGING Having been born and raised on a council estate in
BECAUSE I WANTED TO BE Ladbroke Grove, West London, Heather witnessed

her parents work hard to keep a roof over the family’s
COMFORTABLE. I WANTED head. Her father was a bus conductor from Barbados
TO EXPLORE DIFFERENT and her mother was a waitress, and while she dreamed
big from a young age, she admits it was an ongoing
THINGS AND BE OPEN TO struggle to accept and embrace an identity that instilled
DIFFERENT THINGS. a sense of insecurity that “followed [her] around for a

long time”.
“I’m a Black, female, working class immigrant -
there’s lots of things that people think I should be
ashamed of and would like to hurl stones at me for,” she
K,
I ’ M A B L AOCR K I N G
FEMALE, W M I GRANT
CL A S S I M OF
E R E ’ S L O T S
- TH A T PEOPLE
TH I N G S T H
K I S H O U L DN’T
THIN E D O F AND
A M
BE ASH IKE TO HURL
WOULD L AT ME FOR
STONES
insists. “Whatever I do, the first thing people see is
my colour and I have been made to feel ashamed of
that. In my youth and growing up, at the time, I didn’t
know any better, because you’re a child and you want
to fit in.”
However, as time passed she grew to love her
identity and heritage, explaining: “I accept myself
and I’m not embarrassed by it - and you shouldn’t Heather was reluctant to train her voice until she’d
be. Gender, sexuality, colour, race, religion - because developed what would become her signature sound,
the minute that you are, people see it as your Achilles which went on to characterise some of the biggest
heel and they will torture you. Lifelong torture. But if dance hits of the 1990s. However, she did later see a
you stand up in your own reality, there’s nothing to be vocal coach who helped hone her abilities before she
ashamed of and there’s nothing that people can torture went on to audition for a spot in a group as advertised
you with. It’s like, ‘Oh, you’re this…’ - oh yeah, I am. in Melody Maker - but it wasn’t M People.
“I don’t want to be tolerated. I want to be accepted. I The band was Hot House and Heather set out to
want to be celebrated. So I found friends, and people impress founding members Martin Colyer and Mark
that were like my family, that accepted me the way that Pringle. “These two guys lived on the 14th floor - very
I am, and I could progress and move forward and do white, very middle class, young guys,” she recalls.
that for others.” “They were older than me, but still young, and they
It was during her school years that Heather first really love blues and soul and old fashioned R&B and
discovered her voice when singing in a school choir. gospel music.
“I was the smallest, but I used to be the loudest and the “Even though I was scared, I loved the [audition]
deepest,” she laughs. “They used to say to me, ‘Heather, process and they called me back a few days later and
you get to the back’ - and I was the smallest. They’d said, ‘We love the sound of your voice,’ so that’s when I
say, ‘You’re too loud, Heather, too loud.’ So it made me knew that somebody was willing to see me as a singer.
think, ‘Oh, maybe I’ve got something different.’ And That was confidence building. And then we used to
then I went for my first audition and they said to me go over and do some studio time in the flat. We’d write
that they liked the sound of my voice, so it resonated and record songs and then we got a publishing deal,
with me very early that what people liked was the so we got the songs endorsed first. It was like there
sound of my voice, because I had no technique at was a third party outside of ourselves that thinks we’ve
the time.” got good songs and that we’ve got some modicum
of talent. And then we got the record deal with RCA,
which turned into BMG.
THEY SAID, ‘YES, “They said, ‘Yes, we’ll sign you up,’ and I thought,
WE’LL SIGN YOU UP,’ ‘The world will know my name. I shall be on every
radio station and I will conquer the world…’ But we
AND I THOUGHT, ‘ got dropped,” Heather recalls, after the group recorded
two albums - ‘South’ (1988) and ‘Movers and Shakers’,
THE WORLD WILL “which they refused to release”.
KNOW MY NAME. It was a devastating time. “That was one of the

unhappiest periods of my life. You know, rejection is
I SHALL BE ON EVERY hard,” she says. “But when you’re being rejected from
RADIO STATION AND something that you’ve always wanted to do, and you
had it in the palm of your hands and somehow it
I WILL CONQUER THE slipped away, it hurt. It really did hurt.”
WORLD…’ BUT WE Although heartbroken, Heather vowed not to give

up and it wasn’t long before the phone began to ring.
GOT DROPPED. “You don’t think you’ll have a second chance, but I got
a second chance with M People,” Heather smiles as she
remembers the beginnings of the band. “They [Mike
Pickering and Paul Heard] said they’d always liked the
sound of my voice and they had two songs that they
wanted me to record and for me to demo and see if I
liked them. Those two songs were Colour My Life and
How Can I Love You More?, and I loved them.
“They let me take them away and infuse myself in
them, put myself into those songs, and it turned out
that every single that was on the first M People album
was a recording that I’d done.”
The ‘Northern Soul’ (1991) LP also featured the hits
Someday and Excited, and although the initial plan was
to have a collective of vocalists contribute to the songs,
it was swiftly decided that Heather would remain the
sole voice of the band. “I did say, ‘I’m here. I’m not
going to leave,’ but they wanted me to stay,” she laughs,
“and we talked about it, because they were thinking the
same thing. They didn’t bring it up and I was thinking
the same thing, then one day we discussed it and YOU’VE GOT TO EMBRACE YOURSELF
thought, ‘Yeah, if it’s not broken, don’t fix it.’”
AND SAY, ‘WHATEVER YOU THINK
PROUD
‘Northern Soul’ launched M People into the public
ABOUT ME, I HAVE ENOUGH LOVE
consciousness, but it was follow-up ‘Elegant FOR MYSELF,’ AND THEN YOU JUST
Slumming’ (1993) - featuring mega-hits such as One
Night in Heaven, Moving On Up, Don’t Look Any
FOLLOW THE LIGHT.
Further and Renaissance - that propelled their career
to new heights and landed the group the 1994 Mercury
Music Prize. They beat artists such as Blur, The Prodigy, Because as much as I love music, nothing comes
Pulp and Paul Weller, but Heather recalls their victory before motherhood, not in my book.”
didn’t go down well with all of their competitors. She elaborates: “I had this baby and I wanted to be
“It was real tough competition and there were even there for that baby as well. It was a way of being able
people who were in the running who thought that to have my cake and eat it, I suppose. But if it meant
we shouldn’t have won,” she shares. “The reaction scaling down the singing, and it’s a few thousand
from some of the music press really was that they people instead of hundreds of thousands then so be it,
were outraged. ‘How dare this pop dance band take because I would never compromise my son for what
this prize,’ because at first it was won by an indie band would be outward success; selling more records and
[Primal Scream] and people just had the idea that it was making more money. That’s only success in one arena
an indie prize. But it wasn’t, it was about music.” and it doesn’t always make you the happiest. So I knew
Looking back, however, she’s thankful to have been that being a mother was one of the most joyful things
recognised among such a high calibre of artists. “It I was going to do and I was going to do it right.”
was an honour to be in that line-up. I didn’t think that Released in 2000, her debut solo LP ‘Proud’ peaked
we would win, so it was a refreshing change that we at No. 12 in the UK with its title track stalling at No.
were given the award. But at the end of the day, what 16. But more than two decades on, it’s become her
does it mean? It doesn’t mean much if you don’t have signature song and, as Heather beams, “taken [her]
an audience. If you have an audience, you can still do around the world”.
what you love to do and that’s the biggest reward of all.” “Everybody knows it and, as I say, you have to see
Together, M People released three more albums - how you measure success. When I came out of M
‘Bizarre Fruit’ (1994), ‘Bizarre Fruit II’ (1995) and ‘Fresco’ People and I wrote Proud I thought, ‘That’s a success,’
(1997) - before Heather left the band after becoming because Proud is about some of the little moments
a mum to continue writing and recording as a solo that other people don’t see and celebrating them. My
artist. Of the decision, she admits: “You’ve got to really son’s first gold medal on sports day at the age of seven,
ask yourself, ‘What is success?’. We were successful for I’m happy about that and it gives me a lot of joy that I
a really long time, but situations change and so the was there to see it,” she smiles. “I think to myself, ‘Yeah,
meaning of success can change. I’ve had my cake and eaten it, because I had the career
“For me, I never started singing because I wanted alongside motherhood on my terms.’ Now like you say,
to be comfortable. I wanted to explore different things 16 years later, people are still accepting and willing to
and be open to different things. I wanted to see if I see me live and buy my record, and it doesn’t get better
could write for my own voice and I wanted to say some than that. And my son loves me - that makes all the
things that maybe wasn’t the agenda of a band. It’s difference in the world. He loves me, he respects me
quite different to being in a band, because you always and he’s proud of me.”
have to ask the opinion of everyone, and everyone has Flash forward to 2022 and ‘Colour My Life’ is
to be on board. That’s the good thing about being a Heather’s first solo outing in 16 years, after her 2006
band and that’s the worst thing about being in a band. effort ‘Close to a Miracle’, and following the warm
So when I had a child, my situation had changed and response to her current collection, she’s already got
the situation as a mother, and experience as a mother, more new music in the pipeline.
wasn’t really taken on board. And that’s quite difficult. Teasing its follow-up, she hints: “I do have one
bubbling. I don’t think it will be as long as 16 years for
new music now that I’ve seen that people have an
appetite for it and they’re willing to support me. That
means everything.”
l ‘Colour My Life’ is out now.
’ T T H I N K I T WILL
I DON LONG AS 16
BE AS E W MUSIC
F O R N
YEARS HAT I’VE SEEN
NOW T LE HAVE AN
THAT PEOP FOR IT AND
APPETITE ILLING TO
T H E Y ’ R E WR T M E .
SUPPO
Treasure
forever
INTERVIEW | The Fizz
Hot on the heels of

their 40th anniversary
celebrations, The Fizz go
back to their eighties best
on their superb new album
‘Everything Under The Sun’!
WORDS CONNOR GOTTO
hen it comes to pop soap operas, few
W have experiences such dizzying highs

and devastating lows as The Fizz.
The group, whose career began
in 1981 when Bucks Fizz rocketed to the top of the
scoreboard at the Eurovision Song Contest, achieved
massive chart success in the years that followed, but
a life-threatening coach crash and several line-up
changes saw the band fade into obscurity by the turn
of the decade.
Reemerging in the early noughties, they became
touring regulars, and in 2017 Cheryl Baker, Mike Nolan
and Jay Aston rose from the ashes, reluctant to be just
another mainstay of the nostalgia circuit, and began
a musical partnership with Stock Aitken Waterman
legend Mike Stock that this month delivers its fourth
album, ‘Everything Under The Sun’.
Having just celebrated 40 years together, The Fizz
remain united with an unwavering positivity and
unshakable bond that, through it all, has kept them
going strong for four decades - and counting…
EVERYTHING WE DO
“I think everybody needed a bit of fun and lightness,
something that’s different to what we’ve all been
through,” says Jay Aston on the premise of their latest
collaboration with the super producer, who served as
the group’s main songwriter and producer on previous
albums ‘The F-Z of Pop’ (2017), ‘Christmas With The
Fizz’ (2018) and ‘Smoke and Mirrors’ (2020).
“It’s such a grim time, isn’t it? So much doom and
gloom. So we just needed something a bit fun and
light, which of course is really what people think of
us for.”
Clocking in at 10 tracks, the album leans into the
sounds of the 1980s that proved a smash hit for both
Bucks Fizz and Stock Aitken Waterman, with Mike
The Fizz (l-r): Jay Aston,

Mike Nolan, Cheryl Baker
channelling the group’s early hits on a collection
that references the past while aligning with current
chart trends.
It’s a winning formula that was the goal from the
get-go, as Mike Nolan explains: “Even though it’s 2022,
it doesn’t mean that we still can’t keep the sound that
we used to have.
“We were talking about it and [Mike Stock] said, ‘Have
you heard ABBA’s new album?’ - which I have and I
really do like. It does sound like they’re a ‘70s band in it
and it’s the same with us. He doesn’t do it purposely so
that we sound like an ‘80s band, it’s just the sound of
the group that’s brought up to date.”
Jay adds of his “big experiment”: “They rebuilt
their studio and they brought in a lot of incredibly
interesting, vintage gear. They wanted to use some of
the old retro programming, which was probably quite
intricate to marry up with digital.”
From the opening guitar and drums of I Wonder
Where You Are Right Now to the ABBA-esque keys on I
Close My Eyes, throwback beat of You Can Find It Here
and pure pop cover of Paul McCartney’s This One, the
album is as close to the classic PWL sound as the group
have come since their return to the studio, with Cheryl
crediting their familiarity with their leader for such a
tight set.
“We’ve worked with [Mike Stock] for about six
years, this is the fourth album, and he knows us. He
knows our characters and he knows how much our
fans mean to us. He’s written songs that absolutely
suit the band.”
One of the tracks in particular, the aptly titled
Everything We Do (We Do It For You), utilises an
unreleased Stock/Waterman instrumental track from
1991, with a lyric that pays tribute to the group’s devout
following. “We’ve got such a fan base. They’re so loyal
and they love us so much.
In our fan club we’ve got
over 6,000 fans - back in the The ‘80s was a LAKY, and incorporates lines from classic Bucks
day, in the ‘80s, we only had Fizz songs. Unlike fan-favourite Amen and holiday
10,000 and they were all little great era for us. tune So Christmas, which were written with her
teeny bops - seven, eight It started off with mum’s voice in mind, she had different ideas for her
and nine year olds. And here latest composition.
we are all these years on and the Eurovision and “We were sitting there when [Kyla] said ‘I’ve written
we have a fan club with over
6,000 members, which is
everyone thought a song that I want to put forward for the album.’ Cheryl
said, ‘Ooh that’s great, you must put that through,’ then
amazing. And they support we’re going to be she goes, ‘Well, I need you here Mike because you’re on
us so brilliantly. That song is the lead’,” he quips. “Cheryl goes, ‘Mike’s on the lead on
dedicated to them.”
one hit wonders, my daughter’s song?’”
Another song on the then we went on Cheryl laughs: “I was like, ‘Oh, alright then…’ Usually
album, I’m On My Way what happens is I go in first and Mike and Jay go after
(Better Run), was penned further and further me, so I did the lead vocal and I thought, ‘She’s gonna
by Cheryl’s daughter Kyla and further with it. be really cross that I’m doing the lead vocal.’ And lo and
Stroud, who performs as behold, when I heard the final mix it was Mike!”
MIKE While tracks such as the group’s personal favourite
Treasure Forever celebrate their enduring bond,
others touch on the way Bucks Fizz were perceived at
the beginning of their career - and their impressive
longevity. I Wonder Where You Are Right Now is,
the band fondly recalls their golden days.

“The ‘80s was a great era for us,” beams Mike. “The
way the music went, everything. There were lots of
new acts that came in and a lot of them are still here
today. For us, it was a great era, because it started
off with the Eurovision and everyone thought we’re
going to be one hit wonders, then we went on further
and further and further with it. And it just went from
strength to strength all the time.”
Following their debut, the group scored UK Top 20
hits with Piece of the Action and One of Those Nights
from their 1981 debut album, before topping the
charts with The Land of Make Believe and My Camera
Never Lies from follow-up ‘Are You Ready’ (1982). But
following the release of 1983 album ‘Hand Cut’, there
was a shift in the Bucks Fizz sound that proved divisive
among fans of the group - and the singers themselves.
“I think we lost audiences when our old production
company wanted us to be a bit more sophisticated and
deep and dark and heavy, which didn’t ever really suit
us,” reflects Jay. “I don’t think some of those tracks ever
even saw the light of day.”
Cheryl agrees: “The dark era was when Andy Hill
[songwriter, producer] was
burnt out. RCA, our record
Those early label, were demanding more
Bucks Fizz days, albums and he didn’t have
the songs, so he went to a guy
the places we called Warren Bacall, who sadly
went, the songs died a couple years ago, who
wrote songs like When We
that we sang, Were Young and Invisible and
London Town.”
the album’s we Following the release of
released - I’m very Bucks Fizz’s fourth album
‘I Hear Talk’ (1984), Jay quit
proud of them. the group, but she admits
CHERYL things could have turned out
according to Jay, a song “about what people go on to differently had they turned to
do with their lives” - but does it also not-so-subtly nod Stock Aitken Waterman when things went awry - an
to the naysayers? idea Mike says would have been entirely possible, as
“There is a bit of that,” she chuckles. “I mean we were the trio reached out to the band’s production company
slammed in every interview, you know, ‘The cheap but were turned away.
ABBA. The poor man’s ABBA.’ We are very lucky - in “They approached us to do that and we didn’t even
the ‘90s, we were not happening and there wouldn’t know about it. We would have had hits with Stock
have been any high-level Bucks Fizz gigs around, but Aitken Waterman,” he says, as Jay agrees, “I think at
the ‘80s thing has just really caught fire and it hasn’t some point we would have really benefited from the
gone away.” PWL flair on some of our tracks. But they came towards
It’s a direction they channel into their latest the end of the ‘80s and our peak was more at the
collection, which they collectively insist is their best beginning of the ‘80s.
work to date. “I’m so proud of it and I think it’s better “The Right Situation, Breaking and Entering, or the
than any of the Bucks Fizz ones,” says Cheryl, with Mike song that I fronted, Easy Love, because it was a dance
agreeing: “I think, actually, this is the best one we’ve track and they were talking about that being a single,
done so far.” but it didn’t happen. Someone in Holland ended up
doing it. But that really needed their groove. We didn’t
CLOSE MY EYES quite have that.”
The album’s release comes after the group celebrated Now, four decades later, the group has delivered
four decades since winning Eurovision with that iconic the same amount of material with Mike Stock as they
skirt-ripping routine and, looking back on the decade, did during their initial run with Andy Hill and Nicola
Martin, with Cheryl suggesting that perhaps things
turned out for the best. “Had it happened in the ‘80s, it
might not have happened now,” she considers.
Another major event during their initial run, the
departure of Jay, is one that in hindsight has been
a positive for the group, as her return decades later
allowed them to resolve past issues and strengthen the
bond that comes with their shared legacy. “Jay’s been
[back] with us since 2008 - for 14 years - and she was
only with us for five years,” beams Cheryl. “Even so,
those years were glorious. Those early Bucks Fizz days,
the places we went, the songs that we sang, the albums
we released - I’m very proud of them.”
On how the two careers compare, Jay reflects:
“It was a very different world. There was a lot of
travelling. This is very different. Social media makes a
difference. Obviously, we’re not globe trotting, we’re
not having huge No. 1 records and we’re not adding
to our gold discs.
“I guess our relationship as people sort of ties it all
together, Mike, Cheryl and myself. We’ve just grown
up and that’s the thread. And I think there’s something
about our voices blending that makes a distinct sound.”
TRUE HEARTS
Looking back on the group’s history, it’s impossible
not to mention the original fourth member of Bucks
Fizz, Bobby G, who no longer performs with the trio
and whose wife retains the rights to the band name.
Despite a much-publicised battle to win back the title
and various spats over the years, The Fizz reached out
to their former colleague to bury the hatchet and rejoin
them for their 40th anniversary album - an offer, Jay
reveals, he declined.
“Mike Stock actually spoke to Bobby and asked if
he would like to sing on this album given that it was
our anniversary,” she explains. “Obviously there was a
pandemic which kind of nudged it forward a bit. But
Bobby just wasn’t interested. I don’t think that’ll ever
happen, which is a shame.”
Cheryl admits: “It would have been lovely for the fans
- it would make their lives if we even did one gig or one
album. It’s such a shame that he said no to that.
“We do have a history and I am a bit bitter about the
fact that he won’t let us use the name,” she continues.
“However, taking that aside, we should all celebrate
being together and the fantastic achievements that we
had in the day.”
Stock Aitken Waterman

approached us and we didn’t
even know about it. We would
have had hits with them!
MIKE
I guess our relationship
as people sort of ties it all
together, Mike, Cheryl and
myself. We’ve just grown
up and that’s the thread.
JAY
It’s a particularly tough blow for Jay who, although

happily still performing and recording with The Fizz,
was the closest to Bobby of the original line-up. “I don’t
understand what he’s done in preventing us from co-
owning the name. I find that quite tough to deal with,
that it was his choice and that was what he was aiming
at doing. He was trying to prevent us from working. I
can’t understand him for doing that,” she shares. “I just
find it completely - it’s not what I ever expected of him,
put it that way. He’s obviously got his problems with
all of us - either collectively or individually - but you’d
think with an anniversary and a pandemic and all of
that, and now maybe Eurovision, that might make a
difference. But I suspect not.
“I’m just terribly disappointed in the way he’s gone
about things, because I actually considered him and
I to be quite friendly. I was certainly closer to Bobby
than I was to Cheryl - but Cheryl and I are now mates
and Bobby’s got his own thing. I don’t understand him,
that’s all I can say…”
The chances of a Bucks Fizz reunion look
increasingly slim, but the group will no doubt be
reviving their classic hits and best-loved routines next
year when the Eurovision Song Contest comes to the
United Kingdom. While there have been calls for the
group to perform during the show, however, the group
maintains that, while they’ll be gigging in the build-up
to the Final, they won’t be appearing on the night. “This
is about Ukraine, they’ve won,” insists Jay.
They might not be revisiting the Eurovision stage
anytime soon, but what about unreleased material?
When it comes to lost recordings, Mike reveals there’s
plenty left untouched. “There’s a lot there in the vaults,”
he confirms. “We do talk about them. I say, ‘I don’t
remember doing that,’ and Jay will kind of remember
but Cheryl won’t. There’s a lot of stuff around…”
However, he’s reluctant to revisit the past, insisting:
“There’s too much hassle with that. You’ve got to go
back to the production people and people that were
on it that aren’t with us anymore - it could be Bobby G,
could be Bobby McVay - or it means you’ve got to take
them all off.
“It’s too much hassle. It’s better to go and do all new
stuff. That’s the way I think anyway,” he muses, with
Cheryl hopeful the trio will reunite with Mike Stock on
more material in the near future.

“I would love to do another album, or at least do
some more recording,” she smiles. “But I don’t know if
we’ve run our course with him, I just don’t know. He
hasn’t said yet. But I would love it if he said, ‘Let’s start
on the next album.’ I would just be so happy.”
l ‘Everything Under The Sun’ is out September 8

on MPG.
R I S E
Blue (l-r): Lee Ryan,

Duncan James, Simon
Webb, Antony Costa
INTERVIEW | Blue
le as e of th ei r br an d ne w album ‘Heart
Ahead of the re ur, B lu e are back and
U K ar en a to
& Soul’ and massive ea d to their belated
ev er as th ey lo ok ah
better than
ions this autumn!
20th anniversary celebrat
N
WORDS SIMON BUTTO
n the early noughties, boy band embarking on their first hiatus.
I Blue could do no wrong, securing

a stellar run of three UK No. 1
albums and 12 Top 20 singles
between 2001 and 2005.
Having formed the year before their
Their separation was short-lived and
after reuniting to represent the United
Kingdom at the 2011 Eurovision Song
Contest, they entered a new era that
saw them balance group projects with
hitmaking streak began, they enjoyed solo endeavours.
five years of success and topped the Now, after vowing their recording
charts with such soulful R&B originals days are over in 2019, the boys return
as Too Close and If You Come Back as with their hotly-anticipated sixth
well as Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest album ‘Heart & Soul’ and a huge tour
Word in the presence of none other celebrating two decades of hits this
than its composer Elton John, before autumn.
We wanted to take a
trip down memory
lane, sonically
revisiting the
sounds and styles
of that album whilst
giving it a modern-
day fit. DUNCAN
INTERVIEW | Blue
ONE LOVE
The release of new material marks a real milestone for
the Blue boys. Launching alongside their nationwide
trek in December, the comeback serves as a celebration
for the quartet’s 20th anniversary as one of Britain’s too but we always come back together. We always
most successful boy bands - well, sort of… keep in contact and can’t wait to join up again to do
The pandemic put paid to any notion of the shows and make new music. Blue has always been
foursome fully honouring their two decades in the our foundation.”
business in 2020, so they’re doing it now - 22 years It’s been that way ever since they released All Rise in
since they first got together and 21 years after debut May 2001 as the lead single from the album of the same
album ‘All Rise’ topped the UK chart when it was name, hitting No. 4 in the UK and doing rather well in
released in November 2001. Australia, Belgium and New Zealand too.
Formed the previous year, Antony Costa, Duncan With ‘Heart & Soul’ the idea was to circle back to
James, Lee Ryan and Simon Webbe went on to sell 16 that classic sound two decades later, with Duncan
million records worldwide, collaborated with the likes explaining: “We wanted to take a trip down memory
of Elton, Stevie Wonder, Kool & The Gang and Lil Kim, lane, sonically revisiting the sounds and styles of that
and cemented their legacy as one of the best-loved boy album whilst giving it a modern-day fit.” They got their
bands of the era. original A&R guy Hugh Goldsmith, who initially helped
Two decades on, they remain a tight-knit band of get them signed to Virgin Records, back on board. “He
musical brothers, which is why it’s odd at first to only was kind of the genius behind Blue really and with this
be talking to Antony, Duncan and Simon about their new album we gave him the reins. He basically put it
latest venture. all together.”
Lee is taking some time off from the That’s not to say the foursome
group in the build-up to the release of didn’t have any input into the new
‘Heart & Soul’ to seek professional help for tracks. The lads went off and did a
issues with alcohol, saying in a statement songwriting camp in Sweden to hone
on Blue’s official Instagram page: “As it has their skills, out of which came some
been well documented I have always had
We’re just there 27 songs which were eventually
my struggles with alcohol and often say or to do a job and to whittled down. They also called in
do silly things as a results of that, which in tracks from other writers and decided
turn has caused problems for myself and make some music. to do a cover version of American
those around me… We’re too long in R&B group 112’s 2001 single Dance
“The time has come for me to take With Me - a minor hit in the States, a
ownership of the root cause of these the tooth for egos No. 1 in Belgium - because, Duncan
problems and for that reason I am says, “it’s a song we all love and used
reducing my schedule for the time being
and all that stuff. to sing back in the day”.
to seek professional help and spend time ANTONY
with my family.” COME BACK
He has, however, kept up the vocal In 2019 the band declared they weren’t
duties, appearing on stage with Blue boys going to make any new music,
who have his back every step of the way. It’s one focussing instead on touring. “But with
for all and all for one, as Antony insists: “That’s how the 20th anniversary looming,” Duncan
it’s always been. We’re always there for each other.” says, “we wanted to do something for
Duncan reiterates the four musketeers-style the fans and put something new out there, although
solidarity. “From day one, we’ve said that if somebody the plan was never to do an album. The plan was to do
was to leave the band it wouldn’t be Blue anymore. We a single or an EP at the most.”
wouldn’t want to continue as Blue if it wasn’t the four Then Antony came up with Haven’t Found You Yet
of us. For me, it would feel weird being on stage and and the other three were blown away by it, inspiring
not having everybody there. In the past we’ve done them to explore the idea of a full album. He is humble
gigs when a member has been sick or what have you about the track, saying only, “Thank you very much,”
and it just doesn’t feel like Blue.” when I mention what a great comeback song it is.
“And I think what makes us unique is that all four of “We tried to do all this a couple of years ago,” Duncan
us wanted to be in a band,” Simon agrees. “I think that sighs about marking their 20th birthday, “but then
in most other bands one or two people really want to obviously Covid happened and kind of ruined the
be solo artists and when the group is successful they plan. The whole world had to put everything on pause,
go off and try it on their own. We’ve all had solo careers didn’t it?” He grins: “We’re forgetting those two years
and going ‘Now is our 20th anniversary’.”
Antony adds: “We didn’t expect it to delay things
for so long. No one did. But listen, we’re back. We’re
looking forward to putting out the album and going on
tour later this year.”
It is, Simon marvels, indeed a milestone. “Although
it’s edging closer to the 25th anniversary,” he laughs.
“I’m so proud of the fact that we’ve stayed bonded and
have stayed true to the music, always wanting to raise
the bar. To sing songs like All Rise now and still get the
same reaction is unbelievable.”
Blue have always stood out because of their strong
voices and four-part harmonies, and when it comes
to dividing up vocal duties in the recording studio it’s
all pretty organic. “It’s really just a case of us just going
in and singing,” Antony understates. “Some songs suit
one of us, other songs suit someone else. There’s no
process as such, it just happens.”
Duncan agrees: “We know our voices so well, so
when we have a new song it’s like, ‘Antony definitely
needs to sing the first verse,’ or, ‘We can hear Lee
singing that middle eight’.” He laughs. “Basically if it’s
too high we give it to Lee and if it’s low then I get it.”
Are there egos in the studio, healthy or otherwise?
“Not at all,” Antony insists. “We’re just there to do a job
and to make some music. We’re too long in the tooth
for egos and all that stuff. We’re just happy to be back
grafting again and doing what we love. Any success
that comes from that is a bonus.”
“If anything,” Duncan chimes in, “it was harder
to make the new album because we weren’t always
together. We had to record a lot of the songs separately
because of the Covid rules. We weren’t able to be in
the studio together and help each other, and that’s
something we’ve always enjoyed creatively
- doing ad-libs and stuff like that. I love the
boys being there to hear things that maybe
I haven’t heard, to pick out a melody or a
harmony that I haven’t picked up on myself.
It was really hard this time because we
didn’t have that support from one another From day one,
from being in the recording studio at the we’ve said that if
same time.”
somebody was to
KINGS OF THE WORLD leave the band it
The Blue story began when Lee and Antony
auditioned for a boy band Simon Cowell wouldn’t be Blue
was putting together through ITV’s ‘This
Morning’. The project fizzled but the two
anymore. We
teenagers remained friends and the next wouldn’t want to
year, along with Antony’s mate Duncan,
decided to form their own group. continue as Blue if
“The chemistry was there from the start,” it wasn’t the four
Antony recalls, “because we were already
mates. The beauty of Blue was that we were of us. DUNCAN
four friends just doing what we loved doing
and we still are - making music, getting on
stage and trying to entertain people. I think
we came out at a really good time. There was no
social media, no TikTok and all of that. We went the
old school way and we’re proud of the fact we slowly
built a fanbase.”
They were labelled a manufactured band, which
isn’t strictly true. Yes, Antony, Duncan and Lee went in
to audition for the Innocent Records imprint of EMI’s
Virgin Records at the urging of their manager Daniel
Glatman, but they already knew each other and when
Simon joined the line-up he wasn’t a stranger - he was
Lee’s flatmate and had already met Duncan.
INTERVIEW | Blue
“It was just Antony I needed to click with,” he
remembers, “and I knew if he was anything like
Duncan and Lee then we’d get on. It was the
handshake that did it for him. He said ‘Good
handshake!’ We got chatting and really hit it off. It The chemistry
was like they were the three musketeers and I was
the fourth.” was there from
Success came quickly and those first few years
were a blur of promotion and performance, flying
the start, because
around the world to, as Duncan puts it, “countries we were already
I’d never even heard about in geography lessons at
school,” doing interviews for Smash Hits back home
mates. The beauty
PHOTOS ALICE BACKHAM, JORDAN ROSSI
or appearing on ‘cd:uk’ and ‘Top of the Pops’. There of Blue was that
were surreal moments like being snapped by the
paparazzi when popping to the local shop for some we were four
milk or being mobbed by fans in Japan, Singapore, friends just doing
Italy… you name it.
Given all the screaming at gigs, was it frustrating what we loved
that the fans weren’t always paying attention to the
music? Simon laughs. “I’d like to think they were
doing. ANTONY
doing both. You’d see a girl singing along to the lyrics
whilst next to her her friend was crying because Lee
was doing a big, long note. And we didn’t let fame go to
our heads. I reminded myself to cherish every moment
INTERVIEW | Blue
and not get big-headed about it. We still get the a respectable 11th place. “Which
It’s the same when I look back wasn’t too shabby,” Antony insists.
now and think of everything we’ve same buzz from “At least we were on the better
accomplished, because there’s still performing live. side of the board!”
more to do.” They’ve been working together
Getting to work with idols like After the show I on and off ever since - touring,
Elton and Stevie were high points. putting out a couple of albums
“It was fantastic,” Antony beams.
always say to the (‘Roulette’ in 2013, ‘Colours’ in
“You’re a year into your career and others, ‘We haven’t 2015) and appearing on reality
you end up singing with Elton show ‘The Big Reunion’, whilst
John. He’d said ‘All Rise’ was the
got a bad job have making solo records and acting
best album of 2001 and when we, boys?’ SIMON on stage and screen.
we approached him about Sorry Duncan feels the new long-
Seems To Be The Hardest Word player brings Blue full circle.
he jumped at the chance. First he “We’re not presumptuous enough
agreed to play the piano on it, then he to expect it to do incredibly well,
asked, ‘Can I go in the vocal booth and which is how it was with that first
sing?’ We were like ‘Abso-bloody-lutely, mate!’ album. Back then there were no
And Stevie was an absolute hero of mine so it was an expectations and that’s what was lovely about ‘All Rise’.
honour to work with him and be in the same video. It was just a joy to make. Now we’re back again with no
Stevie and Elton were such lovely guys and proper pros. expectations. We just wanted to put this album out for
Stevie was the first to arrive and last to leave.” the fans. If people like it they do, and if they don’t then
Why the hiatus in 2005? “It got to the point where they don’t.
we felt we’d taken Blue as far as we could,” Antony “We really enjoyed making it. With the albums that
recalls, “and we didn’t want to drain the machine, so came in between, they weren’t quite as enjoyable
to speak. We said ‘Let’s take a break’, which ended up because the expectation and pressure were there for
being six years.” them to do well. When you take away that expectation
They got back together to represent the UK at the you can just enjoy making the music.”
Eurovision Song Contest 2011 with I Can, finishing in Fans are promised a mix of new material and
signature hits when the band hits the road again at the
end of the year, with Simon saying:
“The tour, like the album, is called
‘Heart & Soul’ so it’d be silly not to do
a few tracks from that album. But I’m
excited about all the nostalgia from
the crowd about the old songs too,
taking them back in time, putting on
a great show and proving we’re still
passionate about what we do.”
One thing that’s really changed
are the post-show festivities. With
ages ranging from 39 to 44, they’re
not the young bucks they were back
in the early 2000s. “Now it’s do the
show,” Antony notes, “sing One Love
as the encore, say goodnight and go
off to bed.”
Simon adds: “But we still get the
same buzz from performing live. Even
when you’re feeling tired, to go on
stage and sing a song from 20 years
ago and people still love it is such a
great feeling. After the show I always
say to the others, ‘We haven’t got a bad
job have we, boys?’”
l ‘Heart & Soul’ is out October 28

on BMG. Blue tour the UK from
December 4.
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INTERVIEW | Dragonette
lectro pop group Dragonette rose to
E prominence in the mid-noughties when,

after releasing their self-titled EP in 2005,
they were picked up by Mercury Records
and whisked off to London to record tracks for their
debut album.
International success followed for the Toronto group,
who released four studio records and toured with
the likes of Duran Duran, New Order and Sugababes,
but in 2016 drummer Joel Stouffer quit the band
and, following the romantic separation of bassist and
producer Dan Kurtz and singer Martina Sorbara, she
was left as the sole remaining member of the outfit.
After a six year absence, during which she sought
to rediscover her identity as a solo artist and became
a mum, Martina returns under the Dragonette banner
with new music and an updated sound that represents
the artist she is today, 25 years into her career.
NEW SUIT
“I didn’t really know if I was even Dragonette anymore,”
explains the singer-songwriter of the transition from
being the group’s frontwoman to a solo artist in her
own right. “I’m like, ‘What is that? I don’t know…’”
Martina and Dan met at a music festival in Canada wanted to make, so I guess New Suit is just like, ‘This
and formed a duo called The Fuzz, making music is what I’m wearing. This is what I’m doing. Whoever’s
together in their basement recording studio for fun. with me, come on, let’s dance.’”
Realising their sounds and instincts worked well The single is the first to be lifted from Dragonette’s
together, the couple formed Dragonette and, after forthcoming album, which Martina describes as
signing a UK record deal and relocating overseas, went ‘electro-acoustic’ in style. “I think it’s a really good term.
through an evolving line-up of musicians as they And I mean, I haven’t searched the Internet - inevitably,
played gigs across the country with local acts including it’s like, ‘Yes, everybody has said that word before’. But I
Basement Jaxx - with whom Martina collaborated on haven’t checked yet,” she laughs.
Take Me Back to Your House - and Sugababes, and It’s a pivot from the big sound the group became
released their debut album ‘Galore’ (2007). known for but one that she says is necessary to keep
Although they parted ways with Mercury after her creative spark lit. “Obviously, it feels really good to
the record was released and returned to Canada, write a big song that everybody loves and everyone
they continued working and delivered can relate to. But at the same time,
three more long-players - ‘Fixin to the process of writing those songs
Thrill’ (2009), ‘Bodyparts’ (2012) and I STARTED OUT IN somehow doesn’t massage the same
‘Royal Blues’ (2016) - before the line-up DRAGONETTE JUST places in me as writing the stuff that
dissolved, leaving the vocalist to carve needs to come out,” she explains.
an identity of her own as the band’s FIGURING OUT “I think I went really far in that
sole member. direction of wanting to hear those kinds
Part of her rediscovering what it
WHO I AM AND AT of sounds. Now, I’ve been very satisfied
means to be Dragonette, she says, was a THE BEGINNING IT in that department and I want to start
scene from Gwen Stefani’s music video throwing more things into the mix.
for her solo debut What You Waiting
WAS LIKE REALLY There’s been a lot of those songs on the
For?. In the opening moments of the PUTTING ON AN ACT: albums throughout the years; I wrote a
visual, Gwen is in the back seat of her song called Cuckoo that was just guitar
car, wearing sweats, dark glasses and a ‘I’M CRAZY AND and voice and I know there’s more
woollen hat, as she returns home from FLAMBOYANT!’ AND examples of songs that harken back to a
a long tour only to be directed straight more acoustic thing.
back to the studio to work on new tracks. THEN SLOWLY, I THINK “Now, I’m trying to mix those
The comparison is apt - What You I LEARNED THAT THE elements more. Instead of just one
Waiting For? was the lead single from song being acoustic and the rest hugely
Gwen’s solo debut ‘Love. Angel. Music. MOST IMPORTANT dancey or electronic, I’m trying to put
Baby.’ after years fronting No Doubt, and them in the same bowl and stir it up.”
was a notable change in style from the
THING TO REPRESENT
group’s earlier output. IS MYSELF. FEEL THIS WAY
For Martina, the change was spurred Mixing up Dragonette’s direction comes
on by a conversation with a record label off the back of a turbulent period not
A&R who tried to tell her the direction Dragonette only in Martina’s career, but in his history of the world.
should take. “I was talking to a label and the A&R Returning to the stage in the wake of the pandemic,
person there made me this mixtape and said, ‘This is Dragonette looks significantly different with the
really where I hear Dragonette going.’ And I was like, departure of Joel and Dan, while Martina has been on a
‘I don’t know if I can be Dragonette if I have to make journey of discovery herself after becoming a mum to
this kind of music. I don’t know if I can do it. I don’t four-year-old son Barlow.
want to do it.’,” she remembers. Of adjusting to life as a working mother, she candidly
“It was not bad music, I just didn’t feel impassioned. I admits: “It took me a long time. For a while, I couldn’t
felt like I needed to not make straight down the middle even combine those two areas of me - being an artist,
pop. But I didn’t even really know what it was that I singer, performer and being a mum. Those were very
different things; it just did not overlap at all. I couldn’t
figure out how to blend those things or if I was allowed
to be a mum. It took a long time to be like, ‘Oh, these
things coexist and this is who I am.’ I don’t know how
it’s affected my songwriting, but it must have. I just
don’t know how…”
The realisation came when she finally found the
INSTEAD OF JUST
ONE SONG BEING
ACOUSTIC AND THE
REST HUGELY DANCEY
OR ELECTRONIC, I’M
TRYING TO PUT THEM IN
THE SAME BOWL AND
STIR IT UP.
courage to share a photograph of her son on social

media, “and then slowly it was like, ‘Oh, I’m allowed
to be a mum, I’m allowed to represent this side of
myself.’ I think it’s part of the larger life experience and
a learning curve of being in this band. I started out
in Dragonette just figuring out who I am and at the ‘Galore’, but the high of landing a major deal soon came
beginning it was like really putting on an act: ‘I’m crazy crashing down when for only their second ever gig
and flamboyant!’ And then slowly, I think I learned that Dragonette landed a supporting spot with New Order.
the most important thing to represent is myself.” Martina recalls the night as being a disaster.
She adds: “When I had a kid, I was like, ‘Oh, my “That kind of thing happens because it’s a favour or
God, I don’t know how to do that. I don’t know how to something… I don’t know,” she says. “To be honest, we
authentically represent that part of me.’ I think that has shouldn’t have been there. We shouldn’t have been
to do with the fact that there’s not a lot of women in there for many reasons. We actually weren’t that bad,
music representing themselves as mums. It’s not like but the New Order audience is actually quite picky in
we don’t see it; it’s just like, we love young 18-year-old terms of what you put in front of them.”
girls and as soon as they turn into the other thing - They made it through the set, just, but the experience
which is not 18 and mums, all that kind of stuff - the left a lasting impact on the musician - who had already
media at large pays significantly less attention to what been performing to audiences for the best part of 10
they’re saying and what they’re doing. So, I think years at that point. “It was very hard and really sad. Not
because I didn’t see a lot of that reflected sad - no, that’s not the right term... I
back at me, I didn’t know how to do it wasn’t used to criticism like that, at that
and it took me a while to figure it out.”
WE SHOULDN’T point, and playing in front of such big
Is there an element of sexism at play? HAVE BEEN THERE audiences you get treated like you’re a
“I’m hoping that slowly we’re growing big, seasoned, international superstar.
out of that, because everybody’s breaking FOR MANY REASONS. But really, it was like, ‘I’m literally just out
the moulds of what it means to be a WE ACTUALLY of the basement here guys. Like, have
man or a woman, or somewhere in the some compassion.’
middle. I’m hoping that, slowly, culture is WEREN’T THAT “I had come from playing to an
becoming not so transparently sexist.” BAD, BUT THE NEW audience that was like my audience,
and I was all by myself on stage and
GETTING AROUND ORDER AUDIENCE singing essentially folk songs. They
It was after attracting the attention of were audiences that were big for me
label bosses that Dragonette recorded
IS ACTUALLY QUITE but not big like a New Order or Duran
their first studio album together, but prior PICKY IN TERMS OF Duran audience,” she adds, referencing
to forming the group Martina’s career the group’s support spot on the Girls
was heading in a completely different
WHAT YOU PUT IN on Film group’s 2005 US tour. Was that
direction. Starting out in the late 1990s, FRONT OF THEM. experience any better? “Yeah. They
she began her musical journey as a were great. That was fun. And Duran
singer-songwriter, releasing her debut Duran were, for the most part, just
album ‘Unplaceables’ independently in awesome guys.”
1998 and its follow-up ‘The Cure for Bad Deeds’ But… “There was just one - I forget his name, but he
in 2000. was so nasty. Not Nick or Simon, it was one of the other
“I started out writing music just on piano and ones. I tried to go up to one of them and thank them
guitar. And I was a folk singer, basically,” she recalls. and give them a CD and a T-shirt at the end of the tour.
“But that just kind of felt limiting after a while. So He was coming out of his bus and I walked up like, ‘I
Dragonette was a lark. It was a lot of me writing over just wanted to say thank you so much, this has been
instrumentation that was big and synth-y, and it was a great experience,’ and I remember he looked at me
actually I Get Around - our first single - I was in the and the look on his face was like, ‘Why are you talking
studio in front of a microphone, hearing this other kind to me?’ And he just turned in another direction and
of instrumentation, and it was like, ‘Oh my God, this is walked away. I was like, ‘Oh, OK, I’ll just leave this right
really fun!’” here. Thank you. Nice chat.’”
The sound impressed bosses at Mercury Records, However, she has enjoyed working with some of the
who signed Dragonette and released their debut album biggest names in music, including Cyndi Lauper, with
whom the group co-wrote and -produced Grab a Hold
from the ‘Bring Ya to the Brink’ (2008) album.
“What you’ve seen her like in interviews, heard her
music, whatever you imagine her personality to be like
- that’s exactly what it is,” she gushes of the pop legend.
“Just a kooky, amazing artistic freak - in every positive
way I could possibly mean that.”
Another album the group worked on is Nicola
EVERYBODY’S BREAKING
THE MOULDS OF WHAT
IT MEANS TO BE A MAN
OR A WOMAN, OR
SOMEWHERE IN THE
MIDDLE. I’M HOPING
THAT, SLOWLY, CULTURE
IS BECOMING NOT SO
TRANSPARENTLY SEXIST.
Roberts’ solo debut ‘Cinderella’s Eyes’ (2011),

including the single Lucky Day and a bunch of
recordings that made it onto the recent reissue
‘Behind Cinderella’s Eyes’.
“We spent a bunch of time with her. I spent many
days in the studio writing music with her. We wrote
a bunch of songs - she just did a repressing of it and
one of those songs that didn’t make the album is
called Heart Racing - I just really loved that song. I
guess it was never quite as awesome as it should be or
something, but over the years I kept going back and
singing it in my mind. So finally it’s like, ‘OK, it’s gonna
come out in this random way’ - and that’s fine with me.
At least it’s gonna see the light of day.”
But when it comes to her future plans, Martina is
less interested in working behind the scenes on other
artists’ projects as she is honing her sound and creating
a solid future for Dragonette.
“I don’t think that’s what I do best,” she says. “Trying
to inhabit other people’s story or artistic persona or
whatever. It’s fun and it’s a challenge - and I definitely
do a bunch of those sessions every year - but I write
better material when I don’t have to consider anything
or anybody’s personality besides myself. Maybe that’s
just me being selfish and self involved…”
One thing that’s for certain is Dragonette will be
back with more new music soon, with a collection set
to push the boundaries of their work so far and test
Martina’s limits as a songwriter and performer.
“I don’t know what the audience is going to think,
but I just know that I wasn’t excited to make whatever
other people thought I shouldn’t be making. So yeah, I
I’ve just written a lot of quirky electro-acoustic songs,”
she teases.
l New Suit is out now on BMG.
I DON’T KNOW WHAT

THE AUDIENCE IS
GOING TO THINK, BUT
I JUST KNOW THAT
I WASN’T EXCITED
TO MAKE WHATEVER
OTHER PEOPLE
THOUGHT I SHOULDN’T
BE MAKING.
PROFILE
ALICE D
With her new EP ‘Into The Light’ due this month, singer-songwriter
Alice D reveals how growing up surrounded by music influenced
her to embark on a pop career of her own!
lice D is no stranger to the What’s the first song you ever Brazilian samples in his music, as well
A pop world.
Music may run through
the blood of the daughter of
Bananarama’s Sara Dallin and singer/
dancer Bassey Walker, but she’s also an
performed?
Killing me Softly by Lauryn Hill [Fugees]
at a school jazz concert.
When did you realise you wanted

as the band Buena Vista Social Club.
Your mum is responsible for one of

the biggest girl groups in pop history.
How has she influenced you?
established artist herself, having released to be a singer? I think her work ethic and
a series of EPs and co-written tracks I’ve always loved music and singing, determination is remarkable. She
for the duo’s latest album ‘Masquerade’, but the first time I realised I wanted always taught me to stay true to myself,
including Favourite, Velvet Lies and to take it seriously was after writing don’t let anyone take advantage or try
current single Forever Young. with producer/artist Oscar Scheller. to mold you into something you’re not.
Now, she’s back with new, original In 2018 he produced my debut EP I have definitely taken that on board
material and, ahead of the release of ‘Narcissus’ - and I’ve been releasing when it comes to my music and how
her latest collection ‘Into The Light’, the music ever since. I want to present myself - it’s got to be
rising star discusses the soundtrack to authentic. I’m incredibly fortunate to
her life and reveals the Bananarama Which song do you wish had been have such amazing women in my life.
songs she’d love to cover! yours?
The Sweetest Taboo by Sade or Brandy’s You must have met some amazing
What’s your first musical memory? Angel in Disguise - the emotion in that people throughout your life. Is there
Being in our studio room at home, song is next level. one person you met who particularly
playing on the keyboard and writing my impressed you or gave you some
first song with my dad, aged 11. If you could go back to any musical sound advice on your career?
era, which would it be? My mum was good friends with Keith
What was the soundtrack to your The ‘70s - the music and fashion Flint [of The Prodigy] and we’d stay
childhood? was the best! I would have loved to with him regularly at his house in
Whenever I think about a song in experience a night at Studio 54, the Essex. I was only about nine and he’d
particular, it’s always The Most Beautiful photos are incredible. Disco/soul/funk throw these parties and we’d all be
Girl in the World by Prince - my parents classics stand the test of time. dancing in the living room.
used to sing this to me when I was a I remember I was once dancing with
kid and I thought Prince had written it Which artists inspire your sound? Deee-Lite and Leroy... it was such a hub
especially for me! [Laughs] My sound has evolved over time so it’s for creative and interesting people. The
As a child I loved girl bands such as hard to pinpoint exactly who I’ve been thing that struck me about him was
the Spice Girls, Sugababes, All Saints, influenced by; so many different artists that he was the kindest and most gentle
and when I was a little older, Rihanna and genres. I grew up loving RnB artists person, despite his on stage persona.
and P!nk - I used to sing Just Like a Pill such as Mariah Carey, Brandy and I think what I took from him is
in my bedroom at the top of my lungs. Aaliyah, so I think that has definitely regardless of fame or fortune it costs
My parents would play lots of different influenced the way I sing. nothing to be kind.
music in our household from Stevie On my last EP ‘Where the Wildflowers
Wonder to Bowie and lots of ‘70s soul/ Grow’, I started to experiment with Bossa Bananarama covered two of your
funk. Nova and Flamenco sounds and for songs - Brand New and Favourite -
my upcoming project, I have expanded on their album ‘Masquerade’, but
What’s the first record you bought? on that. I’ve been listening to a lot of which of their songs would you
Britney Spears’ first album ‘...Baby One obscure vinyl from Africa, Brazil, Latin choose to cover?
More Time’. America… I love the DJ Sango who uses Cruel Summer is an absolute classic!
PROFILE | Alice D
My mum always
taught me to stay
true to myself,
don’t let anyone
take advantage or
try to mold you
into something
you’re not.
Only Your Love is epic and A Trick of the a fantastic songwriter and vocalist so I As mentioned, I have been listening
Night, it’s so hauntingly beautiful. would love to collab with her! to a lot of vinyl from around the world
and I took these references to Tim, who
Which other artists would you love to What can you tell us about your new brought my visions to life. With this body
work with? EP? of work, the title ‘Into the Light’ is very
I’ve loved The Weeknd ever since his first I wrote this EP primarily with Tim Blok fitting for the themes that I cover.
album ‘House of Balloons’. His music (producer) and also producer Julian I have got to a place in my life where I
evolves but still has that darker feel to Simmons. I’ve spent the past year feel confident in my skin and am able to
it. Also newer artists such as Alewya working on it and every aspect has step into my truth, my light.
and Hope Tala - they’ve incorporated been carefully thought out - from the
African/Bossa Nova elements into their music and songwriting to the artwork l ‘Into The Light’ is out September
music which is really cool. Mahalia is and visuals. 15 on In Synk
RELEASERADAR
A L B U M S | R E I S S U E S | C O M P I L AT I O N S
87
LIVING THE
DREAM
Take That’s Mark Owen
shines on his first solo
effort in a decade
89 91 92
EVERYTHING AUTOFICTION HORMONALLY YOURS:

UNDER THE SUN After three decades MENOPAUSAL MEMORIES
The Fizz recapture together, Suede Shakespears Sister
their golden days go back to basics celebrate 30 years
PHOTO GUY AROCH
on their superb new on their latest of their seminal

collection long-player sophomore record
RATINGS EXPLAINED: HHHHH
H BRILLIANT HHHHH GOOD HHHHH AVERAGE HHHHH POOR HHHHH TERRIBLE
RELEASERADAR
ROBBIE WILLIAMS
XXV
HHHHH
RELEASED: September 9
Sony
FORMATS:
CD, Coloured CD (Green,
Pink, Red), Deluxe 2CD, 2LP
Black Vinyl, Coloured Cassette
(Green, Pink, Red), Blue
Cassette (D2C Exclusive)
obbie Williams recruits the Opening with Robbie’s signature gems like Tripping get a chance to
R Metropole Orkest to breathe

new life into his biggest tracks
and best-loved recordings
across his ‘XXV’ orchestral greatest hits
collection.
hit Let Me Entertain You, the impact
of the orchestra is instant, with The
Netherlands collective elevating the
tracks to new heights, with a live
instrumentation that soars while
shine. The effect is similar on classics
such as the massive ballad Feel, with
the new recordings highlighting the
timelessness of the songs.
Also featured on ‘XXV’ is Robbie’s first
Celebrating 25 years as a solo artist, breathing new life into the material. It’s a UK solo No. 1, the jubilant Millennium,
the collection features 18 reworkings natural fit for the drama of the first track, the Top 10 hits Strong and No Regrets,
of cuts from the former Take That star’s but one that adapts throughout the set and his second solo UK chart-topper,
complete discography, ranging from depending on the varying musical styles She’s The One – all released on his 1998
one of his earliest solo releases Angels and lyrical themes on offer. album, ‘I’ve Been Expecting You’.
through to Love My Life, along with the For example, 2010 cut Candy is reborn Although celebrating his latest
brand new number Lost. with a swing edge, while underrated milestone, the compilation doesn’t quite
REVIEWS | albums
A LITTLE HELP
FROM MY FRIENDS
Throughout his career, Robbie’s rarely
stretch the span of Robbie’s solo output, with relied on guest appearances on his
his first two No. 2 hits - Freedom and Old Before albums - but whenever he does, they
I Die missing, along with other choice omissions
don’t disappoint…
including the No. 1 singles Somethin’ Stupid
and Radio. KIDS (2000)
With Kylie Minogue drafted in to re-record With Kylie Minogue
vocals for a new rendition of Kids, its also Released as the second single
surprising that Robbie chose not to reunite from Robbie’s third solo album
with former bandmate Gary Barlow on a fresh ‘Sing When You’re Winning’,
re-recording of 2010’s Shame. However, as his collaboration with Kylie
he himself says, ‘XXV’ is less about his biggest Minogue came after he penned
commercial successes and more the moments a pair of tracks for the Pop
from his career that he’s most proud of. Princess’ latest studio album
“I’m so excited to announce my new album ‘Light Years’, including the
‘XXV’ which celebrates many of my favourite single Your Disco Needs You.
songs from the past 25 years,” says the musician.
“Each track has a special place in my heart so it
was a real thrill to record them again with the SOMETHIN’ STUPID
Metropole Orkest. Can’t wait for you all to hear it.” (2001)
That’s evident from a closer look at the tracklist; With Nicole Kidman
closing the LP is album cut Nobody Someday, Lifted from Robbie’s first
which originally appeared as the B-side to Feel, swing LP ‘Swing When You’re
while up in the opening trio of songs is Love Winning’, Somethin’ Stupid
My Life, the second single from Robbie’s 2016 is one of the album’s many
long-player ‘The Heavy Entertainment Show’ collaborations with stars of
that stalled at No. 22 in the charts. However, both the silver screen and took the
have personal significance - particularly the latter, crooner to the top of the UK
which was written as a message of positivity to charts - becoming Nicole’s
his children in light of the challenges that Robbie first and only No. 1 single.
faced throughout his own youth.
While many orchestral albums drastically SHE’S MADONNA
reinterpret the material, Robbie’s tracks fare well as (2007)
orchestral recordings and maintain the essence of With Pet Shop Boys
the originals, and what stands out most of all is his For his experimental dance
powerful vocals on each track, which after three album ‘Rudebox’, Robbie
decades in the industry remain in fine form. teamed up with industry greats
Both the standard and deluxe albums feature such as William Orbit, Mark
the brand new track Lost - a moving song in Ronson and Pet Shop Boys.
classic Robbie style with poignant lyrics, piano However, the single wasn’t
elements and soaring strings - while a deluxe his first run-in with the duo,
album includes three more original tracks: Disco as Neil Tennant contributed
Symphony, More Than This, and The World And backing vocals to Robbie’s
Her Mother. 1998 single No Regrets.
The new material is the cherry on an already
impressive set, particularly in light of the six year
wait since Robbie released his most recent non- SHAME (2010)
festive album back in 2016. With Gary Barlow
Before reuniting with Take
In the era of streaming, the concept of a greatest

hits album is becoming increasingly obsolete, That for the ‘Progress’
with fans demanding more creative approaches album and accompanying
to the classic format that warrant their attention. stadium tour, Robbie
So while orchestral rerecordings seem to be the called upon Gary Barlow
avenue of choice right now, for Robbie it’s a path to co-write and feature on
paved with gold that marries his classic sound the first single from his ‘In
with nuances found in his swing repertoire, and Out of Consciousness:
celebrating the past 25 years and opening the door Greatest Hits 1990–2010’
to the next era in his career. compilation release.
RELEASERADAR
vocalist and sole band member Neil Arthur, Neil - a trope that appears across the
the record marks Blancmange’s 11th set - while I Tried To Be You has an eerie
studio release in as many years and sees electronic soundscape, enhancing the
him collaborate with David Rhodes, who obsessive narrative of its lyrics.
laces the tracks with guitar and washes of Allusions to the group’s heyday aren’t
immersive synths. unfounded; one track, Here We Go Go,
Conceived in the wake of the pandemic, has been in Neil’s head since 1980 and
the album looks beyond the trials of the past only just materialises on his latest body
two years and strives to find answers and, of work, proving that a good song never
moreover, solutions to the situation we’ve goes out of fashion.
arrived at, with Neil insisting the desire to ‘Private View’ comes to a close with
keep moving forward underpins the set. Take Me, a double meaning that asks,
“A lot of people are frightened of the “How much does someone have to ‘take’
BLANCMANGE future and are quite happy to have a repeat before a relationship breaks down? How
PRIVATE VIEW of something that was done before,” he many times can your partner be expected
HHHHH says. “But it’s just not for me. Looking to accept repeated mistakes? Where is the
forward you’ve got a hell of a world to try tipping point?”
RELEASED: September 30 and navigate through at the moment. We’re Opening with a delicate piano motif
London all moving forward - so we’ve got to try and before intertwining layers build to a
find some answers.” motorik beat with Neil’s understated
FORMATS: Opener What’s Your Name introduces vocal, its quintessentially Blancmange
CD, Standard Black Vinyl, a future-facing electronic soundscape, and a fitting closer to an album that looks
Limited Edition Orange Vinyl, backed by marching drums as the song title to the future while remaining respectful
Cassette repeats over the chorus, before segueing of the past.
into lead single Some Times These, with a Four decades on from Blancmange’s
fusion of guitar and synthesiser that could first release, ‘Private View’ is a cohesive
lancmange explore new have been lifted directly from the early body of work and, with a creative streak
B musical territory on the brand

new album ‘Private View’.
Written and recorded by
1980s.
Reduced Voltage juxtaposes pulsing
synths with a dark, brooding vocal from
that shows no sign of slowing down, one
that has us itching to see where Neil takes
his sound next.
PHOTO HELEN KINCAID
REVIEWS | albums
MARK OWEN
LAND OF DREAMS
HHHHH
RELEASED: September 23 before, with people that I’d never worked as the storming Rio, which is destined to
BMG with before. be belted out on the live stage, and pre-
“I realised I’ve been doing music now release track Magic, which sees Mark’s
FORMATS: for 30 years or so, and I just wanted to trademark falsetto positioned front and
CD, Standard Black Vinyl, have a new experience where almost centre as he channels his inner-Bee Gee
Limited Edition Coloured Vinyl I had to start again. I wanted to come and lives his dramatic disco fantasy.
(Artist Store Exclusive), Limited here and start from the ground, and Closing with the anthemic World, it’s
Edition Coloured Cassette build something new.” another example of the hitmaker’s fine
(Artist Store Exclusive) In the past, his independent offerings musicianship and a reminder that he is,
failed to set the charts alight in the same by all accounts, one of Britain’s premier
way bandmates Gary Barlow and Robbie singer-songwriters.
ark Owen lives his Los Williams have become accustomed Of returning to the stage as a fully-
M Angeles fantasy on his

superb new solo album
‘Land of Dreams’.
It’s been almost a decade since the
Take That star last released music
to, and while he plays it relatively safe
on lead single You Only Want Me - an
earworm of a hit and the perfect way
to launch an album, no less - Mark lets
loose across the LP’s 12 tracks, which
realised solo artist, Mark beams:
“Because it’s been a long time, I’m
looking forward to just getting out there
again. This whole period and process
has been a mixture of reflection, looking
outside of the pop outfit, but as the lean into a plethora of genres and ahead and being grateful for being part
trio embarked on a hiatus following inspirations. of the world.
their reimagined ‘Odyssey’ greatest Come Back displays a funk edge “I’ve taken my experience, playing and
hits collection and subsequent tour, he that works surprisingly well with the writing, over the last 30 years and put it
packed up his life and relocated across hitmaker’s distinctive tone while Boy into this record. I’ve tried to capture an
PHOTO GUY AROCH
the pond “with the intention of making - a track written with his teenage son energy that can translate and is exciting.
a record”. in mind - is an uplifting lyric and a And it’s been an absolute pleasure – and
“LA was a whole new world for me,” reminder to put self-care high on one’s a real joy to do.”
says Mark. “It was about trying to find list of priorities. Likewise, it’s a delight to see him
my way in a place I’d never been before, But along with the more experimental blossom out of Mark from Take That and
working in studios that I’d never been in numbers are all-out pop bangers, such into Mark Owen, the solo superstar.
RELEASERADAR
ALPHAVILLE
ETERNALLY YOURS
HHHHH
RELEASED: September 23 Edel
FORMATS: 2CD, 3LP, 3LP

Limited Edition Gold Vinyl,
Limited Edition Fan Box
(3LP Limited Edition Gold
Vinyl/2CD/Cassette/USB)
[JPC Exclusive]
lphaville delve into their
A synth-pop history for an

album of newly orchestrated
recordings of their best-loved
singles and fan-favourite releases from
across their career.
Although the group’s UK success
stalled following the release of their
debut single Big In Japan - sans the
No. 98 single Forever Young - across
Europe it was a different story, with the
group enjoying hits throughout the
decade and beyond. narratives of numbers such as Sounds their new arrangements, from the epic
The reason for the snub? “It was clear Like A Melody enhanced immeasurably early-’80s sound of Big In Japan to the
to me from the start that Alphaville by the new instrumentation, which album’s title song, which is a brand
music is not of the present day, not adopts a dreamlike quality over the new composition and has lyrics drawn
of our world,” says Marian Gold, who course of the collection. exclusively from Shakespearean sonnets.
remains the group’s sole member. “All 23 numbers on this album And the thread that holds it all together
“I have always sought to paraphrase it, have been essentially clarified by their is Marian’s vocals which, 40 years on,
saying: Our songs are like dreams, our arrangement, they’re stripped clean, have matured beautifully and offer
music is dream music. It’s no accident released, set free. Their true nature has a fresh interpretation of his career-
that the first piece on the new album is been revealed,” explains the musician. spanning works.
entitled Dream Machine.” “So ‘Eternally Yours’ really does sound “On ‘Eternally Yours’ I was sometimes
PHOTO HELEN SOBIRALSKI
The track is one of 23 that is revisited to me as if it were actually the first singing with the last of my strength,” he
on the album, which although Alphaville album – except that for forty muses. “I confess that as a singer, I’m
exhaustive, brings up some gems that years, it lay unreleased. We simply didn’t starting to feel my age. Vocally, I have put
add new life to the original compositions have access to an orchestra in those into this album everything I had to give.”
while maintaining their essence. days, we ‘only’ had synthesisers and It makes for a compelling listen
The newly arranged songs are rhythm machines.” and, with plans for more music on the
now recorded with the German Film What’s noticeable across the record horizon, a perfect (re)entry point to
Orchestra Babelsberg, with the dramatic is how well the tracks translate into Alphaville’s music of times gone by.
REVIEWS | albums
THE FIZZ
EVERYTHING UNDER
THE SUN
HHHHH
RELEASED: September 8 MPG
FORMATS:
CD, Signed CD (Artist Store
Exclusive), Standard Black
Vinyl, Limited Edition Blue
Vinyl
he Fizz relive their 1980s
T glory years on their stellar

new album ‘Everything
Under The Sun’.
Hot on the heels of the group’s
celebrations marking 40 years since
than ever / Feels like I’m ready to fight /
We stand, we fall as one / Proud to say
years of Bucks Fizz but shine bright on
the new collection, lifting tracks like A
Bucks Fizz won the 1981 Eurovision we faced it together’. True Heart and the groovy You Can Find
Song Contest with their classic debut Much of the lyrical content is centred It Here - another standout from the set.
Making Your Mind Up, Cheryl Baker, on the band’s latest milestone, with Nestled among the expected uptempo
Mike Nolan and Jay Aston return with Everything We Do (We Do It For You) numbers is the tender, acoustic guitar
their latest long-player. a reworking of an unreleased Stock/ driven Pretty Soon; an intimate Cheryl
Featuring 10 new recordings Waterman song from 1991 with re- Baker-led number that promises: ‘It
produced by Mike Stock, the album was written lyrics reflecting their gratitude won’t be long until you smile again /
made using entirely ‘80s technology, for the loyal Fizz fan base that has always There’ll come a time you’ll see the
including vintage synths and keyboards, supported the group. world anew / But until then hold onto
and sequenced using a Linn 9000 - The band also contribute to the all your dreams coming true / Don’t
famous for being used on most Stock writing, with Jay Aston - who has been know when but pretty soon, pretty
Aitken Waterman records. through a turbulent period, facing soon.’ Not only is it a sign of the
The result is an album drenched in cancer herself along with her daughter’s group’s versatility, the track’s a triumph
nostalgia and sonically how one would meningitis battle - contributing the of a composition from Mike Stock,
imagine Bucks Fizz would have sounded aptly-titled When Is Our Luck Gonna reminiscent of the slower moments
had they teamed up with the chart Change. on Kylie Minogue’s ‘Enjoy Yourself’.
heavyweights during their original run. Following the trend of the group’s Closer This One, a cover of Paul
Opening with electric guitars and recent releases, ‘Everything Under McCartney’s 1989 Top 20 hit, is a fitting,
pounding drums, I Wonder Where You The Sun’ also features a composition full-circle moment that takes on new
Are Right Now ponders the whereabouts from Cheryl Baker’s daughter Kyla meaning through the eyes of Cheryl,
of industry figures from days gone Stroud aka LAKY, who leans into Bucks Mike and Jay, who look back on their
by, with a tongue-in-cheek lyric that Fizz’s history on I’m On My Way (Better storied past while celebrating how far
not-so-subtly celebrates the group’s Run), which incorporates lines from the they’ve come.
longevity in spite of an industry that group’s best-loved hits, including Run Since reemerging as The Fizz in 2017,
discounted them from the start. For Your Life and The Land of the group has released as many albums
The sense of accomplishment is Make Believe. together as the original Bucks Fizz did
present across the set, with Treasure What stands out across the album is in the 1980s - and four decades on,
Forever an immediate highlight as they the tight harmonies between the trio, ‘Everything Under The Sun’ may just be
declare: ‘Now we’re together, stronger which became underused in the latter their best yet.
RELEASERADAR
RINA SAWAYAMA
HOLD THE GIRL
HHHHH
RELEASED: September 16
Dirty Hit
FORMATS:
CD, Red Cassette, Standard
Apple Red Vinyl, Limited
Edition Lava Vinyl (Artist Store
Exclusive), Limited Edition
Lemonade & Galaxy Swirl
Vinyl (Rough Trade Exclusive),
Limited Edition Black Ice Vinyl
(HMV Exclusive), Limited Since releasing her debut long- The indie-influenced Frankenstein
Edition Red Splatter Vinyl player ‘SAWAYAMA’ in 2019, the examines her feelings of being broken,
(Indies Exclusive) Japanese-British star has been on a as Rina begs someone to ‘put me
whirlwind journey both personally and together, make me better’.
professionally, but with the enforced Meanwhile, a highlight from ‘Hold
ina Sawayama builds upon downtime of the pandemic she was able The Girl’, Holy, begins midtempo before
R her blossoming pop dynasty

on ‘Hold The Girl’ - a second
album packed with culturally
poignant and personally significant
pop bangers.
to take her eyes off the future and dive
into the past for an album that draws
inspiration from artists such as Kelly
Clarkson, The Corrs, Paramore, and
Sugababes, along with Taylor Swift’s
building to a massive chorus that
explores Rina’s relationship with faith,
as she declares: ‘I was innocent when
you said I was evil / I took your stones
and I built a cathedral / Found my peace
Opening with the mellow Minor more recent LP ‘Folklore’. when I lost my religion / All these years I
Feelings, the track sets the tone for Musically inspired by the artists she wished I was different’.
an album that examines the social listened to during her formative years Ending with the reflective To Be Alive,
landscape of 2022 and the impact it while lyrically addressing the taking of the album’s closer sees the star uncover
has on one’s personal and mental state. rights from the LGBTQ+ community, a new way of living that allows her to
‘All my life I’ve felt out of place / All lead single This Hell namechecks a dive headfirst into every situation life
my life I’ve been saving face / For all number of gay icons, including Britney has to offer and live in the moment.
these minor feelings,’ she sings over Spears, Whitney Houston and Princess ‘Hold The Girl’ is a joy of an album
the chorus of the two-minute number, Diana, and touches on the scrutiny that, while tackling an array of pressing
which segues into the album’s second they’ve come under from the press. issues, remains sonically uplifting
PHOTO THURSTAN REDDING
track and title song. Alongside culturally minded numbers, with an overarching sense of nostalgia
Beginning with an allusion to other tracks are more personal; that leans back on simpler times.
Madonna’s classic Like a Prayer, the Imagining deals with the paranoia of With so much going on across its 13
song dates back to 2020 when the a relationship breaking down while tracks, it’s an initially overwhelming
singer-songwriter began work on the Forgiveness sees Rina ‘Running in experience, but with each listen a
project and forms a backdrop for the circles again / Reaching dead ends’ as new layer is revealed and, ultimately,
collection, which was penned during a she journeys down the ‘winding road’ of the true essence of Rina Sawayama is
time of reflection for Rina. finding closure. uncovered.
REVIEWS | albums
Anderson, Mat Osman, Simon Gilbert, “‘Autofiction’ has a natural freshness,

Richard Oakes and Neil Codling - it’s where we want to be,” he adds of
relive their early years, taking up the set, with bass player Mat Osman
residence in a rehearsal studio in a explaining: “When we were rehearsing
deserted Kings Cross where they set and writing this record it was this sheer,
up and start playing. physical rush. That thing where you’re
“’Autofiction’ is our punk record,” says hanging on for dear life.”
Brett. “No whistles and bells. Just the five While their previous album, 2018’s
of us in a room with all the glitches and ‘The Blue Hour’, was composed over a
fuck-ups revealed; the band themselves mammoth 18 months and produced
exposed in all their primal mess.” with new collaborator Alan Moulder,
Recorded live at Konk studios in this time around the group dive into
North London with long-time Suede their instincts for a set that draws on
SUEDE collaborator, Ed Buller, it’s no wonder punk and new wave influences while
AUTOFICTION the LP is reminiscent of their earliest maintaining a pop edge integral to their
HHHHH works - he produced their debut single long standing appeal.
The Drowners, which celebrated its 30th Cut to the heart of tracks such as 15
RELEASED: September 16 BMG anniversary earlier this year. Again and the bombastic arrangements
But ‘Autofiction’ is far from an mask a deeply vulnerable core, which all
FORMATS: exercise in nostalgia, with the record plays into its brilliance. Meanwhile, the
CD, Standard Black Vinyl, exploring the band as they are now, as ballad Drive Myself Home offers Brett
Limited Edition Clear Vinyl, demonstrated with the deeply personal a chance to shine with a raw, stripped-
Deluxe Box Set (CD, Limited lead track She Still Leads Me On, which back vocal.
Edition Clear Vinyl, Stencil, reads as a tribute to Brett’s late mother. Closer Turn Off Your Brain And Yell
Postcards, Poster, Signed Setlist) It’s a confessional approach that urges listeners to, ‘Reveal yourself /
[Artist Store Exclusive] he nurtured while penning the Show off all your wounds / Come on
autobiographical works ‘Coal Black feel the sunshine’ - a lesson we could all
uede return to form with
S
Mornings’ and ‘Afternoons With The use once in a while.
their glorious new album Blinds Drawn’, which fed into his career Three decades on from their debut,
‘Autofiction’ - the group’s onstage and encouraged the performer Suede’s sound remains strikingly fresh
strongest release in years! to reevaluate his stance and approach on ‘Autoficition’, which may just be their
The album sees the five-piece - Brett towards life in the public eye. best release this century.
PHOTO DEAN CHALKLEY
RELEASERADAR
The original 12 track set features five Meanwhile, for completists there’s an
SHAKESPEARS SISTER hit singles, including Goodbye Cruel epic 6CD+DVD set, including various
HORMONALLY World, I Don’t Care, My 16th Apology, mixes of the singles from the album -
YOURS: MENOPAUSAL Hello (Turn Your Radio On) and the including some newly-commissioned
MEMORIES massive Stay. remixes.
HHHHH For the anniversary package - dubbed Thirty years on, ‘Hormonally Yours’
‘Hormonally Yours: Menopausal stands out as a seminal record of the
RELEASED: September 29 Memories’ - Siobhan Fahey and Marcella early 1990s and, when it comes to
London Detroit have delved into the vaults and reissues, this is exactly the treatment it
FORMATS: CD+DVD, unearthed demo recordings of Out To deserves.
6CD+DVD Box Set, Limited Groove and The End, along with another
Edition Black And White Splatter track from the era, Cat Worship.
Vinyl, Limited Edition Opaque CD editions come packaged with a
White Vinyl bonus DVD of footage from the duo’s
2019 UK tour, featuring 10 live tracks
from the album, plus the complete
Shakespears Sister celebrate 30 years music videos from the ‘Hormonally
of their Ivor Novello winning second Yours’ era. There’s also a superb ‘Behind
album ‘Hormonally Yours’ with a The Scenes’ feature, consisting of
deluxe expanded reissue. unseen archive footage offering a
glimpse into the creation of the LP.
Thunder In The Mountains, the set the flexi-disc track For You.
TOYAH features B-sides and rarities along with 15 Meanwhile, a DVD includes a fascinating
ANTHEM previously unreleased tracks. new in-depth interview with Toyah about
HHHHH The bonus material includes a six-song the creation of the album, plus a track-by-
live session recorded on April 1, 1981 at track commentary and exclusive renditions
RELEASED: September 9 Cherry BBC’s Paris Theatre in London, marking of three ‘Anthem’ songs.
Red its first commercial release, along with the Also included is archive footage of BBC
FORMATS: 2CD/1DVD, previously unreleased unfaded version of performances, including ‘Top of the Pops’
Limited Edition Gold Vinyl LP, spots, alongside classic music videos from
Super Deluxe Box Set Edition the era.
3CD/1DVD/2LP/7” An expanded box set features even
more, with an additional 20 previously
unreleased recordings, alongside
Toyah’s classic ‘Anthem’ is the a 44-page perfect bound book
latest in her catalogue to be containing stunning rare and
expanded and reissued with a unseen colour images from the
host of additional content. Safari archives alongside anecdotes
Originally released in 1981, the and insights from Toyah Willcox.
album is the fourth in Cherry Red’s The latest addition to the Toyah
reissue programme of Toyah’s entire reissue series is yet another
Safari Records catalogue and sees the LP testament to the artist who has
remastered alongside 25 bonus tracks. continued to push boundaries for 40+
Also including the standalone single years - and counting…
REVIEWS | reissues
AQUA ABBA
AQUARIUM GOLD (30TH
HHHHH ANNIVERSARY
EDITION)
RELEASED: HHHHH
September 9
Island RELEASED: September 23
FORMATS: Polydor
Limited Edition FORMATS: 2LP Gold Vinyl,
Pink Vinyl, 2LP Picture Disc Vinyl, Black
Limited Edition Cassette, Gold Cassette
White Vinyl
In line with its 25th anniversary, It’s a fun

Aqua’s iconic debut album ‘Aquarium’ package that
is reissued on two new vibrant vinyl highlights the strength of
formats. the group’s early output and image - with
The classic album features the global their cartoonish look comprising blue hair,
smash hit Barbie Girl along with the spikes, and wild outfits part of the original
singles Doctor Jones, Roses Are Red and Aqua package.
Turn Back Time. With ‘Aquarium’ reissued on vinyl as
Celebrating the album’s latest recently as 2021, it’s unfortunate that there
milestone, the group are releasing the aren’t further components to the 25th
record on limited edition pink vinyl. anniversary edition to make the milestone
Meanwhile, a white version includes extra special.
tattoos, stickers, and an extensive booklet Still, the music holds up and the album
with previously unpublished photos. is a moment in time worth celebrating. ABBA’s classic ‘Gold’ greatest hits
collection is treated to a shiny
new reissue in conjunction with
they planned to issue it as a two-part its 30th anniversary.
MANIC STREET album. The Swedish supergroup has
PREACHERS According to a statement, “the trio got never been so popular following
KNOW YOUR ENEMY cold feet and settled on a single album their 2021 comeback after 40
HHHHH that forced often conflicting ideas to sit years away, and as ‘ABBA Voyage’
side by side on the same record,” but two continues to wow fans in London
RELEASED: September 9 Sony decades on they’ve finally revisited the their hugely popular compilation
FORMATS: 3CD Book, 2CD, project for a radical reinterpretation. album is being feted across
2LP Black Vinyl Remixed with the band’s longtime formats.
studio partner Dave Eringa, the new Featuring 19 of their biggest hits
versions strip the album back to basics, and most popular recordings, the
Manic Street Preachers reimagine losing extraneous embellishments for a album will be repressed on gold
their classic album ‘Know Your Enemy’ set that places the essence of each track vinyl, while new formats include
as it should have been for a celebratory front and centre. a picture disc and gold and black
reissue of the project. Presented as two separate albums, cassette editions.
The group’s sixth long-player was the deluxe release also includes two Although a treat for completists,
released back in 2001 and, at the time, previously unheard tracks: Studies in ‘Gold’ has been readily available
Paralysis and Rosebud. on vinyl for many years, bringing
Of the release, which also includes into question whether the new
outtakes and unused mixes, collaborator release is totally necessary. In fact,
Robin Turner says of “the Director’s Cut what we’d really love to see is the
of ‘Know Your Enemy’”: “The picture has wider release of ‘More ABBA Gold’,
been painstakingly restored, cleaned packed with underappreciated
up, brightened. Although it doesn’t aim tracks that deserve another shot at
to replace the original, it most certainly the spotlight.
enhances it.” Perhaps that’ll come with its
With that in mind, it’s refreshing to see anniversary next year - for now,
the group undo their work two decades we’ll just be glad ABBA’s music is
on and finally realise their vision for finally getting the love and respect
what by all accounts remains a classic it deserves.
album from their repertoire.
RELEASERADAR
‘Miles Of Aisles’ (1974), and ‘The Hissing
Of Summer Lawns’ (1975), the collection STACEY Q
picks up directly where the previous BETTER THAN
release left off and continues to offer HEAVEN
a comprehensive look at the singer- HHHHH
songwriter’s legendary output.
Following on from the seminal RELEASED: September 16
‘Blue’ LP, the material here is equally Cherry Red
significant; ‘For The Roses’ was added FORMATS: 2CD
to the Library of Congress’ National
Recording Registry in 2007 while ‘Court
and Spark’ remains the best-selling
album of Joni’s career.
JONI MITCHELL The collection is housed in a package
THE ASYLUM featuring a previously unseen painting
ALBUMS (1972-1975) by the artist and includes an essay by
HHHHH friend and fellow Canadian Neil Young.
He writes: “Joni’s music is so deep
RELEASED: September 23 and transporting. She comes right from
Rhino the source. There is no mistaking it…
FORMATS: 4CD, 5LP Black ‘For The Roses’, ‘Court And Spark’, ‘Miles
Vinyl Of Aisles’, and ‘The Hissing Of Summer
Lawns’… are all classics in my book. I Stacey Q’s debut album ‘Better
listened to every album as it came out. Than Heaven’ is revisited with
Joni Mitchell’s album reissue series The musicians she played with were an expanded deluxe re-release.
continues with her LPs released on the always above my abilities. She had The LP, featuring the hit single
Asylum label between 1972 and 1975. grown from folk to jazz and in between, Two of Hearts, is presented
Featuring newly remastered versions creating a unique kind of sound that I across two discs, including
of ‘For The Roses’ (1972), ‘Court And loved to listen to over and over.” the full album, which has been
Spark’ (1974), the double live album We couldn’t put it better ourselves. sourced and mastered from the
original analogue tapes.
Also featured on disc one
a more complex and introspective sound, are various edits of the singles
ULTRAVOX which is explored across the remastered We Connect, Insecurity and
RAGE IN EDEN original album and host of bonus material Music Out Of Bounds, while a
HHHHH on offer. second collection is crammed
Housed in a package depicting the full of 12” mixes and remixes,
RELEASED: September 30 original abstract artwork by designer Peter along with instrumentals of the
Chrysalis Saville, the set includes 52 tracks, with 34 album’s singles.
FORMATS: 5CD+DVD, previously unreleased recordings. Presented in a six-panel
Limited Edition 4LP Clear The bonus features consist of a new digipak featuring the original
Vinyl, 2LP Black Vinyl, 1LP stereo mix by Steven Wilson, A-sides, album artwork and a booklet
Picture Disc Vinyl (Artist Store B-sides and live tracks along with with a US Atlantic Records
Exclusive) previously unreleased cassette rehearsals/ discography and sleeve notes
Work In Progress versions, and a newly written by Michael Silvester, the
mixed previously unreleased concert set shines a light on the singer’s
Ultravox’s ‘Rage In Eden’ is the recorded at Hammersmith Odeon in career, which despite its success
latest of the group’s albums to be October 1981. in the US never quite translated
reissued as an expanded box set. Meanwhile, the DVD contains a to the UK market.
The band’s second LP with new 5.1 Surround Sound Mix of More than three decades on,
Midge Ure followed the iconic the Album/B-sides by Steven however, it’s a delight to revisit
‘Vienna’ and was recorded Wilson, along with 24/96 Hi-Res the album with fresh ears and a
over three months at producer audio of the new mixes and the joy to see ‘Better Than Heaven’
Conny Plank’s studio in original 1981 Master/B-sides. finally get the attention it
Cologne, Germany. It’s another comprehensive look deserves.
Although building at one of the group’s
upon the electronic, new wave style classic albums and one
of its predecessor, ‘Rage In that deserves another
Eden’ sees the group create chance to shine.
REVIEWS | compilations
RELEASERADAR
Kicking off with one of Queen’s most
NOW YEARBOOK ’79 popular songs Don’t Stop Me Now, disc
HHHHH one includes chart-toppers from The
RELEASED: Police, The Boomtown Rats, Ian Dury &
September 9 Sony The Blockheads and Blondie’s Heart Of
FORMATS: 4CD Hardcover Glass, alongside classics from ABBA, Donna
Book, 4CD, 3LP Limited Edition Summer, Chic, and Gloria Gaynor that are
Coloured Vinyl sure to get the party started.
The trio of Madness, The Selecter and The
Having covered the first half of the Specials opens a second set, with classic
1980s, NOW Music is stepping back rock from Meat Loaf and Electric Light
in time to the 1970s for the latest in its Orchestra sitting comfortably alongside
‘Yearbook’ series. new wave and post-punk hits from The
Jam, Elvis Costello & The Attractions, and
Siouxsie And The Banshees.
Highlighting the various styles lighting
up the charts some 43 years ago, Elton John
sits alongside Earth, Wind & Fire on disc SHANIA TWAIN
three, which closes with the classic Rapper’s NOT JUST A GIRL
Delight from The Sugarhill Gang, while (THE HIGHLIGHTS)
disc four includes more chart toppers from HHHHH
the likes of Cliff Richard, and pop gems RELEASED: September 2
from Olivia Newton-John, Boney M, Gary Mercury Nashville
Numan and The Buggles. FORMATS: CD
It’s another comprehensive
journey through the years and a Shania Twain looks back over
must for fans of 1970s pop. her record-breaking career
with the soundtrack to her
Netflix documentary ‘Not Just
a Girl’.
with massive hits from Earth, Wind & Featuring 18 songs from her
NOW THAT’S WHAT I Fire With The Emotions and Grace Jones repertoire - including the new
CALL 12” ’70s sitting alongside 17 minute, 12” version of title track - the set ironically
HHHHH Donna Summer’s Macarthur Park Suite. offers the most comprehensive
RELEASED: The collection closes with three huge retrospective of her career to
September 2 Sony anthems: Diana Ross’ 12” version of Love date, from 1993 debut ‘Shania
FORMATS: 4CD Hangover, Gloria Gaynor’s I Will Survive, Twain’ to 2017 LP ‘Now’.
and Don’t Leave Me This Way from While her previous ‘Greatest
Thelma Houston. Hits’ ignores her first release,
NOW Music unleashes a showstopping Covering an array of genres, it’s the the new set includes its lead
collection of 42 12” and extended perfect excuse to turn on the disco lights track What Made You Say That,
versions of some of the most defining and relive the glory days of ‘70s in your along with selections from ‘The
and enduring tracks of the 1970s. living room five decades on! Woman In Me’ (1995), ‘Come On
Opening with the original 1979 12” Over’ (1997) and ‘Up!’ (2002).
version of Are You Ready For Love from Meanwhile, the inclusion of a
Elton John, disc one covers classics from new track is welcome and serves
Blondie, Roxy Music, and Japan, along as a teaser for the country-
with the stunning full length version of pop mega-star’s forthcoming
Rock Lobster from The B-52’s. sixth album, which she’s seen
Sheila & B Devotion’s Spacer is a recording in the feature.
highlight from the second set, which Is ‘Not Just a Girl (The
also includes Boney M. and The Three Highlights)’ an essential release?
Degrees, while two space-age disco- Far from it… But when it comes
pop classics - Dee D. Jackson’s to Shania Twain’s catalogue,
Automatic Lover and Star we’ll jump at the chance to
Wars Theme/Cantina Band revisit those songs over and
from Meco closes the disc. over again.
Meanwhile, sets three and Let’s go, girls!
four celebrate the legacy of 1970’s disco
RELEASERADAR
NEW MUSIC Coming soon…
BETTY BOO
BOOMERANG
RELEASED: October 14 Betty Boo Records
FORMATS: CD, Pink Vinyl LP, Blue
Cassette, Pink Cassette
Thirty years after her last long-player, the
Doin’ the Do star returns with her long-
DARREN HAYES awaited third album of original material.
HOMOSEXUAL
RELEASED: October
7 (Vinyl February 10,
2023) Powdered Sugar
FORMATS: CD, 2LP
Standard Turquoise Vinyl,
2LP Deluxe Peach Vinyl
Former Savage Garden star
makes a triumphant return
with his first studio album
in over a decade.
A-HA
TRUE
NORTH
RELEASED:
October 21 RCA
FORMATS: CD, 2LP Recycled Black Vinyl, 2LP Limited Edition SIMPLE MINDS
Vinyl Boxset DIRECTION OF THE HEART
Norwegian synth-pop favourites return with a brand new album produced RELEASED: October 21 BMG
in conjunction with the Arctic Philharmonic orchestra. FORMATS: CD, Deluxe CD, Black Vinyl LP,
Limited Edition Silver LP, Orange Cassette
(Artist Store Exclusive)
SOFT The Scottish group unveil the follow-up to
CELL 2018’s ‘Walk Between Worlds’, featuring lead
NON STOP single Vision Thing.
EROTIC
CABARET…
AND OTHER
STORIES
RELEASED:
October/
November
2022 (Vinyl May/June 2023)
FORMATS: 2CD, DVD, Blu-Ray, CERRONE
2CD/DVD/Blu-Ray Boxset, 2LP CERRONE BY CERRONE
Standard Pink and Blue Vinyl, 4LP RELEASED: October 14
Purple Sparkle Vinyl Because Music
Synth-pop icons celebrate the 40th FORMATS: CD, 2LP Standard
anniversary of their debut LP with Blue Vinyl
a live set of classic hits and recent The Godfather of Disco collaborates
releases. with the biggest names in dance music
for a revised set of his biggest hits and
fan favourites.
REVIEWS | coming soon
LOOKING BACK
BLUE
HEART & SOUL
RELEASED:
October 28 BMG
FORMATS: CD, Gold
Vinyl, Cassette (Web
Store Exclusive)
Noughties boy band
royalty return after
seven years with their
long-awaited new
album, featuring the
single Haven’t Found
You Yet.
TEGAN
AND SARA
CRYBABY
RELEASED:
October 21 Mom
+ Pop DONNA SUMMER
FORMATS: DONNA SUMMER: 40TH
CD, Standard ANNIVERSARY EDITION
Black Vinyl LP, RELEASED: November 4 Driven By The Music
Limited Edition FORMATS: A5 CD Media Book, 2LP Transparent Blue
Neapolitan Vinyl & Red Coloured Vinyl
LP (Artist Store Exclusive), Limited Edition Vanilla Vinyl The Queen of Disco’s 1982 classic is newly expanded with
LP (Rough Trade Exclusive), Limited Edition Strawberry a host of bonus tracks, including B-sides and remixes, to
Vinyl LP (Urban Outfitters Exclusive), Limited Edition celebrate its latest milestone.
Orange Sherbert Vinyl LP (VMP Exclusive), Crybaby
Deluxe Vinyl Boxset (Artist Store Exclusive)
Having switched labels and found a new musical home, the DEBBIE HARRY
Canadian pop duo return with their 11th studio album. KOOKOO
(DELUXE
BACKSTREET EDITION)
BOYS RELEASED: October 7
A VERY Chrysalis
BACKSTREET FORMATS: 2LP Clear
CHRISTMAS Vinyl
RELEASED: October 14 The Blondie star’s 1981
RCA debut solo album, mastered
FORMATS: CD, Standard from the original pre-
Black Vinyl LP, Limited production tapes and cut at Half-Speed by Miles Showell at
Edition White Vinyl LP Abbey Road Studios.
(Indies Exclusive), Limited Edition Red Vinyl LP (Artist
Store Exclusive)
The ‘90s boyband return with their first holiday collection, WHIGFIELD
featuring classic covers and original compositions. I&II
Released: Autumn 2022 Plastic Pop
Formats: 2LP Yellow Vinyl + Remix CD
SAM RYDER The first two
THERE’S NOTHING albums from
BUT SPACE, MAN! the ‘90s star
RELEASED: October 14 available on
Parlophone vinyl for the
FORMATS: CD first time,
Hot on the heels of his standout along with
performance at the Eurovision a bonus CD
Song Contest, the Space Man of additional
star is set to release his first tracks.
long-player.
QUIZ | Going solo
YOU CAN
GO YOUR
OWN WAY…
Before launching
successful solo careers,
these stars cut their teeth
in bands - but how well do
you know their history?
Which member of The Human

1 League teamed up with Giorgio
Moroder on Together in Electric
Dreams?
9 Who started out as lead singer

15 How is Blondie’s Angela
Trimble better known?
2 Midge Ure famously fronted
which synth-pop band?
of Frankie Goes to Hollywood
before going it alone with the
UK Top 5 singles Love Train and
Which former Police man
Belinda Carlisle was inducted
Americanos?
16 released his first solo album
3 into the Rock and Roll Hall of ‘Dream of the Blue Turtles’ in 1985?
Fame as a member of which group?
10 Which member of Backstreet
Boys was first to quit in 2006?
4 Stephen ‘Tin Tin’ Duffy was

a brief member of which
17 Before going it alone, who
sang in both Bronski Beat
and The Communards?
Which Fleetwood Mac star
Birmingham-based band?
11 became the first female
artist to be inducted into the Rock
and Roll Hall of Fame twice? The Sweet Escape hitmaker
5 Before topping the charts with

her ‘Alf’ album, Alison Moyet was
18 Gwen Stefani started out
fronting which US group?
one half of which duo?
12 Which Boy Krazy member

launched a solo career in
1996 with the album ‘Pride’?
6 Lionel Richie was a lead

vocalist in which band before
19 Louise Nurding famously
quit which British girl
group to go it alone?
becoming a solo superstar?
Before her successful solo
13
PHOTO PICTORIAL PRESS LTD / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO
career, Annie Lennox was

a member of two acts. Can you Having shot to fame as
7 Which Spice Girl teamed up
with Bryan Adams on When name either? 20 one-half of Soft Cell, who
topped the UK charts with the
You’re Gone?
Gene Pitney duet Something’s
Gotten Hold of My Heart?
8 Several members of Take That

have launched solo careers, but
14 After topping the charts with
Destiny’s Child, who launched
a solo career in 2003 with the JAY-Z
l For more pop trivia, check out
who had a UK Top 5 hit with Child? collaboration Crazy in Love?
the ‘This Is Totally 80s Quiz Book’,
available via thisistotally80s.com.
19 Eternal; 20 Marc Almond

10 Kevin Richardson; 11 Stevie Nicks; 12 Johnna; 13 Eurythmics or The Tourists; 14 Beyoncé; 15 Debbie Harry; 16 Sting; 17 Jimmy Somerville; 18 No Doubt;
ANSWERS: 1 Phil Oakey; 2 Ultravox; 3 The Go-Go’s; 4 Duran Duran; 5 Yazoo; 6 The Commodores; 7 Melanie C; 8 Mark Owen; 9 Holly Johnson;

RetroPop Issue 8 October 2022

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RetroPop Issue 8 October 2022

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BLUE NOUGHTIES BOY B A ND FAVOURI T ES A RE B AC K

RETROPOP OCTOBER 2022

Connor Gotto, Editor

16 ALPHAVILLE Merseyside to world domination, 14 REMEMBERING OLIVIA

ALPHAVILLE SYBIL BLANCMANGE

PHOTO DARENOTE LTD

LOOP by throwing a roller

COLDPLAY ANNOUNCE 2023

to take place next year. tourable battery system and

Darren Hayes unveils vibrant

PHOTO SARAH LOUISE BENNETT

SOFT CELL UNVEIL LIVE ‘EROTIC CABARET’ ALBUM

CHRISTINA HAZELL DEAN SHANIA TWAIN has WHITNEY

LOOP her pop roots’ on her

Björk sets autumn

had 10 years left.

DISCO LEGEND CERRONE UNVEILS NEW ALBUM

Top Of The Pops tales

Ian Brown does his

LONG LIVE LOVE 1974

I HONESTLY LOVE YOU

W outfit Alphaville arrived

he chuckles. “But that is all I’m going to

l ‘Eternally Yours’ is out September

I powerhouse Sybil launched onto

you have to understand, I’m sitting

Your first album, ‘Let Yourself Go’,

You were already pretty established

B nothing if not prolific!

It was quite a shift,

hen the Spice Girls arrived on the pop scene in

W 1996 with their cheeky breakout hit Wannabe, no

showcasing a brand new sound the album feeling so positive it was

FOLLOW US on social media @RetroPopMag

t’s often said that stars are born and not

I made - and if ever there were a case for that

For his next move, however, the all-round

l ‘XXV’ is out September 9 on Sony. Robbie’s UK

n the early 1990s, Heather Small shot to fame as the

I frontwoman of dance-pop group M People and took the

SEARCH FOR THE HERO

BECAUSE I WANTED TO BE Ladbroke Grove, West London, Heather witnessed

DIFFERENT THINGS. a sense of insecurity that “followed [her] around for a

KNOW MY NAME. It was a devastating time. “That was one of the

WORLD…’ BUT WE Although heartbroken, Heather vowed not to give

l ‘Colour My Life’ is out now.

Hot on the heels of

hen it comes to pop soap operas, few

W have experiences such dizzying highs

The Fizz (l-r): Jay Aston,

the band fondly recalls their golden days.

Stock Aitken Waterman

It’s a particularly tough blow for Jay who, although

more material in the near future.

l ‘Everything Under The Sun’ is out September 8

Blue (l-r): Lee Ryan,

n the early noughties, boy band embarking on their first hiatus.

I Blue could do no wrong, securing

l ‘Heart & Soul’ is out October 28

lectro pop group Dragonette rose to

E prominence in the mid-noughties when,

courage to share a photograph of her son on social

Roberts’ solo debut ‘Cinderella’s Eyes’ (2011),

l New Suit is out now on BMG.