Hi Shena. You are at the forefront of yet another disco explosion in clubland with your incredible new album ‘One Man Woman’ coming out in a couple of weeks. But let’s go back to the 70s first, the decade you were born and the decade when Disco really hit the headlines. What artists can you remember growing up to that were major influences on your musical life back then?
“Hi Dan, well I came from a very musical family. My father was a calypso singer in a band called The Volcanoes, he used to tour singing covers of bands like UB40 – he had a great Baratone voice. I have three sisters and we all have, thankfully, taken something from his voice. My eldest sister was the first to get into Disco and it was her that got me into it. And it was the obvious people who opened the fire for me, Chic, Sister Sledge and of course miss Donna Summer. My sister would record Top of The Pops on VHS tapes and Thursday would obviously be a big night in our household. But also we were all into the Motown era, Reggae and Pop, it certainly wasn’t a quiet house…”
“You’d be too young to remember, but 1979 saw the Disco Demolition riot at Comiskey Park in Chicago – the backlash had begun against Disco, thanks mainly to two certain films and how much the scene had commercialised. That night saw people arrive at the baseball park ready to burn their disco records in a huge crate, Nile Rodgers from Chic said ‘it felt to us like a Nazi burning event, this is America, the home of jazz and rock and people are now afraid to even say the word disco”. So, why is it then, that time and time again the sound of Disco comes back in vogue every ten years or so? What makes it so magical?
“Well, there are some people who claim that the Disco revival swings round when there is a recession on and people just want to party. And that’s what Disco is, one big party. It’s so eclectic, so uplifting. In today’s day and age with so many people worrying about everything, Disco is just such a release. It’s all happy thoughts, forget about your problems for a while and just throw your head back and sing, that’s what I say.”
You have worked with legendary artists from the heyday of disco including Chaka Khan, Luther Vandross, James Brown and Jocelyn Brown as well as working with contemporary artists such as Amy Winehouse, Joss Stone and the Sugababes. Who out of that lot did you feel in awe of and who had the best voice?
“Oh wow. Well I was performing one time when as a surprise, Stevie Wonder walked onto the stage and sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to one of the girls. I was like wooah! There I was at The Cambridge Theatre in front of everyone and you know, I didn’t give a shit. I just threw my arms around Stevie and just soaked up the moment. Fabulous. As for professionalism, James Brown was just on another level. He had standards second to none, we all had to be really on top of our game when we backed him. He made everyone call him Mr Brown and it’s fair to say, he took no prisoners. It was like I was too scared to sing on occasions, I was thinking ‘what if I get it wrong, he’ll sack me!”
So a big night for you on August 8th at Cargo in London, the launch of your debut album ‘One Man Woman’, a mixture of pop dance and hedonistic Disco – what tracks stand out for you on the album?
“My favourite tune is track 10, ‘Shameless’. It has a real retro feel to it but there is a real 21st Centre feel to it too – the name says it all! The chorus is quite chilled out but then we raise it a couple of notches. I also obviously love ‘Can’t Stop The Rain’ which reminds me of the whole Chic era and also ‘My Fantasy’ which is out now – another beautifully uplifting record.”
What took you so long to make your first album, hey we know you’ve been kinda busy but…
“It was down to me not being ready really Dan. But one day I realised that I wanted to be a solo singer and the road I was on wasn’t going to be taking me there. I had to step out of the box and just get on with things, it took me three years to accomplish, but it certainly was worth it.”
You live on The Epsom Downs, home to the greatest race in the world The Derby. I once woke up underneath a bus there, was absolutely smashed after a big win – did you make it there this year?
“Ha ha. No I didn’t, I just couldn’t find that right that!”
What are your thoughts on the type of people that, alongside yourself, are being bracketed in the Nu Disco genre – commercial artists such as Danni Minogue, Kylie Minogue, Sophie Ellis Bexter, Jamiroquai and The Scissor Sisters. Does it offend you as your roots are so ingrained in Disco?
“No, I think it’s good for that era for music to be honest and it’s great that I’m not the only person doing this. However, I have made a real stamp on the whole Nu-Disco scene with this album, it’s not just one record, it’s a whole collection. I am so immersed in the scene and loving it.
The best club you have ever been to?
“Well my favourite in terms of having a good time is ‘Loose’ at Fabric in London. Either when I am on stage or on the dancefloor. Such a vibe and it’s big enough that you don’t feel like a sardine!”
The first time you performed to audiences was in musicals, hard work – but what song became a real pain to keep singing ?
“Well not a pain, just difficult for me. Irene Cara’s ballad ‘What a Feeling’ – what a high note for me to hit.”
A fabulous discography working with some incredible dance/club people – Michael Gray and his Full Intention outfit, Alex Gaudino, De Souza, Junior Jack, JX and er, the Arsenal Football Club on their 1998 song ‘Hot Stuff’. Firstly, how did you get roped into that one?
“Oh no way! Well in truth they wanted a Donna Summer sound-alike so I was asked to sing on their record. In the end it all got a bit messy with money and stuff as they tried to palm it off that it was actually Donna Summer singing. Ian Wright was alright though…”
Secondly, what club track that you have collaborated on do you think has been the best?
“Well from a commercial point of view ‘The Weekend’ with Michael. It launched me to a different stratosphere, got me on Top of The Pops, travelled the world doing what I love – that was the one.”
And thirdly, Michael Gray used to work with us at DMC for over a decade as a producer – have you ever seen the nicest man in dance music ever lose his temper – we certainly didn’t.
“No never, I’ve seen his face go red in frustration and pissed off, but he never had a diva strop!”
A big hit in the past with ‘Can’t Stop The Rain’ that is set to be followed in the charts by ‘My Fantasy’. But how does it feel having Radio 2’s Terry Wogan bigging up your record?
“I’m loving Terry! Go, go, go Terry. No, I’m really pleased that the tune is reaching such a wide audience.”
What is the best Disco record ever made?
“Knew that question was coming. I love ‘Stomp’ by The Brothers Johnsons (our queen of Disco starts to sing…’We’re gonna stomp, all night, in the neighbourhood, don’t it feel all right, all night, wanna party, ’til the morning light.’|). Anything by Earth Wind of Fire obviously and also Donna Summer’s ‘I Feel Love’ which has to be a favourite for anyone who feels the groove. All obvious, but they were the tunes.”
So we come back to your house after a night on the tiles, what music would you play us to chill out?
“I love India Arie – anything from her. Basically just nice chilled tunes. I’m the sort of person who hears a track on the radio that I like and then rushes to the record store to by the album and listen to it all straight away.”
What is your guilty pleasure artist?
“Well I wouldn’t say he’s a guilty pleasure, but it’s to do with Barry White. I just wanted to get hold of him and say, ‘Barry, just talk to me! That would have been enough.”
The new album ‘One Man Woman’ is coming out on the No Prisoners label, a joint venture with your husband, co-writer, producer and manager James Winchester, a renowned musician in his own right. What is it like living, breathing and working with your partner, do you ever have your own space?
“It’s cool you know Dan. Creatively we are so dynamic together, things just fly around the room. There is so much chemistry. However, we both have strong egos and personalities – I don’t want James telling me how to sing at times and he doesn’t want me to tell him how to play bass. Sometimes it’s just easier to go and have a cup of tea.
If you could throw the best ever Disco party at your house, which five people would you invite from the world of Disco?
“A lot of the people I’ve already mentioned – Barry White (and he would be sitting next to me!), Michael Jackson, Donna Summer, The Emotions and Amy Stewart.”
And finally, did you ever get a snog at your school disco?
“Ha ha, you’re so cheeky. Erm, no I didn’t because I was a bit of a geek back then. A real swot, four eyes, buck teeth and dodgy hair. Thank goodness they invented hair extensions and contact lenses. I was bypassed by the boys at the school disco.”
