S.E.L. – a lady with an unstoppable talent and the burning desire to take British Soul music back to its roots, is providing the winter warmth with her re-work of the Des’ree classic ‘You Gotta Be’. Playing her debut show at acclaimed London Live music club, The Hideway on Friday March 2nd, Soulful Emma Louise takes us through her 2017 and what she’s got coming up in the new year.
Happy New Year! What were your personal highlights of 2017 and how have they impacted on your growing fan base?
2017 has been another amazing year of growth for me. Firstly, I knew I would be becoming a mother for the first time this year, so I wanted to make sure that not only would I be able to be a good mum and give my daughter the attention she needs, but also, I needed to make sure my career continued to grow. This was the task for me this year and I think I have done it! I released my single, ‘Flowered Tears’, which reached number 4 in the UK Soul charts, I was featured on the Number 1 album by Tom Glide, ‘Divas Got Soul’, performed at Margate Soul Festival, just 3 weeks after giving birth and rounded off the year with another single which is the release of my version of Des’ree’s ‘You Gotta be’, produced by DJ Spen, Everyone is Loving his SELSOUL Remix too, so much so, that we shot a video a couple of weeks ago. To be honest, everything that has happened this year has been a highlight and all of the events have helped grow my fanbase…which is growing daily! I have had an amazing year and I am so grateful for everyone’s support, especially my team, Nicky Trax, Asha Sampson, Steve Ripley and of course the amazing DJ Spen. The support from all of the DJs worldwide has also been great. Especially the Misoul DJ’s and everyone at the station.
The new single ‘You Gotta Be’ is a well-crafted re-work of the Des’ree classic and sees you working with DJ Spen again, what makes your relationship with him so enduring?
DJ Spen is not only one of the best DJs I have had the pleasure of seeing at work but he is a talented musician and all round great human being. His energy and spirit is unlike anyone I have ever worked with, and I think the reason we work so well together is our spiritual connection, work ethic, passion for what we do and our overall vision. We often have the same ideas on projects that we are working on. He is a person that has always valued my opinion and vice versa. It just works! DJ Spen is an exceptional song writer and his ideas inspire me to write better music. The music we have been making is by far my best work yet and I can’t wait for you all to hear what we have in store for 2018.
”You Gotta Be’ has been championed by Mi-Soul.com, Jazz FM, Solar Radio, Delite Radio BBC Radio, and Soul Train Radio and it’s seems that this year has seen your fan base of supporters grow. Has this led to new opportunities?
Yes definitely, I’m always being approached by different people for collaborations now which is great. I have also just finished a track with the lovely Brian Power, which is exciting for 2018. Getting fans from other countries is probably the biggest difference from last year to this. I have been featured with two interviews on Portuguese station Radio Marginal, as my fan base over there is quite big. Brazil is another country that I have quite a growing fan base too. It’s great.
You are due to play your debut live show at acclaimed London live music club The Hideway on Friday March 2nd, how important is the live side of things to you and do you enjoy connecting this way?
I stopped performing live when I was 5 months pregnant, just because I found it really exhausting, so I am so excited about my show at the Hideaway. This venue is so iconic for UK Soul artists, so it’s definitely a career milestone to have been asked to perform here. I can’t wait. I do feel like Live shows enable you to connect more with your fan base and it’s a time for people to come and confirm that you ‘sound like the CD’…So to speak. lol. I love performing live, I definitely feel like I am able to bring more life to my music this way and have been told time and time again that I actually sound better live! So can’t wait to get back out there in 2018. The Hideaway is going to be an amazing gig and hopefully a sellout.
Is is true that you’re moving on from being part of the world famous Soul II Soul band? What have been your highlights working with them, surely the door’s still open?
I will ALWAYS be part of the Soul II Soul family. It has been such an important aspect of my career and Jazzie has taught me so much. We’ve been working together for over a decade now, so our relationship is strong and goes beyond just work. In the collective, I played and play so many roles, which is why I say I will always be part of the collective. It’s just that now, my life is different and it’s all about growth. I have been training up the new backing vocalists, who are great, and look and sound amazing. I’ve been styling them, choreographing them and still working lots with Caron and Jazzie. I think it’s important to give other people the same opportunities that I had, take a back seat and help grow the show from behind the scenes, get a different visual eye of it, does that make sense? In terms of highlights, oh wow…soooo many, namely, touring the world! Performing to thousands and just being part of such an iconic collective. The best that Britain has seen. Jazzie B is an incredible businessman and will always be a mentor and friend to me. What he’s taught me you can’t learn from any book or course. got lots of love for him.
2017 also saw you work with Tom Glide and his much talked-about ‘Diva’s Got Soul’ album. How did you get involved in this project?
Yes, as I said, a great project to be involved in, so many great singers on this album, I am just so grateful to have been asked to be part of it. This was through personal recommendation from my radio plugger Steve Ripley. One of the highlights of being involved in this project is definitely the cd Signing at Soul Brother records. Such an iconic music store.
After such a strong reception to your earlier singles ‘Elevation’ and ‘Flowered Tears’ is ‘You Gotta Be’. Is this paving the way for the debut solo album and if so, can you tell us a little bit about it…
It’s definitely coming, I will be working with Spen on it, we literally talk about it every time we speak so it’s definitely on the cards. It’s just about collating my material and deciding what to put on the album, which songs need re working and whether we will be doing more new material for the album. I think we have one more single to release before the album.
Able to turn you hand to different vocal styles, you’re featured on ‘What You Say’ – the new garage track from CJ Marshall. Do you have any particular styles that you like to sing?
I really loved recording this song with CJ Marshall, garage isn’t something I have ever done so it was great to be asked. Particular styles I like to sing? Soul, soul and soul…lol, that’s my heart.
When you’re not writing songs, performing or recording, what do you usually get up to and are there any special on-going interests that keep you occupied?
I am a foodie and healthy eating is definitely a passion of mine. I eat as much home cooked meals as possible and, although often disappointing, I am always digging into the ingredients of mass-produced food and trying to educate people on healthy eating and nutrition….(I am one of them. lol). Healthy body equals a healthy mind and productive soul and in my opinion, you are what you eat. My daughter only eats what I’ve cooked for her from scratch and I taste what I give her to make sure it tastes great. She is 5 months old and definitely a foodie already. lol
And before you leave us, got any tips for new artists, producers or trends in 2018 or any resolutions you care to share with us?
A piece of advice given to me by Jazzie over a decade ago, ‘Become a master of your craft’. My additional advice is know your business so that you are able to manage all aspects of your career if need be, allow others to join the train you are on but make sure you are the driver, not the passenger. New Years resolutions? Just continue to grow, evolve , be grateful and positive. xxx
www.selsoul.com.
