GABRIELLE ALWAYS RETURNS - WRITTEN FEATURE

“I remember I’d written a song and I was going through the tracks and it jumped out at me. Musically I’m renowned for a particular style and even though we’ve got a song Heartbreaker in which we use Primal Scream’s backing-track Rocks, it’s still very Gabrielle in the sense of what I do. There’s a lot more heartache in there. But rather than choosing a title that wasn’t appropriate, I just thought it would be a good title until I got more adventurous.” 

Do you have any favourite tracks on the album? 

“Definitely, I love Heartbreaker because it uses Primal Scream’s Rocks, it’s different to what I normally do and it brings me out of my box.  It’s gone down really well live, I’ve done three dates at Ronnie Scott’s and the audience are really up for it. There’s a track on the album called Closure which is about taking the initiative to end a relationship when it’s not working; because you’re doing what the other person couldn’t do. They’re just different vibes – I could go on actually.” 

SMHTP slightly over enthusiastically “Oh yes please do” 

“Ok (Laughs) When I sing the title track on the album live I’m doing a vibe that I’m really chuffed with and I can’t wait for that to be a single. I’ve got a few on there, but those are definitely the one’s that are happening for me.” 

Do you enjoy singing live most?

“Completely, don’t get me wrong I’m nervous as hell and I would never be able to make it through the X Factor. I would be knocked out in the first audition.” 

SMHTP answers fervently “Oh I’m sure you wouldn’t.”Gabrielle and SMHTP both laugh in unison 

“The moment I go on stage, the first two songs I’m nervous as hell and I’m holding the mic hoping it’s not going to pop out.  By the time I start looking around I realise the audience aren’t doing anything, they’re not throwing anything at me and then I start to relax. Then I can chill out and just have fun with it and that’s what happens. Its pretty much been the same for the past 14 years, so now I wouldn’t change a thing. Although I would love not to be as nervous but performance is the be all and end all for me definitely.” 

So do you think nerves help with your performance?

“I like to think so. I think that when you’ve got that energy running through you either let it control you, or you take hold of it and ride it. Every time I’m away from the stage I think to myself: ‘What can I change that will stop me from feeling nervous?’ I try and imagine people in front of me when I’m doing the sound check, but I know they’re not there so I sing amazingly.I actually physically close my eyes behind my sunglasses (Laughs) I don’t know if I think they can’t see me? I know it’s mad and bonkers but I think: ‘Oh if they can’t see me then it's ok.’ Oh I know I’m a nutty bird.

SMHTP laughs hysterically then sits there quietly embarrassed

What do you prefer a huge audience or a smaller more intimate venue?

“I actually sometimes prefer the smaller venues because it reminds me of when I first started. It’s the intimacy that is lost when you start doing bigger venues.Coming from someone who has gone to bigger venues - I mean there could be anyone on that stage if you haven’t got a good seat.  Just to say you’re there makes it wonderful. But I think at the smaller venues you get a sense of the artist more. Unless you’re seeing someone like Kylie or Madonna, who give great stage performances - even if you’re seat is a million miles away you know you’re at a Kylie gig that is going to be fantastic. So with my shows you’re probably best off with smaller venues because I don’t do much else other than sing. Not like Kylie who can swing from ropes. I wish I could do that but I’m too scared.”

SMHTP and Gabrielle are both in fits of giggles

You mentioned the X Factor before what do you think about the show?

“Don’t get me wrong, I watch them all. I have nothing but praise for a lot of the young contestants that go on the show. Like I said before I wouldn’t have lasted the first audition. One week they might sing amazingly and then the next week they were a bit nervous and it showed. We have professional stars who charge so much when they’re concerts come around and I’ve seen them on TV giving the dodgiest performances. I mean what would happen if the fans started saying: ‘Can I have my money back please?’ So the idea that you get these people on X-Factor that are eliminated because that particular week their voice might have been a tad shaky, I think its just really mean.There are so many stars that get excused from bad performance because they’ve made it. So I think based on that one-and-a-half-minute performance their whole life is being decided then and there, by people who can’t really hold a note themselves. I’m sure if you asked Simon to sing he couldn’t. But that’s not his forte. (Chuckles) His forte is finding talent. Didn’t he discover Mr Blobby?” 

SMHTP giggles “I’m not entirely sure.” 

“Didn’t he? (Laughs cautiously) I’m sure it’s one of those kinds of things?

Are there any new artists that you particularly admire at the moment?

“I am a big Amy Winehouse fan. There are so many people out there with great tunes. I’m a big fan of John Legend even though he’s not so new now. But British artists you’ve got Lily Allen and Snow Patrol. It’s nice we’ve had an influx of new talent over the last couple of years. There’s Sandi Thom and Katie Tunstall. It is refreshing to see a lot more females coming out because when I first started there wasn’t that many. It is nice because there are a lot of talented singer-songwriters who write their songs like I do which is great.”

Was it more of a challenge for you when you first started out because there were so few female artists about?

“No I think I was actually a bit more cocky when I first started out because there was no-one else wearing an eye-patch and looking like me. I had a lot of fun and I think the image overshadowed the fact that I was a singer-songwriter. After I’d been around a bit and people realised that I wasn’t a one-hit-wonder they also started to notice that I wrote the songs as well. To be responsible for songs like Rise and Out Of Reach and have people singing them back to me isn’t a bad thing. I’m not mad about the image taking over for a while because people eventually looked past that.” 

Do you still get that same buzz when you hear your songs on the radio?

“Completely, all the time I get friends of mine telling me how they think I’ve been stalking them in department stores. I’ve actually gone into department stores and heard my song and I think to myself: ‘Have they seen me coming?’It’s cool but a bit creepy at times. Secretly I love it though.”

You’ve had phenomenal success in the past. Is there anything you feel you haven’t achieved that you would like to?

“Definitely some I won’t share with you (Laughs). But yes I would love to sell out Wembley or maybe The 02 because it’s a bit closer to me (Giggles). I would like to be around for as long as Tina Turner, I remember watching Behind The Music with her. The fact that she did have a bit of a lull in her career before she came back was great. I would like to think that I could come back in my late 40’s and do it all over again which would be quite exciting.”

What do you feel is your greatest achievement?

“Going up and getting the Brits and meeting Nelson Mandela which I don’t think I would have done if I’d hadn’t been the singer of Dreams, but they wanted to use that when they came to The Brighton Conference Centre. I mean I’m not into politics – don’t care. SMHTP says enthusiastically- “What was he like?”“He was amazing, he came up and said to me: ‘I wanted to jump on stage with you and dance’ I was like: ‘Why didn’t you?’ The list is endless and I’ve just had fun, fun, fun along the way. There are ups and downs but for me mostly the highs takeover the lows, so I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Did you find your album a challenge to write?

“It was a challenge because of the fact that when you’re away and have been writing for as long as I have sometimes I think: ‘I don’t know what to write about today?’ but then I think: ‘I haven’t actually lived it yet, so I can’t write it.’ In the mean time I’ve got girlfriends who might tell me their problems if their man has done something. As I’m giving them a hug I’m thinking to myself: ‘Ah that would make a great song.’ SMHTP chuckles in astonishment

But you know it’s always good to write lyrics that mention your personal feelings – maybe it’s because I’m a lazy old cow? Can’t be bothered to sit there and make it all up. It’s a challenge but its fun especially when you complete something. I think: ‘I couldn’t do it, but I’ve done it,’ and that’s how I feel with this album and more or less every album I’ve ever done.”

“There are so many stars that get excused from bad performance because they’ve made it. Based on that one-and-a-half-minute performance their whole life is being decided then and there, by people who can’t really hold a note themselves.”