PRESS RELEASE - 
LISA STANSFIELD 
‘Carry On’
New single – out on February 24th 2014
From the album ‘Seven’ released February 10th 2014
www.lisa-stansfield.com

“Lisa still has the most distinctive and sensuous voice in soul pop” - The Times

Performed live on Jools Holland’s Hootenanny 2013 on BBC Two, ‘Carry On’ is the new single from Lisa Stansfield’s imminent album ‘Seven’. Written by Lisa and Ian Devaney the song is an homage to classic Northern Soul and a story of the end of a relationship and emotional survival – a common theme on Lisa’s new album. “She is really saying to him ‘I will carry on and you’re not going to affect my life. I’m not going to fall to pieces because you’re not there’”.

Twenty five years after topping the charts, globally, with the single ‘All Around The World’, and ten years after the release of her last album, Britain’s iconic soul singer Lisa Stansfield releases her seventh studio album ‘Seven’.

The Grammy nominated, multi BRIT, Ivor Novello and Silver Clef Award winner, who can boast sales of nearly 20 million records and a string of international top 10 hits, returned to the studio to record with long-time songwriting partner Ian Devaney, whose credits include The Bodyguard and Indecent Proposal soundtracks. 

Produced and written by Lisa and Ian, ‘Seven’ is a return to the soul and R&B that she is known for. “It is a soul record and while it is eclectic there is a thread running through it. It was basically me and Ian doing everything…but we also had a team of amazing musicians in the studio with us.” That team included John "JR" Robinson, known as the most recorded drummer, and Grammy award winning orchestrator Jerry Hey who have both worked with Lisa for over two decades.

‘Seven’ marks Lisa’s return to the international stage and confirms her status as one of the UK’s premier recording artists. ‘Can’t Dance’, the first track on the album, was playlisted on Radio 2 this autumn and sets the tone for the record and its theme of love and relationships. “A lot of the album is about the trap that a woman has got herself into - an unrequited, doomed or mismatched love - and how to get herself out of it…if she can.” The songs are strong reminders of Lisa’s ability to tell stories and create identifiable characters within her lyrics - “I think we all suffer the same pain, all feel the same happiness, and we all have the same emotions within us. My life isn’t very racy or exciting so I make things up, tell stories. I like telling stories.”

Why has it been so long since her last album? “I felt I didn’t fit in anywhere. I didn’t want to alter what I do to fit in to a current trend but things run in cycles and now it feels as though the time is right to get my foot in the door again.”  Having sold out a European tour earlier this year, this autumn Lisa embarked on her second UK tour of the year and has announced a European tour for May 2014.

Adding a further string to her bow, and with Lisa’s ongoing contribution to British Soul being undeniable, she will be starring in an independent film about the genre due out in 2014. Charting the soul phenomenon that rose out of Northern England,  ‘Northern Soul’ will see Lisa team up with a renowned cast of UK actors including Steve Coogan and Ricky Tomlinson paying homage to the musical genre that has influenced her own style.
 
Seven is released on Monkeynatra. Catalogue number MONKYNTCD1 

Lisa pleased some lucky fans who waited patiently in a long line at Saturn in Hamburg today. They were extremely fortunate to get their hands on signed copy of "Seven".
Were you one of the fans there? If so, please get in touch and send your photos in if you would like them to feature here. 


More photos can be found clicking here 

Lisa Stansfield: Music and making a ‘comeback'
on 30 January, 2014 at 20:45

For a singer who has sold in excess of 20 million records and, in ‘All Around the World’, produced one of the classic singles of the 90′s, it has been a long absence. Lisa Stanfield returns with her new offering, Seven, her first record for 10 years. By Kiesha Meikle

So, you have a new album out. Does that mean you are back for good?
“It’s really gorgeous to have people say to me it’s good that I’m back. Not that I had a break. People think you had a break because they haven’t seen you, but I can tell you I have been busy!”

Well, you have to admit that it has been a long time since we heard anything from you musically…
“I didn’t think there was anywhere I really fitted in. There wasn’t much stuff that sounded like the music I make, and if you are making music and people don’t even know about it, you might as well make an album and put it in the loo and flush it away. There is no point banging your head against a brick wall. So I didn’t see the point.”

What was it like making the new album?
“It was both the quickest and longest album to make, because I spent ages writing loads of songs, but then took just six weeks to record it. And the nice thing is, when we play the songs live, there is as much energy for the new tracks as the old ones. It’s not like people are heading to the bar when they hear tracks they don’t recognise!”

Now you are back in the ‘industry’, what do you think of the newbies?
“It is brilliant… Lady Gaga, Adele, Jessie J… they are all female artists in control of what they are doing – they are amazing, it’s great to see.”

 I remember loving ‘All Around the World’ when it first came out, do you still play it?
“After 25 years, I have been through it all with that song.  There was definitely a time when I fell out of love with it. But then I thought to myself ‘it’s a product of me and a product of who I am, it came from my head and if it wasn’t for that song I wouldn’t be here today’. So I made my peace with it. Now, I am just glad that I wrote it and not somebody else.”

Do you think that the internet and social media has been good for the music industry?
“I’m not sure it makes that much difference.  It can if you use your nous and use it to your advantage and be more in control of yourself. I think you can be less controlled as a commodity, because that is what a lot of record companies see you as – a commodity. Younger artists are on the case with it, which is great for them, but I’m not sure it makes too much of a difference to me.”

You must be tweeting, everyone is tweeting…
“I do tweet, but I have to go through a filter and have somebody check it for me before it goes out. Otherwise, I would get into trouble… I know what I’m like. I don’t want to get drunk and then wake up with a hangover and see that I’ve put a compromising picture of myself on the internet for the world to see!”

Lisa Stansfield’s new album, Seven, is out on February 10

On her second day of promotion, Lisa turned up at the crack of dawn to be interviewed on ARD Morgenmagazin and later performed "Can't Dance" with her musical director Dave Oliver - here are a few photos including the video below.

Today Lisa was a guest on the Volle Kanne breakfast show and will appear in the coming days on the following  
Thursday, 30th Jan on ARD Morgenmagazin, 5:30-9:00am
Friday, 31st Jan.on Features on Guten Morgen Deutschland, RTL Punkt 12, RTL Exclusiv

On Lisa's promo trip to Germany this week, she will be busy recording and interviewing on several shows. The first one was for Germanys most popular tv show host Thomas Gottshalks popular weekend show. Klassentreffen "Back To School".   Recorded in Berlin on Tuesday evening it will be aired on RTL (Germany) between 7th-21st February.
Photos courtesy of Clemens Bilan

By TheGayUK, 27-Jan-2014 08:57:00

And about bloody time too! Finally, after 10 long years, she's back - but by god, it was worth the wait. 
Seven, Lisa’s seventh album, gives us 10 tracks that make you cry, make you dance and make you glad you have ears! 
by Chris Jones | 27th January 2014

The latest two releases form the album, “Carry On” and “Can’t Dance” give you an overview of what to expect…..that soulful voice, that range, the soaring strings, the….well, you get the picture.

During my recent interview with the lovely Lisa, I stated that she had a sound, an instantly recognisable sound and the moment you heard that first intake of breath, you knew it was her and on this album, she doesn't disappoint.
She has a discernible style, and it ageless - like all true style. She’s the Chanel suit of music, the Little Black Dress of soul.
Seven is full of soul and R&B, the stuff that Lisa is known for, the stuff she does best.

“Can’t Dance” showcases Lisa’s amazing vocal range and has a wonderful ’70’s disco feel, very Chic.
“Why” has a sexy, soulful and pared down introduction, with a big band finish! Feels very Westside Story - full of playful lyrics, flutes and strong vocals both upfront and backing.
“So Be It’ and “The Crown” feel very old school Lisa, slinky and soaring.
“Stupid Heart” would make Patsy Cline proud - its the kind of lyric that makes you listen, forces you to take in every word, and feel every emotion.
“The Rain” and “Picket Fence” are beautiful songs, expertly crafted, sung by a commanding voice.
“Love Can” and “Conversation” remind us that this woman sang some of the best slow numbers of our youth - and that she has the ability to bring you to tears!
“Carry On” is a toe tapper and no mistake! I defy you not to dance round the coffee table to this one!

Lisa has done what she always does, mixed it right: the right amount of upbeat versus slow down, the right amount of big band versus pared back. This album is a rare thing - each track feels truly handcrafted, each word carefully chosen and each note pitch perfect all with no filler, no fluff. Lisa is back and we’re all the richer for it.

Lisa Stansfield appears in our Feb edition of TheGayUK, out first week of Feb 2014

The Craig Charles Funk & Soul Show will be channel hopping from BBC Radio 6 Music to BBC Radio 2 at 9pm for 1 hour. Craig will be opening up his trunk of funk to give you classic Motown, Northern Soul, R&B, gospel and contemporary remixes that will form an hour of party tunes.

This show will be broadcast on 8th February 2014