Dusseldorf press interview in 'RP Online'

This article has been automatically translated from German to English

Interview by DAGMAR LEISCHOW for RP

"A new vacuum cleaner was a luxury for me"

​Dusseldorf. The 52-year-old about her childhood in modest circumstances, first successes and the day she gave her mother a Mercedes.Lisa Stansfield is known for her power of voice. Also on her new album "Deeper", which pops here as soulful and sometimes even pays tribute to the radio knows her distinctive voice to score. In May she presents the record at a concert in the Capitol Theater. In conversation, Stansfield's voice sounds deeper, rougher, her throat throaty.
The song "Billionaire" gives the impression that love is more important to you than money.

Stansfield Well, honestly, what good is it for you to have a lot of money when you are lonely? Who can not share his wealth with another person, has basically nothing. To love and to be loved, I consider more essential than a big bank account.
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Does that mean your money has not made you happier?
Stansfield For me, wealth is an ambiguous affair. Sure, it's nice to be able to pay all the bills and afford something. On the other hand, money brings with it some uncertainty factor. You keep asking yourself: does my counterpart really care for me? Or just for my assets? Suddenly, people who have not talked to you for years come up to you and want to pump you. Thankfully, over time I have developed a sense of who my true friends are.

You did not face the problem earlier because you grew up in modest circumstances.
Stansfield There were only two rooms for my two sisters and me. That hit me as the middle one particularly hard, I always had to share a room with a sister - first with the oldest, then with the youngest. But that was not all. We had no central heating, so it was freezing cold in the morning. It took me a lot of effort to get out of bed at all.

Did your situation suddenly get better when you had your first hit with "All Around The World"?
Stansfield At first I only saw the impressive sales figures. It took a while for money to finally flow into my account. First, I bought a decent vacuum cleaner. That was already luxury for me. Just the thought of giving me something extravagant brought me sweat on my forehead.

Which purchase would you like to congratulate?
Stansfield I gave my mother a Mercedes. It was so nice to see her face when she got it. For her - a woman who knows poverty only too well - this car has definitely made a dream come true.

Such gifts can not necessarily afford young artists nowadays. Are you glad that you made a good start in the late 80s when the music industry was booming?
Stansfield I think I would have succeeded in the 21st century as a newcomer. Because my credo is: If you really want something, you will always find a way to realize your goal.

Could you have imagined going to a casting show?
Stansfield I have definitely participated in some talent shows. But that was a completely different level in my youth than it is now. I did not get on TV, I was not manipulated by others. I would never have agreed to that.

Does not it appeal to you to sit on the jury of a casting show?
Stansfield I have always refused such offers. Only "The Voice" I find reasonably acceptable. In other shows, the candidates appear like trained monkeys. They lose their personality. A musician should formulate what he has to say in his own words.

Do you write your pieces together with your husband?
Stanfield Yes. I am in the comfortable situation of owning a studio. That's why I never run out of time on a record production, but can work on my songs until I'm satisfied.
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You are actually a political person and have supported the Labor Party financially for a while. Why do not you reflect on Brexit or current world events in the "Deeper" titles?
Stansfield Firstly, I do not see myself as a political artist, secondly, I do not want to depress my audience with everyday dramas. On the contrary: my music should make her forget the harshness of life. For this reason, my CD contains mostly good-mood songs like "Hercules", which are about going out at the weekend and just having fun.

​Source: RP