Interview in yorkshire times

Interview by Graham Clark, Features Writer - Interview With Lisa Stansfield, 29th March 2018, 14:25 PM

She still has one of the most distinctive voices in pop and judging from the ticket sales of her forthcoming tour, Lisa Stansfield is as popular as ever.

Her new album, Deeper, is released on 6 April. Written by Lisa and her song writing partner Ian Devaney, the album is her 8th studio album. As she prepares for rehearsals for the tour I asked her about the new album and the tour.

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM THE NEW ALBUM?

I think we've tried to create something special with this album, I'm really excited about it. If you listen to the songs they have real energy. I'm looking forward to going out on tour with the album, we are just deciding which tracks off the album to play live, but there will definitely be Billionaire and also the opening track off the new album Everything plus Never Ever.

YOU ARE VISITING YORK ON THE TOUR, HAVE YOU BEEN THERE BEFORE?

Yes, I have - I love York, it is a beautiful city and easy to walk around.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF CURRENT MUSIC?

I don't really like to listen to the radio or music when I am recording as it sticks in your head and you end up writing a song that sounds like you have just heard and end up singing someone else's song!

I really like the Rag N Bone Man album, he has such a good voice and the songs are good too. Dua Lipa is another new artist that I like.

WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO SING A DUET WITH?

Rag N Bone Man would be good! I did a duet with Luther Vandross that worked quite well. When we recorded it together he told me off for smoking too much so I told him off for eating too many sandwiches!

I UNDERSTAND THAT IRIT, A PROMISING NEW ARTIST IS GOING TO BE THE SUPPORT ACT ON THE TOUR

That's right, she has just released a new album, I haven't heard it yet but I hear that it is good.

YOU HAVE LIVED IN DUBLIN, BUT ARE BACK NOW LIVING IN THE UK

I'm actually in Rochdale at the moment - the town has changed so much over the years, they have spruced it up a lot, there are a lot of new buildings and you can still go for a walk along the river. There is a Statue to Gracie Fields too by the Town Hall. These days though we tend to split our time between London and Manchester.

The people up here are a lot warmer and more open than down south. I was shocked and saddened by the atrocity at the Manchester arena last May at the Ariana Grande concert. I was reading today in the paper about one of the survivors who was injured in the bomb blast who is determined to walk again, it was such a positive message.

HAVE YOU DECIDED ON THE SET LIST FOR THE TOUR YET?
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We start rehearsals this Thursday. It's nice to get all the band together to perform, there are 10 of us in the band including Andrea my backing singer who has worked with us for years.

We are going through the set list at the moment but it's going to be a mix of old and new. People come along expecting to hear the hits so yes, we've got to do the classics like Change, All Woman and Been Around The World, but there will be some surprises in there too. People like to hear some new tracks, so Billionaire off the new album will be in there.

I don't tend to go to too many gigs myself these days, George Michael was the last gig I went to.
I would like to see Dua Lipa, Adele would be good too, I bet she's quite funny when she talks to the audience in between songs.

DO YOU GET OFFERED ANY OF THESE 90's PACKAGE TOURS?

I do, I get offers to do these all the time but I've still got a lot more in me yet - I am still writing and recording whereas most of the acts on these tours do not record much anymore.

I will keep on doing this for as long as I can - every day is different on tour with the audiences whether we are in the north or the south, some audiences are very shy whilst others can be very exuberant, but it is always good to see them. It's going to be a great tour and everyone who comes to the show can enjoy themselves, no one is being judged you can let your hair down and have a good time and forget about the outside world. Yes, it's going to be a great night.

Lisa Stansfield plays York Barbican on Thursday 19 April 2018