It’s been a nutty week in the life of this soccer mom rocker mom. I literally had to be in six places at one time last week, juggling kid’s rugby matches, birthday parties, studio time and interviews, but it’s all been a boat load of fun so I ain’t complaining!
I had a fabulous interview on APTN (Associated Press Television News) which will be syndicated to 500 broadcasters around the world, including all in-flight TV, so you never know, you may just catch it while you’re watching Sky News or even flying out somewhere! Keep your eyes out!
The news of Band of Gold breaking the top 20 on the club chart was soooooo exciting… You can listen to one of the many radio interviews I did right here on the national radio station Smooth FM.
The Band Of Gold video has been on various TV stations and in gyms around the country. I’ve been getting fantastic emails and texts from friends who have told me they’ve seen the video while working out and it’s kept them on the exercise machine a little longer burning those extra calories!!
The amazing DJs Future Freakz and Loverush UK have my next release, I Hear A Symphony, on their desks, and I can’t wait to hear their interpretations!
The follow-up will be launched in time for the World Music Conference in Miami, where I will be in attendance!
Both Band Of Gold and I Hear A Symphony will be flogged internationally so all of you people outside the UK, keep an ear out for the 2 singles!
We’re are hoping for a smash hot summer anthem so when you are all out clubbing, please remember to ask the DJ to play it!
Thank you all again for reading, watching and listening!
Thursday night, I went to see my friend Laura Kidd perform in Coco Sumner’s band at Proud in Camden – yes, Coco is Sting’s daughter!
Coco’s new album is terrific! Rocky, yet commercial – a la Kelly Clarkson, which to me is a huge compliment! I am downloading it for sure and my kids would love it too!
Most of all, Laura is a cracking bassist. She is such a multi-talented young lady and I have to publically thank her for all her incredible work on Upside Down TV and the VT she provided for the launch last week. She truly is a star!
I’m still reveling in the aftermath of the launch… I am sooooooooo grateful to all who came and even the ones who couldn’t make it but have supported me through this amazing time and have given so generously to my charity Music for Youth!
The single still sits nicely at number 17 in the top 20 UK club pop chart but the follow-up (‘I Hear A Symphony’, which was dubbed “one of those songs you just can’t turn off” by The Guardian) should be coming out in the next few weeks so watch this space!
The YOU Magazine (Mail On Sunday) feature comes out this Sunday (Feb 21st) EEEEK! I’m such a control freak and not knowing what it’s going to say is killing me! But I hope you all pick up a copy — or check it out online.
Yesterday morning I had a really fun chat with Sim on BFBS Radio. Click here to listen to the interview. You’ll need to listen to the ‘Tuesday Part 3′ Clip, and the bit with me is about 17 mins and 30 seconds in.
What an unbelievable week! I almost don’t know where to begin! Rehearsals were exhilarating but also very exhausting. But I learned something about myself in this process… When you spend so many years thinking about others (4 kids, a husband, some ailing parents etc…) focusing on one thing (myself) takes a lot of concentration! I can be singing the same song 100 times but suddenly can’t remember the words! Why??? Because my mind starts to wonder… “Did I remember to tell my son to take the tube home today?” “I have to schedule that doctor’s appointment for the baby’s cough…” “What should I cook for dinner tonight?”
But on Thursday night last week, once I was up on stage (and responsible for fronting an amazing band) all other thoughts left my head and we put on a CRACKING SHOW!! It’s really not difficult to rock the house when your backing band is made up of Adam Wakeman on keys (Yup, Rick’s son who has played with Ozzy and Black Sabbath), Milton McDonald on guitar and Lee Pomeroy on bass who both play with Take That, Alex Toff on drums, twom fabulous backing singers, Melanie Lewis and Angela Brooks. Marc “Archie” Arciero and Rich Cardwell (who MD’ed James Morrison’s recent tour) MD’ed the gig and were amazing!
It was a fabulous night where I was joined by some incredible talent from Music For Youth… (Remember, all the profits of the album and the event were going to Music For Youth). Our supporting act, Kagemusha Taiko Drummers wowed the crowd when they opened the show and the gorgeous girls from the CCHS Rock And Pop Choir brought the house down when they sang on “For Your Love” and “Preacher Man”. Guitarist extraordinaire, 18-year-old Jack Davis, played with us on almost the whole set. He really impressed us all and cranked out a couple of phenomenal solos! Jack was totally in his element and said that there was nothing else in the world he would rather be doing! He played on “If I Can’t Have You” on my album.
Of course, the most fabulous news was the fact that Band Of Gold climbed to number 17 on the Club Pop Charts in the UK. How crazy is that?! The Future Freakz who were one of the DJ teams who remixed the single came to the gig and the after-party and said that they can’t wait to get started on my follow-up single “I Hear A Symphony” and get cracking on some original material as well!! So watch this space everyone!!!
The after party at Grace Bar in Soho was AMAZING!! The music was thumping (and of course they played the dance remix of Band of Gold!) Everyone looked like they were having a blast and I was able to finally relax and let my hair down and get down on the dance floor with all my friends and family who came to celebrate the launch! Music For Youth held a silent auction with unbelievable prizes that included a 12-string Washburn guitar signed by Mark Knopfler, a Fender Stratocaster signed by Bryan Adams, an internship at Metropolis studios among many others and they were able to raise a lot of additional funds for the charity!
So, all in all, last week was a smash hit and I am soooooooo pleased at how everything turned out!
Thank you to everyone who came and to those who didn’t but supported me throughout this nutty journey of mine! Especially to those who made donations to Music For Youth on behalf of the launch!
The dance mixes that are currently storming the charts are now available to download from iTunes.
Listen to a preview of the Future Freakz remix here and click the links to be taken right to iTunes to get downloading. If you’ve heard it already, you can click right here.
The Band Of Gold dance mixes continue to climb the charts. This week we’re up to 29! That’s ahead of Lady GaGa and hot on the heels of Beyonce! How cool is that?
Because we’re now in the top 30, we’ll be appearing in the latest issue of MusicWeek and Power Play magazines! Details to follow.
The Future Freakz and Thin Red Men club mixes will be up on iTunes very soon, so keep checking back for the link.
In the meantime, head over here to listen to a preview!