Mobo

MOBO Statement - Janet Jackson

Following recent reports in the press, MOBO would like to clarify that we have never confirmed that Janet Jackson has been invited or will be attending/performing at this year’s MOBO Awards, in Glasgow on September 30th.

As was reported, we will always welcome her at our show and as a previous MOBO presenter, we loved her past involvement and will continue to support her music and champion her career. Yet, at this stage we cannot comment on Janet Jackson's association with the 2009 MOBO Awards. However, there are lots of exciting things going on currently and we look forward to announcing them shortly!

We, as ever, appreciate your ongoing interest in the show – please keep coming back to mobo.com for future developments!

Many thanks,

MOBO

 

 

 

MOBO Exclusive: Beverley Knight Intevriew

MOBO: After a 2 year interval, your first single off of your new set “Every Step” is released. When you release something new do you still get butterflies after being in the business for over a decade?

BK: Well it’s been over a 15 years actually now. Yeah, it’s been even longer than that. I should just say that Every Step is like a buzz track that we’re doing as a download as opposed to the actual single. That’s coming a bit later. But to just answer your question, I don’t care how long you’ve been in the industry you want people to care about what you do. It’s always nerve wracking! Always, always, always! Your always like ‘oh, I wonder what their going to make of this’ (Laughs).

MOBO: So every time you release your new material, do you feel as though you have to reacquaint yourself with the industry?

BK: In a sense yeah, because everything changes so fast. It’s just not the same industry it was as a minute ago. And it’s like oh God, ok this has changed right I’ve got to adapt to this, adapt to that. The whole digital thing in particular didn’t exist when I first started and now everything is like you’ve got to make sure you’ve got new digital extra tracks for iTunes and your free downloads. I can just about keep up with it (Laughs).

MOBO: Are you an internet user? Do you keep up with the blogs and use Facebook and MySpace or Twitter?

BK: I’m a Twitter girl. And you guys probably know cos we follow each other on Twitter. That is my kind of social networking of choice. It feels like you’re doing text messages, do you know what I mean? (Laughs). My head can get around that. Facebook sounds so big and complicated to me. It’s probably me just being an old fogey but I much prefer Twitter. It makes sense to me. I’m online a lot, I do my shopping online now too (Laughs).

MOBO: For the first time in MOBO history, the ceremony is hitting the road and will be held at the SECC Arena in Glasgow on Sept 30th. Are you excited about this years show?

BK: Yes I know. I think it will be fantastic! I think, again 15 years ago when I first started there was no way that you could have a bought a show of this kind north of the English border – it was not going to work. So, to not only see that – but obviously MOBO has grown and grown over the years – but to the point where you can actually hold the awards ceremony in the SECC! Have you ever seen the SECC? it’s huge! That is big. That’s a huge statement. As they say now, it’s a big look. I think it will be fantastic, really good. I really do!

MOBO: So I take it you’ll be attending this year’s show then.

BK: Yeah definitely. I would have thought so. I want to see what’s going on (Laughs). I really want to go. I think it will be great in Glasgow. It will send a big message to the whole of the rest of the industry as well.

MOBO: Your 6th studio album 100% is scheduled for release on September 14th, the same month as MOBO hits Scotland. Can you tell us what inspired the album’s title and direction?

BK: Well a 100% because its 100% of me in terms of the creative control and everything cos I own the record label, It’s mine. So I’m totally at the helm of it and leading everything that goes on there. I feel very, very proud of that as you can imagine. And then also a 100% as in everything that I’ve ever done in my career – whether folk have understood it or not and I know sometimes I make people scratch their heads (laughs) but I’ve always given a 100% of myself and that is something that will continue until God takes the breath from me. I will always give 100%, you have to otherwise you can’t survive this industry and it’s that simple really, you just can’t without being everything all the time. And also – this is the soppy bit now – a 100% because it’s the title track of the record because its 100% of me giving 100% to my boyfriend.

MOBO : Aaah!

BK: Yeah, so I wrote the song about him. So there’s a lot of different 100%’s going on there (Laughs).

MOBO: So what can we expect from the album in terms of producers, features, collaborations etc?

BK: Well, you may have heard about the Jam & Lewis song, Every Step – they are the guys behind it. Now that for me was so major because I grew up with Jam & Lewis you know: They took everybody through the 80’s and into the 90’s. I mean there wouldn’t be a Janet Jackson career to speak of without those guys – as in they worked with Michael Jackson and Janet for Scream, Oh God the list is very long man. For me it was the biggest pleasure, joy, honour everything to get in the studio with them. For them to actually create something for me as opposed to pulling something out the draw which was old, which could have happened you know.

And then getting with Chaka Khan was fantastic. We always wanted to do something together we just didn’t know what. But this track was one that already existed, I had already written it. Just putting her vocals on it just absolutely smashed it – the track I’m on about is a song called Soul Survivor. And I’ve also covered the Bee Gee’s – I say soul classic – Too Much Heaven. Amongst the Black community the Bee Gee’s had a period where Black people were just feeling them. And that song I always remember from my childhood, I remember the single and everything about it. It’s just the soundtrack to my life and when I was going to cover it I asked Robin Gibb if he’d jump in and kinda bless it a bit with his vocals and he did! So I’ve got some peers on this record and I’m really proud of it.

 

Michael Jackson, Thank You for the Music

On Thursday 25th June 2009 at approx. 2.36pm LA time, the world lost a legend.  Michael Jackson, the undisputed King of Pop has died.  After going into full cardiac arrest at his LA home, Jackson was taken to UCLA hospital where doctors were unable to revive the singer after an hour of performing CPR.  On the morning following the shocking news that will change the face of music forever, we invite you to share your memories of Michael Jackson and his music as we celebrate the legacy of the King of the Pop.

"Jackson broke down barriers" for contempory urban artists

MOBO Founder/CEO reflects on the impact Michael Jackson had on today's music industry

 

As the news broke that Michael Jackson, King of Pop, had tragically passed away, Kanya King, CEO and Founder of the MOBO Awards was just touching down in LA to attend the annual BET Awards. An event which will be attended by stars from all over the world, many of whom, perhaps, would not have achieved the same level of success had it not been for the influence of Michael Jackson. Jackson broke many barriers during the course of his music career; he was the first black musician to have a music video heavily rotated on MTV. As such, he has opened doors and become the stimulus for many of the urban artists we see in the charts today. Artists, such as Usher and Chris Brown, who often cite Jackson as their inspiration and mentor.

 

King commented: “This is a massive loss for the music industry, that cannot be understated. And although we have lost the King of Pop, his music lives on not only in the heart of his millions of fans worldwide, a fanbase built up during a career spanning four decades, but also in the music of his contemporaries and everyone who has come after him. Those who often imitated but never bettered his extraordinary achievements.

 

“The full scale of his legacy to music will only be truly recognised once the world has absorbed the news and people look back on all of his many accomplishments. He was a born entertainer and a consummate showman. He always put 110% into all of his performances, which legions of people were looking forward to witnessing during his comeback tour, due to start on the 13th July. It is dreadfully sad that he never got that second chance to show the world that there really was only ONE Michael Jackson - a genius, an icon and a true phenomenon; the kind that only comes along once in a lifetime.”

 

 

 

The Queen of UK Soul Returns!

The amazingly talented Queen of UK soul Beverley Knight is back with her highly anticipated 6th studio album entitled 100%, which is due for release on September 14th.

The 5 time MOBO winner has created a fine body of work and has joined forces with some of the superb beat makers in the game. Her first release off of the album is titled Every Step which was produced and co-written by heavy hitters Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. The powerfully produced joint is exclusively available for download from July 6th at www.beverlyknight.com  

MBE awarded Knight has shifted her gears and taken her new project in a different sounding direction, she commented ‘This new album has an altogether more contemporary feel. I worked with some fantastic people, legends even, and it has inspired me to make what I consider to be some of the best music of my career. It’s certainly the most fun I’ve ever had making a record’.

Partnering with iconic legend Chaka Khan for a soulful duet, the album also see’s Knight work with award winning writers and producers such as Amanda Ghost (Beyonce/Shakira), Guy Chambers (Robbie Williams) Jam & Lewis (Janet Jackson/Usher/Mariah Carey), Jimmy Hogarth (Duffy/Adele), UK duo The Rural and Bacon & Quarmby (Sugababes).

September is set to be a huge month for the singer/songwriter. As well as releasing her musical genius, Knight will initially launch her cosmetics range K by Beverly Knight at high end stores Selfridges and John Lewis. Speaking on her new venture she said ‘Like the majority of black and dark skinned women I found there wasn’t any range that provided the full range of colours I needed. I was so excited to be offered a chance to work on my own range of products’.

With November tour dates in the works, a new sounding album released via the Hurricane Records imprint and a cosmetics range, the fourth quarter is set to be 100% Knight’s!