Mobo

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.

 

MOBO: I can’t wait to hear it now!

BK: Ah, bless you. Thank you.

CC: So out of everyone you’ve mentioned, and some you haven’t mentioned, who did you enjoy working with the most & why?

BK: Erm, gosh. Probably Jam & Lewis because of the weight of the history you know. Cos when I walked into their studio and walked through the door it was just pure Grammy’s, Grammy’s, Grammy’s everywhere you know. Gold discs, platinum discs, multi platinum discs and very rare but there, diamond discs – you hardly see diamond discs anymore or an album which sells over 10 million. I mean that is...What!! They had enough and I was just looking around like ‘bloody hell I’m just this kid from Wolverhampton & I’m in the studio with Jam & Lewis’ have you ever in your life...can you imagine it, I just couldn’t get over it! And they were so normal and ordinary. All they would do is go on YouTube and just find pure joke on YouTube and then we worked and then more joke on YouTube and then work. It was brilliant.

MOBO: So could you share with us if there are any track titles or personal favourites from the new tracks you’ve recorded. Anything that means a lot to you on the album?

BK: Oh yeah, other than the ones I’ve mentioned there’s a song called Bare – not as in grrrr bear, as in B A R E (Laughs). And that is like a proper old school type ballad in terms of the approach. It’s one that proper soul heads would get into and the song is saying that the chorus says ‘baby I’m bare as I dare to be with you’ – you know when you get close to someone and you’re like oh my God, this is big. And you’re scared to really reveal everything because the thought of what that person means and you revealing everything the good the bad and the ugly is terrifying in a way so it’s that moment I’m talking about.

And of course, the upswing of that is the title track 100% where I’m like I’ve done it, I’ve bared my soul and your still here thank God for that type of thing.

Other songs that I could mention...in your shoes which is sounding more like the kind of R&B track that if you liked Made It Back, you know the remix, you’d be like yeah this is Beverly. It’s a song about don’t hate get on with your own thing and don’t look at me and hate. Just get on with your tings! You know, if I was in your shoes I’d be handling mine – that’s what the songs about. It’s funky, funky. It’s a sample, I sampled an old Scottish Punk band actually called Orange Juice who kind of did their take on Funk music and the results were brilliant. So I lifted their song Rip It Up and created In Your Shoes. The only thing about being my age is I guess you can sample stuff that sounds completely new to a lot of people but you know; you know where it came from in the first place.

MOBO: What do you hope to accomplish with this album?

BK: I hope somebody buys it for God’s sake!! (Laughs). No, erm I fell desperately proud of it and I feel like this album...I just want people to appreciate that this is me, no constraints, no anybody telling me what to do or whatever. This is me just enjoying. Hopefully you’ll get it; hopefully you’ll understand it all. So just sit back and enjoy, enjoy the experience. That’s really the vibe I’m trying to give on this album and hopefully people will just listen to it and really enjoy it, which would be a joy. That would be amazing!

MOBO: I’m sure they will Beverly. You’re such a good artist with an amazing voice.

BK: Thank you.

MOBO: So, do you feel like you have more to prove this go round as an artist?

BK: Erm, I feel as though I just have to be on my toes a bit because everything’s changed and obviously I’m on my own label now, which is great cos its on my own terms but it’s tough because any decisions I make you know I can’t turn around and blame my man (Laughs) like if it all goes wrong it’s down to me to fix it type of thing, you know. So it’s not so much proving a point because I feel as though I’ve proved my points over and over again but every time you come out you have to show your worth and that, there’s a difference you know what I mean? And that’s what I’m doing with this album, I’m showing my worth again which means knuckling down and giving 100%.

MOBO: You have a few titles under your belt like song writer/ singer/ producer /campaigner / performer– which one do you hold close to you or which one is the most important to you?

BK: Oh gawd! Well to me I look in the mirror and see a performer. I’ve always acted up my whole life (Laughs). Yeah I guess more than anything a performer cos when I’m on stage that’s where you get the whole of me. I’m very proud of my song writing and everything but for me I think the thing that I do best of all is to be able to express myself fully through song. You know whether its up-tempo, or down or mids or whatever that performance element because it’s an art it’s an art form and it’s something I’ve learned over the years, so that is probably the bit I’m proudest of.

MOBO: Taking it back a bit to what we addressed earlier, if there’s any aspiring artists reading this - how does Beverley Knight cope with the pros and cons of the ever-changing music industry?

BK: You have to be driven and you have to always keep in mind what you’re doing. The minute you lose your focus you’ve lost yourself. This industry does change and so rapidly that you can really get caught up in trying to chase a trend or a sound or something like that. What I’ve always done and I know some people have loved it and some people I’ve confused them totally but I’ve always followed my gut. And that’s important because when you’re following your gut your doing what feels right for you as opposed to what someone is telling you is right. That’s the pure nature of artistry and I would urge anybody to always follow their instincts cos their instinct will very rarely lead them down a blind alley.

MOBO: With an awards show like MOBO that is very unique and one of a kind here in the UK, how integral to do you think MOBO is and has been to your career?

BK: Well I said it in an awards ceremony recently that obviously prior to MOBO’s - and my career just about pre-dates the MOBO’s – there was nothing. There was nothing for music of Black origin, not a sausage. Nobody was giving us any love or props on a major scale. And when MOBO’s came along and the year that I won two MOBO’s on the same night, that was when the British mainstream music industry decided to take serious note of who I was and what I was about and what I was doing. Without that platform I doubt that would have happened really. I may have just been someone that came and escaped under the radar as it were. That night things started to happen and I’m eternally grateful for that. I’m eternally grateful for that.

MOBO: You’re a multiple MOBO award winner and nominee you hold that close to your heart. You see that as obviously projecting your career?

BK: you see the thing is the accolades you get along the way they kind of are an indication to the rest of the music world of how people see you or how they rate you or whatever. So one hand washed if you like the other and because of the awards I’ve had it’s just helped me in every aspect of my career. It’s helped me to sell records, it’s helped me to – obviously MOBO is a televised awards show and when you perform on an awards show people might look at what you’re doing and say yeah I want to go and buy a ticket to her show which is good. So it has impacted on every aspect of my career.

MOBO: Like you said earlier there’s not a lot of award shows for Black music in the UK, well actually there’s only one of its calibre for Black music and that is MOBO. Do you think that is why UK artists have sort of adopted the US as their new stomping ground? It seems to be working for MOBO Award winners like Estelle, Sway and Dizzee Rascal. Can you see yourself taking that route and moving over to the US to do something?

BK: Yes but I don’t know if I’d want to move there because I’d have to find somewhere that would do a decent cup of tea (Laughs). I’m too, I like home. That’s really rubbish isn’t it? I just, I can see why Estelle and Sway and even Dizzee I can see why they totally just slot in to the US life. Me, I think I’m so kinda Englishy I don’t think I could...I really don’t know. I’d love to go over there obviously and break the US market, that would be fantastic and I know it would mean I would have to spend a considerable amount of time over there. But actually to up sticks and move, goodbye England see you later never to return again...man I dunno you know! It’s hard that one.

MOBO: So even if we found you a shop that sold PG Tips exclusively you still wouldn’t go (Laughs).

BK: (Laughs) I think I’d honestly go for a period of time and come back. I think that’s all I can manage. When Estelle moved I think it was wonderful, I think it was brave and ultimately it paid off she was spot on and it was wonderful for her. I just look at her and admire her to be honest (Laughs).

MOBO: So why do you think it is that they are having to leave the UK to get acceptance in another country. They’re not acknowledged as well as some other UK performers.

BK: Well, I think there is that element in Britain is what as seen as proper British music. And I do wonder if the establishment see the music as what Estelle, Dizzee and Sway are doing as being British. I think they see it as something else. But then my argument would be the Beatles were and R&B kind of tribute band for a long time before they found their niche, you know. You look at any early Beatles stuff it was pure R&B bands that they were doing covers of. And anyway to argue that what they’re doing isn’t the real thing, well what Britain does so brilliantly is it takes things from all over the world, puts it through a mixer and out the other end comes something which is like a hybrid. So for anyone to dare accuse them of not making proper British music, I think, is a joke.
I struggle with that whole thing of why someone like Estelle can have a number one hit single with American Boy – which is, what a tune man, it’s a brilliant tune – and then it’s still an upward slog to still hold and maintain that success over here and meanwhile in the States they can’t get enough of her.

MOBO: So taking it in a slightly different direction - As well as the anticipated release of your album in September, do you have any other upcoming projects that you’d like to tell us about?

BK: Well, erm I like that leading question there (Laughs). I have a cosmetics range called K by Beverly Knight which is for all women of darker skinned – well it’s for all women – but the bases and that are for women of darker skin just to give us a bit more choice. You know, we’ve got our MAC’s and our Bobbi Brown’s you know there’s nothing else out there really for us to choose from - not on the scale that lighter skinned tones have, they’ve got more choice all day long and a day. And so the range is to provide more options. The demand is there and I’m supplying that need. And I’m proud of the range. I’m scared to death because this is a very new area for me obviously but I’m giving it my best shot and just hopefully people will like what I’m doing.

MOBO: You’ve launched the range in high end stores such as Selfridges and John Lewis – is that out for everyone to buy now? or is there a date you can tell us that it’s going to officially come out?

BK: It’s September. Again its right around MOBO time, it’s September the 16th and we’ll launch it in Selfridges London and then at Birmingham and the two Manchester stores. And it will roll out from there to your John Lewis’s and all the other stores as well. So from mid-September you too can be the proud owner of the Beverly Knight album and lipstick (chuckles).

MOBO: We’ll I’ll be hop skipping and jumping to purchase both (Laughs).

BK: Ah bless you, thank you.

MOBO: So also you’ve got a tour coming up in November?

BK: November my lovely, yes.

MOBO: Will you be touring all over the UK?

BK: Yes, yes the UK. It won’t hit London until spring of 2010 where I’ll be at the Royal Albert Hall, which is great. But if you can’t wait that long I’m doing the iTunes Festival in a couple of weeks...gees I better get my skates on!

And I’m also doing my album launch in September as well. But yeah, I will be touring the country and start off in November – the first date is in Ipswich and then it goes around the country, so look out for it, it should be brilliant.

MOBO: Definitely. You mentioned earlier that you’re doing this whole album independently under your own record label imprint. How is that for you? To be your own CEO and start something that’s organic and yours and take yourself around the whole of the UK to do a tour.

BK: It’s fabulous frankly. I mean I’ve been kind of self supporting myself on tour for a long time now for a number of years, so that side of it was nothing new to me. The record label side of it was defiantly new to me – I quite being the big boss lady (Laughs). It’s nice!

MOBO: It’s our last question together now Beverly.

BK: Aah!

MOBO: We do a little thing at MOBO called 5 a day where we pick 5 different news articles that we report on. I’m going to put a new spin on it and ask you five things and you have to say the first word that comes into your head. Ready?

Favourite Michael Jackson song?

BK: Rock with You

Rihanna or Beyonce?

BK: Oooh...Beyonce.

Favourite colour?

BK: Red

Loud or quiet?

BK: Loud...all the time!

Beverly Knight?

BK: (Laughs) Errr (laughs), oh God. The first thing I think of is home. I think of Wolverhampton.

MOBO: Well thank you Beverly. It’s been such a pleasure interviewing you.

BK: Ah, I’m glad I’m glad. I thank you, thank you very much.

MOBO: We wish you very success on your album, tour and cosmetics range.

BK: Thank you, take care of yourself.