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Interview
by SaschaS
4-11-2002
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| Bev 'Soul sista' Knight |
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A vigilant sista
Beverley Knight, the country’s foremost soul singer, faces up to ‘Pop Idol’ age
Beverley Knight had a fight on her delicate hands in March when her excellent single ‘Shoulda Woulda Coulda’, first off the album ‘Who I Am’, was battling for the nation’s chart affection with the ‘Pop Idol’s’ pre-packaged release by the ‘triumphant’ Will Young. Alas, he entered at No. One after shifting 1,1 million units; Bev was at the rear of Top 10 but there is no debate who’s da genuine act.
A verité career versus the TV-made-for, which she laughed off at the time.
“Yes, I went against the big ‘Pop Idol’ single,” Knight sounds amused by the idea, “and he was bound to go straight to Number One; that was fine by me, although I wasn’t keen on his song, they could have found a better vehicle for his voice. But there is nothing I can do against the whole cynical process, the appalling making-money-ness of the whole thing.”
‘Who I Am’ offers club tracks, R’n’B, reggae, blues, ballads, soul… A true coming-of-age record for an artist with an attitude on par with the celebrated hip-hop femmes.
“It doesn’t really trouble me,” Knight says magnanimously, “that I’ve been doing this for 7-odd years and haven’t had a Number One, while these kids come along and rise to the top instantly… It is a very short shelf-life anyway, and I’m convinced that in years to come I’ll still be around. I’m not mad at it but I think it is sad because kids see this as their way into the industry but nobody can do it and walk away with credibility. Whether they are talented or not.”
Fuelled up emotions
Bev Knight’s debut album, ‘Prodigal Sista’, earned her a Brit nomination and won her three MOBO Awards. ‘Who I Am’ should fare even better because she’s really taken her time to expend her scope with a multitude of styles she handles confidently and with an bewildering ease.
“Three years since the last album,” Knight speaks between bites of her brunch, “it was a bit by design and a bit by accident. I wanted the album to come out earlier but I wanted it to be right and that prolonged the process. As soon as I finished touring in 1999 I started writing new songs but went through a break-up of a relationship.”
“I did write a lot of about it on the album, it was cathartic and, in retrospect, the right thing to do. This (album) is an eclectic piece of work, the best work I’ve done, and it has been fuelled by the really, real emotions. I’m in a really good space right now; UK-wise, there is no other artist like me, there is no album like mine out there, a really organic one. All the songs were demo'd just with a guitar or piano and a vocal.”
None of the songs on ‘Who I Am’ have been inspired by the ‘American tragedy’ last September but it made her muse over entertainment as profession.
“I was filming a video for ‘Get Up! when it happened,” she says incredulously, “and it made me think about everything. I write and sing few songs… while people are dying I’m in this happy bubble of making a video… I then remembered that what I’m saying on the album is important, still relevant. I wrote a song ‘Fallen Soldier’ about Stephen Lawrence, the whole situation, and realised that the song applies to the American emergency services as well as to the people who perished in the tragedy.”
Music to save (us all)
“That restored my belief in the power of music,” she raises her voice above the arriving lunchers in a Camden eatery. “I wrote the song about something specific and it has taken on a more universal meaning. That’s the beauty of music and that’s, I think, where a song can transcend its time and events, and that’s when you’ve made the connection.”
Ms Knight is a gamine chanteuse who is far from a diva, of the American variety in particular, flaunting sex-appeal with semi-nude push-up aiding her career.
“I know what you mean, and it is true,” Knight states coquettishly, “I’m not sexual in the respect. But, this album is exploring my most sexual, intimate, darker side, the way I’ve never done before. Sex and sexuality are very being part of my femininity but I believe that it is better to leave some things secret. Doing sexy stuff is not a problem but I think that Marvin Gaye didn’t need to employ it, he just had it. I prefer to imply things rather than be blatant with ‘em. Music will always take precedent for me.”
“I’m a woman who sings about love, loss, pain, joy… about strength, solidarity, positivity and undressing to further my career is not an option.”
Tour dates:
Sunday 01 December - Academy, Bristol
Monday 02 December - UEA, Norwich
Tuesday 03 December - Corn Exchange, Cambridge
Thursday 05 December - Barrowlands, Glasgow
Friday 06 December - Sands Centre, Carlisle
Saturday 07 December - Royal Court, Liverpool
Monday 09 December - Academy, Manchester
Wednesday 11 December - Assembly Rooms, Derby
Thursday 12 December - Civic Hall, Wolverhampton
Friday 13 December - Dome, Brighton
Sunday 15 December - Guildhall, Southampton
Monday 16 December - Hammersmith Apollo, London
SaschaS
4-11-2002
Beverley Knight’s album ‘Who I Am’ was released on 11 March 2002 by Parlophone
(07/03/02)
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