Music
Now, 20 years after she started out in the music industry, Sharleen's's preparing to release her first ever solo album. Impressed with the gorgeously sad lead single, 'All The Times I Cried', we gave her a call to find out more.
What made you want to make a solo record at this point in your career?
"Well, a lot had things had changed in my personal life - I'd split up from the father of my daughter - and my head was in a different space. The music I wanted to write was pretty different from anything I'd done with Texas. I wanted to challenge myself by writing and producing a record myself - away from the safety net of Texas."
Was it daunting striking out on your own after having the support of bandmates for so long?
"It didn't seem daunting to me at the time, because it felt like something I just had to do. I actually felt compelled to make this record. Call it blind foolishness if you will, but I didn't really feel any nerves when making it."
The album's very much inspired by the classic pop of the sixties, isn't it?
"Absolutely. There's a lot of sixties sounds and a lot of fifties sounds as well. I was influenced by stuff like The Shangri-Las, Nancy Sinatra, Ann-Margret, early Elvis. I grew up with this music and it's always been very prominent in my life. I just love that music and I love that time."
You seem to have really embraced the style of the time too. There's a hint of a beehive in some of the promo shots!
"Definitely. When you're making a record, the way you dress, the way you stand and the way you approach doing a vocal take has a big effect on the end result. I recorded 'Say What You Want' lying down because I'd been checking out Marvin Gaye and I heard that's how he made records. Now, standing there in high heels and a dress with my hair all done up, I have a very different approach to how I sing the song and how I perform it."
Given that you've made an album influenced by fifties and sixties pop, are you worried people might think you're jumping on the Winehouse/Duffy bandwagon?
"Not at all. I think anyone who knows anything about my career would be foolish to think that. I did what they were doing before they did it."
Songs like 'Black Eyed Boy' had quite a pronounced Motown influence, of course.
"Yeah, I did 'Black Eyed Boy', 'Say What You Want', 'Halo', songs like that... But I do feel absolutely inspired by these other artists who are making this music that I love to hear. You know, I'd have to have been living in a cave not to have heard those records over the last couple of years."
Apparently you were quite particular while recording the album. You told one musician to play the tambourine "like you're having the best sex you've ever had".
"Yes I did! I think I prefaced it by saying, 'The way you're playing that tambourine, you must be the s**tiest love-maker in the world!' As you can imagine, it certainly got his attention."
After 20 years in the music industry, what are you most proud of?
"Actually I'm quite proud to be able to stand up and say I've been doing this for 20 years. Not many people can say that, particularly female artists. But I'm just as passionate about making music now as I was at the very beginning. Obviously I have a lot more knowledge and experience within the music industry now. Believe me, I'm not as innocent as I was when I started out with Texas!"
And what's the status of Texas?
"You know, Texas is always there - that's the way it is for me. I haven't even thought about writing another song at the moment, let alone whether it's going to be a Texas record or a solo record. I haven't quite got my head around this record yet!"
Sharleen Spiteri releases her debut solo single, 'All The Times I Cried', on July 7. Her album, Melody, follows on July 21.
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