GEORGE MICHAEL | THE SEARCH FOR FREEDOM

NEW!

RETROPOP JULY 2022

Pride
CELEBRATING
QUEER POP
EXCELLENCE!

SAMANTHA
FOX
Four decades
of foxy hits

CONFIDENCE

SKIN
‘We change
MAN
Leading the new
nineties revival

ISSUE 5 | £4.99

minds with
our music’
PLUS
TODRICK HALL SUGABABES TOM ASPAUL SAINT ETIENNE
Feeling the Freak Like Me Life In Plastic - Words and Music
Algorhythm at 20 it’s fantastic! turns 10
 RETROPOP | from the editor

RETROPOP
I S S U E 5 | J U LY 2 0 2 2
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Est. April 2020
HEY THERE!
retropopmagazine.com
@RetroPopMag
hen it comes to
EDITOR
Connor Gotto
[email protected]
W putting together
a new issue of
RETROPOP, sometimes
everything falls into place
ART DIRECTOR just the way it should…
Owen Connolly That’s certainly true of
owenconnollydesign.com this month’s edition, which
somewhere along the way
CONTRIBUTORS
became a celebration of
Ian Berriman
LGBTQ+ artists and allies
Fabio Magnocavallo
from across the decades.
Ross Mondon
After all, it is Pride Month!
Darren Scott
I debated drawing attention
COVER IMAGE to that fact - not least of all because it was totally
© Marco Ovando unintentional - and it was only when I looked back over
All copyrights and trademarks are the contents that I realised how many incredible artists
recognised and respected. from the community are featured.
So although this isn’t a “Pride Issue” and we’ll continue
ADVERTISING to celebrate great pop music all year round, regardless
Media packs available on request. of labels, I couldn’t not highlight the spectacular array of
Please direct enquiries to LGBTQ+ talent the music industry has to offer, and that
[email protected] we’re so lucky and proud to feature…
Not least of all is our truly brilliant cover star, Skin!
GENERAL ENQUIRIES Ahead of their performance at Grace Jones’ Meltdown
Please direct enquiries to festival, the Skunk Anansie frontwoman celebrates
[email protected] 25 years of groundbreaking hits, from the nineties
up until now. In addition to her impact on the music
Printed in the UK by Stephens and George
industry, she’s carved a place in history as a cultural icon
on behalf of Irresistible Ltd. Distributed by
and a political and social advocate who still has plenty
Select Publisher Services, Marion Manor,
left to say.
62 Wimborne Road, Bournemouth, Dorset
On the subject of legends, we also celebrate 35 years
BH3 7AR.
since the late George Michael launched his solo career,
selectmagazines.co.uk
ahead of the new documentary feature ‘George Michael:
Tel: +44 (0)1202 586848
Freedom Uncut’, with writer and biographer James Gavin
ISSN 2754-7841 drawing on over 200 interviews with the musician’s
closest friends and colleagues as we look back on his
All contents © 2022 Irresistible Ltd. or published incredible legacy.
under license. All rights reserved. No part of Also this month: Samantha Fox reflects on her career
this magazine may be used, stored, transmitted and teases new music; ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ regular
or reproduced in any way without the prior Todrick Hall throws it back to the eighties on his stellar
written permission of the publisher. Irresistible new LP ‘Algorhythm’; and Euro-pop connoisseur Tom
Ltd. (company number 13729328) is registered Aspaul delves into his shimmering second album ‘Life
in England and Wales. Registered office: Floor In Plastic’.
3, 86-90 Paul Street, London, EC2A 4NE. All There’s so much more, I could go on - Confidence Man,
information contained in this publication is for NINA, Saint Etienne, Sugababes, Tiffany - but I’m just
information only and is, as far as we are aware, going to let you dive right in and enjoy the issue…
accurate at the time of going to press. Irresistible Happy Pride!
Ltd. cannot accept any responsibilities for errors
or inaccuracies in such information.

Connor Gotto, Editor

RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM 3
 RETROPOP
CONTENTS
40

72

24

14
INTERVIEWS FEATURES RETRO
SPECTIVES

14 TIFFANY 40 GEORGE MICHAEL: 22 SUGABABES - FREAK

Former teen chart-topper talks FREEDOM UNCUT LIKE ME
her new album ‘Shadows’ and Inside the massive new Producer Richard X talks topping
returning to the stage documentary movie with writer the charts with his Gary Numan
and biographer James Gavin x Adina Howard mash-up
18 PETER WILSON
Aussie pop star shares his 48 FROM THE VAULT -
eighties inspirations ahead of SAMANTHA FOX
new album ‘The Great Unknown’ Eighties pop legend looks back
on her biggest hits and rare
26 BRUCE HORNSBY gems from the past four decades
Singer-songwriter discusses his
greatest collaborations and latest
album ‘‘Flicted’

30 SKUNK ANANSIE
Nineties icon Skin celebrates her
22
groundbreaking legacy amid the
group’s 25th anniversary 24 SAINT ETIENNE -
WORDS AND MUSIC
Exploring the group’s modern

26 masterpiece a decade on with

Pete Wiggs and Richard X

4 RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM
 RETROPOP | contents

74

18

64

56

RETRO REGULARS
48
R E V I VA L

56 TODRICK HALL 8 NEWS

All round entertainer celebrates Stay in the loop with your
the best of the eighties on his favourite pop superstars
feelgood new record
13 TOP OF THE POPS
64 CONFIDENCE MAN TALES
Mighty electro pop group on Revisiting New Order’s 1983 Blue
turning their home into a club Monday performance
in lockdown to write their stellar
album ‘Tilt’ REVIEWS
72 NINA
Synthwave star looks back on
84 ALBUMS
Neneh Cherry, Christine McVie,
UB40 featuring Ali Campbell and
84
her musical influences and Astro and more…
favourite collaborations 92 REISSUES
David Bowie, Prince, Elton John
74 TOM ASPAUL and more…
Rising star lives his Euro-pop 95 COMPILATIONS
fantasy on his latest album ‘Life NOW Pride and more…
In Plastic’
98 POP QUIZ
Kick off the summer in style as
we celebrate the biggest hits
about our favourite season

RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM 5
LINE-UP
NEWS | INTERVIEWS | RETROSPECTIVES

14
CHILDREN
BEHAVE
’80s teen sensation
Tiffany on her UK
comeback!

13 22 24

NEW ORDER SUGABABES SAINT ETIENNE

Revisiting Celebrating 20 years Looking back
Blue Monday on of the chart-topping on a decade of
‘Top of the Pops’. Freak Like Me. ‘Words and Music’.

RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM 7
LINE -UP N E W S
BANANARAMA
RETURN WITH
‘MASQUERADE’
Bananarama are celebrating their 40th
anniversary with the release of their 12th
LP ‘Masquerade’.
The project sees Sara Dallin and Keren
Woodward reunite with Ian Masterson on 11
new tracks, including the single Favourite,
co-written by Sara’s daughter Alice D.
Originally conceived as an EP, the record
- Bananarama’s first since 2019 release ‘In
Stereo’ - came to life as the pandemic wiped
out their live schedule in 2020.
“I love writing songs; it’s probably my
favourite part,” Sara shares. “Shutting myself
away and coming up with ideas and then
telling a story in less than four minutes, it
really is quite an art.”
“Arranging the music, vocals and
harmonies really is our forte,” adds Keren.
In addition to the new music, Sara and
Keren have also unveiled two new live dates

BELINDA CARLISLE at the Lafayette, London in support of the LP.

The pair will hit the stage on August 3 and

CELEBRATES 4 for the live shows, which are expected to

feature tracks from the record plus career

DECADES OF HITS selections.

The album coincides with the four
decade anniversary of Bananarama’s Top 5
breakthrough It Ain’t What You Do (It’s the
Belinda Carlisle’s ‘Decades Tour’ is “I am thrilled that The Christians will Way That You Do It) with Fun Boy Three in
finally set to hit the UK in 2023. now be my special guests on this tour 1982, with more surprises on the horizon.
Originally slated for 2021, the gigs and I hope you all feel the same way. ‘Masquerade’ is out July 22.
were postponed at the height of the “They are a fantastic band with a ton
Covid-19 pandemic and will now take of hits and between us we intend to
place throughout February next year. take the roof off! I can’t wait to see you
Performing her biggest hits and all in February”.
fan favourites from throughout her Meanwhile, The Go-Go’s star
career, Belinda will appear alongside recently confirmed her long-awaited
Liverpudlian group The Christians for ninth studio album is almost complete.
the shows. Sharing a clip on her Instagram
She says: “I was so upset at being Stories, originally posted by singer-
forced to postpone my tour last year songwriter and producer Gabe Lopez,
that I was determined to try and find a she penned: “OMG!!!!!! Finally almost
way to make it up to my fans… so this done with my new album… 2 ½ years
is what we came up with! in the making with this plague.”

Having finished second at BETTY BOO has KYLIE MINOGUE and LEONA LEWIS

IN THE
the 2022 Eurovision Song some “exciting JASON DONOVAN will has pushed her
Contest, the UK’s SAM collabs” lined up return to ‘Neighbours’ as ‘Christmas, With

LOOP RYDER will release his debut

album ‘There’s Nothing But
Space, Man!’ on October 14
for her first album
in 30 years
the soap comes to an end Love’ tour back to
December 2023

8 RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM
 LINE-UP | news

MADONNA KICKS OFF CAREER

CELEBRATIONS
Madonna has launched her 40th anniversary celebrations
with a massive remix collection of her 50 US Dance Club
Songs Chart No. 1 hits!
The set includes the Queen of Pop’s favourite remixes of her
chart-toppers, spanning her entire four-decade career, featuring
220 minutes of music.
It includes remixes by top producers, including Shep
Pettibone, William Orbit, Honey Dijon, and Avicii, with several
being officially released for the first time.
Each remix has been remastered by Mike Dean, who
produced Madonna’s two most-recent studio albums, ‘Rebel
Heart’ and ‘Madame X’, with the collection out August 19.
In addition to the bumper set, an abridged 16 track LP, simply
titled ‘Finally Enough Love’, will also be issued on June 24.
Last year, it was announced Madonna has returned to
Warner Music Group, which will house her complete catalogue
as of 2025.
“Since the very beginning, Warner Music Group has helped
bring my music and vision to all my fans around the world
with the utmost care and consideration,” she said.
“They have been amazing partners, and I am delighted to
be embarking on this next chapter with them to celebrate my
catalogue from the last 40 years.”
Further releases are expected to be announced
in due course.

Abba launch ‘Voyage’ show in style

ABBA have finally between which the band’s
launched their ‘ABBA ABBAtars speak directly to
Voyage’ show at their the audience during the 90
specially-built ABBA Arena minute spectacle.
in Stratford, east London. In addition to recreating
The group’s ABBAtars the band members, the
PHOTOS BILL PHOTOGRAPHY; ABBA VOYAGE

made their public debut ABBAtars are dressed in a

following years of work number of high fashion
from the band and Industrial looks, created by some of
Light & Magic, the company the world’s biggest names,
founded by movie mogul including Dolce & Gabbana.
George Lucas. The costumes - which
A groundbreaking bring the group’s iconic
venture, the concert features style up to date - were built
digital recreations of as real outfits before being
Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny band. ‘digitised’ by Industrial Light and Magic,
Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad The setlist spans the group’s debut following the approval of ABBA.
performing their biggest hits and fan- album ‘Ring Ring’ through to their Shows are currently set to run through
favourite cuts, alongside a live 10-piece sensational 2021 comeback LP ‘Voyage’, December 2022.

DOLLY PARTON is MANIC STREET THE GO-GO’S and SOFT CELINE DION
hoping to team up with PREACHERS have CELL will celebrate the has once again
the ROLLING STONES recorded a cover of launch of ‘Stranger Things’ rescheduled her UK
following her Hall of Fame MADONNA’s classic hit series four during the ‘Live and European tour
induction Borderline From The Upside Down’ dates due to ongoing
livestream on June 23 health issues

RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM 9
 LINE - UP N E W S
HEATHER
SMALL
DELIVERS
SPLASH OF
COLOUR
Voice of M People Heather Small is back
with her vibrant new album ‘Colour My Life’.
The star’s first solo effort in 16 years is named after the group’s
second single from their 1991 debut LP ‘Northern Soul’ and features
reimagined versions of her Top 10 hits from her tenure with
M People and her successful solo career.
Produced in conjunction with Rupert Christie and the London
Metropolitan Orchestra, it features new renditions of Moving on Up,
How Can I Love You More, Search For The Hero, One Night in Heaven,
Don’t Look Any Further, and the title track.
Also included is a cover of Paul Weller’s You Do Something To Me, Don’t
Look Any Further - a duet with Alfie Boe - and the single Love Me or Not.
‘Colour My Life’ is out July 29.

ALTERED IMAGES
ARE BACK!
Altered Images will release out that I’ve had. I think it’s a
their new album ‘Mascara metaphor for life! The fun, the
Streakz’ this summer. dancing, the drama, the tears,
Led by original members Clare the tequila shots, the lust! It was
Grogan and Stephen Lironi, the inspired by so many artists I’ve
album represents the group’s first danced to around the world from
new music in almost 40 years. Kraftwerk to the Tom Tom Club.
Preceded by its lead single “A DJ saved my life many
and title track, the band’s new times.”
offering brings their sound up to In addition to the new album,
date, with its synth-pop melody the group is set to hit the road
and contemporary beats an in September for a string of
evolution from their original headline UK tour dates.
spiky guitar pop style. ‘Mascara Streakz’ is out August
Clare says: “This song is my 26 and available to pre order
homage to all the crazy nights now.

THE WANTED have SOFT CELL are taking PETER ANDRE’s MARK OWEN

IN THE
reissued their classic their ‘Non-Stop Erotic son Junior is set to will release ‘Land
single Gold Forever Cabaret’ 40th anniversary follow in his dad’s of Dreams’, his

LOOP in memory of late

bandmate Tom Parker
tour Stateside this summer footsteps and launch
a music career this
summer
first album in
almost a decade,
on September 23

10 RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM
 LINE-UP | news

THE FULL LIST

OF INDUCTEES
IS AS FOLLOWS:
PERFORMER:
Carly Simon
Dolly Parton
Duran Duran
Eminem
HALL OF FAME CLASS Eurythmics
Lionel Richie
OF 2022 UNVEILED Pat Benatar

MUSICAL EXCELLENCE:
Duran Duran, Eurythmics Fame, which is to my mind appreciation goes to YOU!”
and Dolly Parton are the closest thing you’ll Meanwhile Dolly Parton, Jimmy Jam and
among the 2022 Rock and ever get to a rock and roll who initially resisted the Terry Lewis
Roll Hall of Fame inductees. knighthood,” said Duran accolade, added: “I am Judas Priest
The trio joins this year’s Duran’s Simon Le Bon. honoured and humbled
Class alongside Carly Simon, “This truly is a special by the fact that I have been EARLY INFLUENCE:
Eminem, Lionel Richie and and most valued kind of inducted into the Rock and Elizabeth Cotten
Pat Benatar in the Performer recognition for our lifetime’s Roll Hall of Fame. Of course I Harry Belafonte
category. dedication to new music.” will accept it gracefully.”
“I think we’re all in a little In response to their The induction ceremony AHMET ERTEGUN
bit of a daze about this. It’s induction, Eurythmics’ takes place November 5, AWARD:
one thing to be nominated Annie Lennox and Dave 2022 at the Microsoft Theater
Allen Grubman
- but a totally different thing Stewart beamed: “Well - in Los Angeles.
altogether to be actually Eurythmics made the grade, It will air at a later date on Jimmy Iovine
voted up for induction into thanks to every single one HBO and stream on HBO Sylvia Robinson
the Rock and Roll Hall of of our truly loyal ‘fans’! The Max.

SHAKESPEARS SISTER’S MENOPAUSAL MEMORIES

Shakespears Sister are celebrating said: “Hello Hello Earthlings. How it can time and that people still
30 years of their classic album possibly be 30 years since the release of enjoy listening to the songs
‘Hormonally Yours’ with a brand ‘Hormonally Yours’ we do not know! we wrote.”
new reissue. “When we started the writing of our ‘Hormonally Yours:
Originally released in February 1992 second album all those years ago we Menopausal Memories’ 30th
on London Records, the album peaked couldn’t have dreamt of the tremendous anniversary edition is out August 19.
at No. 3 on the UK charts and featured success that would follow a year later.
the singles Goodbye Cruel World, I Don’t “We used to meet each weekday at 1pm
Care, Hello (Turn Your Radio On) and to write (at Marcy’s), gathering inspiration
My 16th Apology - along with the mega- from the movie
PHOTOS JOHN SWANNELL

hit Stay. ‘Cat Women

Marking three decades of the Ivor From the Moon’.
Novello-winning LP, a new ‘Menopausal They were fun times and
Memories’ edition is available across to this day we are both
CD/DVD and limited vinyl variants, extremely proud of the album
featuring the original album plus never- we created.
before-seen content. “We’re equally as proud that it
Announcing the project, the duo appears to have stood the test of

THE FIZZ star CHERYL CHEEKY GIRLS are GARY BARLOW has Between his live dates
BAKER has confirmed celebrating the 20th announced a complete set of with Queen, ADAM
the group’s new album anniversary of their live dates for his ‘A Different LAMBERT is working
‘Everything Under The Sun’ career with their new Stage’ show, running on a new stage
is due soon single Let’s Have Fun through the end of 2022 musical with a “dream
team of collaborators”

RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM 11
JUST CAN’T GET
ENOUGH OF THE
80s and 90s?
Then you’ll love Totally 80s and Totally
90s with Gary King! Listen every week
for free at www.X1Player.com
 RETROSPECTIVE | Top of the Pops

Top Of The Pops tales

Step back in time as we revisit classic moments from the ‘Top of the Pops’ archives!

‘Whose idea was

this again?!’

#2 NEW ORDER’S
MANGLED MONDAY
March 31, 1983: TOP 10
New Order - Blue Monday THE OFFICIAL CHART
FOR MARCH 27, 1983
n 1983, it was unheard of for a band was pretty nerve-wracking standing there

I to make their ‘Top of the Pops’ debut

by playing live. But as Blue Monday
steadily climbed the chart, New Order
stubbornly refused to countenance
miming, turning down two invitations.
trying to sing on live television in front of
millions of people, half-expecting the track to
grind to a complete halt.”
The band have often claimed that the
performance had a catastrophic effect on
1 DURAN DURAN
Is There Something I Should Know?
2 DAVID BOWIE
Let’s Dance
“Then they asked a third time,” bassist sales - but this is a myth. Afterwards, Blue 3 BONNIE TYLER
Peter Hook recalled in his 2016 memoir Monday rose from 17 to 14, then 12, hanging
Total Eclipse Of The Heart
‘Substance’, “and said, ‘Yes, you can play around the Top 20 for seven weeks.
live.’ We were delighted.” And Hook, at least, got something 4 THE STYLE COUNCIL
Frontman Bernard Sumner felt rather tangible out of it. “I looked good, because I Speak Like A Child
WORDS IAN BERRIMAN PHOTOS BBC / TOP OF THE POPS

differently, however, as he explains in 2014 was wearing a new shirt. I’d found it in the 5 EURYTHMICS
book ‘Chapter And Verse’: “We were playing dressing room beforehand – last week’s band
Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)
this hi-tech song, live, in a television studio must have left it.”
where the directors and promoters hadn’t There was a downside to his cool posing, 6 JOBOXERS
wanted us to play live in the first place, using however: when the bassist went to his mum’s Boxerbeat
engineers who had never worked on live afterwards, she promptly cuffed him about 7 ALTERED IMAGES
performance before. It was almost guaranteed the head.
Don’t Talk To Me About Love
to sound awful.” “She went, ‘You were chewing, chewing
And so it did: strangely anaemic, with on bloody ‘Top of the Pops’. I’ve never been 8 ORANGE JUICE
Sumner not exactly excelling himself on so ashamed…’ She wouldn’t speak to me for Rip It Up
vocals. Though we should probably cut him weeks.” 9 BANANARAMA
some slack, given the pressure he was under.
Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye
“Quite a lot of Blue Monday was on a shaky l Follow @TOTPFacts on Twitter for
sequencer that I’d built at home, and there live trivia commentary on the BBC Four 10 FORREST
was no guarantee it was going to work… It repeats. Rock The Boat

RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM 13
 Sh a d o w s
a li
n d gh t
Celebrating 35 years since she emerged on
the music scene, Tiffany is back with new
music and an intimate live show set to hit
the UK this summer!
WORDS CONNOR GOTTO

n 1987, teen pop sensation of perfect to put something together to Friend’s Hand. I haven’t sung Hold An

I Tiffany launched into the charts

with her cover of Tommy James
and the Shondells’ I Think We’re
Alone Now.
It was to become one of the most
say, ‘Hey! How’s everybody been doing?
What’ve you guys been up to?’
‘Rhythm & Retro’ is about embracing
some of the album cuts - and, of course,
the hits - and some of my favourite
Old Friend’s Hand for a while and it was
really great to hear everybody in the
theatre singing along with it.

You’re also over here for some festival

recognisable tracks of the 1980s and its songs from the ‘80s that I just love. gigs, which will be a massive party.
parent album - ‘Tiffany’, released later What is it like to still be going out there
that year - saw the singer top the US How is it to revisit and strip back those and performing those iconic songs?
Billboard 200, making her the youngest huge pop songs to the bare bones? They really are! I think everywhere you
female artist to achieve a No. 1 album at It’s been really cool to find new go, you can make it your own. But it’s
just 16 years old. adjustments for some of the songs, like always great. I never get tired of I Think
Ahead of her return to the UK for her Feelings of Forever, or Radio Romance, We’re Alone Now; it just makes me feel
‘Rhythm & Retro’ tour - plus a string of or Hold An Old Friend’s Hand. These good. There’s something magical about
summer festival dates - the hitmaker are really timeless songs that are fan that song, so I’m forever grateful!
looks back on four decades in the music requests all throughout the world. So the Could Have Been is one of my
industry and reveals why now, as an ‘Rhythm & Retro’ show is something that favourite songs to sing ever. I’m glad to
independent artist, she’s approaching a can probably continue to pop up when have that in my arsenal and that be part
turning point in her career. I’m making plans for other things. of my No. 1s and my musical history. It’s
a great song. I think, even at 14, I fought
You’re heading to the UK with an During the process, have you been to sing that song because it showed that
intimate acoustic tour. Tell me about surprised by how any of the songs I could actually sing. And then the topic,
the shows. turned out? everyone was like, ‘Well, you know, it’s
‘Shadows’, my new album, was supposed Feelings of Forever has always been a little mature.’ And I didn’t really agree,
to come out last year - but things get one of my favourite songs. In this because at 14/15 - I recorded the song at
better, sometimes, when you wait. In the show, it’s really magical. We just started 14 and it came out when I was 15 - I kept
meantime, I’m already coming out to do doing the show here in America and saying, ‘I don’t know; I mean, have you
some festivals, and it just seemed kind the other night we sang Hold An Old ever really seen a teenage girl in love? It’s

14 RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM
 Q&A | Tiffany

I didn’t wan
t to
record I Th
ink
We’re Alone
Now.
I didn’t reall
y w a nt
to be a danc
e artist;
I wanted to
be in
front of a ba
nd.
My plan wa
s to start
there and b
e c o me
Stevie Nicks
.

pretty tragic!’
So I think that with my pleading and
everything, they just went ahead and
we put it on the album. And look what
happened...

You were so young when you started

out in the music industry. Take me
back to that time.
I was nine when I first started
professionally. I had a couple of different
places that I had landed… Nashville
when I was 10, with my first manager
and doing country music. Of course,
the subject matter there was way
too mature, so it didn’t work out. But
they were taken aback by my voice. I
sounded like I was 30, but in came this
10 year old girl and they were like, ‘That
can’t happen right now.’ And then I tried
a little bit of rock and roll for a bit. More
kind of ‘80s rock, very Pat Benatar. But
again, I was 12.
Then I went back to country music in
LA - and in those times, you just keep
doing it. I was already bitten by the bug.
I was in the studio recording a demo
when I found George Tobin - or he
found me - and that was it. He signed

RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM 15
 me at 14, the album was recorded at 14
and, you know, the rest is history…

During that time you appeared on

‘Star Search’ and finished in second
place. In the history of talent shows,
that was pretty early on. How did that
happen?
I did! Well again, I started when I was
nine and my parents didn’t know
anything about the industry. Although
we lived in a suburb of LA, that just
wasn’t in their DNA. They were simple
people. They were like, ‘Why do you
keep dancing and singing in the
kitchen?’ I was always singing and
dancing.

It’s a little harder

as an independent
artist, but it definitely
is something that
I think you should
have to do at some
point in your career.
To learn how to do a
lot of this stuff, and
survive it.

That’s when my stepfather challenged At that time, The Go-Go’s definitely. I We didn’t really have a lot of multi-
me, because I sang in a private party was always listening to rock bands, so festivals in America, so it was amazing
with all of our friends, because one of AC/DC, Def Leppard, Scorpions, Ozzy to have all this multi-talent, meet all
my friends’ parents were musicians, Osbourne… I was a little rocker, so I these people - even though I was
and they were friends with my parents. listened to them mostly on my own. young. I would be there backstage,
So they got up and sang and then I got And then the first couple of times that and they would be nice and talk to me,
up and sang, and everybody was like, I came to the UK once I was signed, but there wasn’t really much to talk to
‘Holy shit! She really can sing.’ And it was Terence Trent D’Arby was really my me about! It’s really special to me now,
very strange, because I sounded like an favourite. Maxi Priest - I fell in love with when I do re-meet these artists, and
older woman. I remember the reaction Maxi Priest and all his songs. Doing I’m like, ‘Hi, I’m an adult! We can have a
and people were just like, ‘That’s weird multi-shows, where I learned about glass of wine, we can have a chat about
and cool at the same time - something the Gipsy Kings and all these different all kinds of things!’
needs to happen with that!’ people…
So that’s what I was listening to when I ask because the songs you covered
You signed with MCA, which was I was first stepping on tour planes, going - although they’re great - weren’t
home to some massive artists at the all over the UK and Europe, because particularly contemporary. How was
time. Outside of your career, who were I was meeting all these wonderful that for you as a young artist trying to
you listening to during that period? musicians. find her way?

16 RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM
 Q&A | Tiffany

I didn’t want to record I Think We’re Then there’s the business side, which independent artist. Overall, which do
Alone Now, because I just thought is always battling that person, because you prefer?
it would take me in a direction that, I am a little independent, smaller The music industry on either level is
although I love dance music, I didn’t business, and still an independent artist quite a wild ride, it really is. You are the
want people to think I couldn’t sing. I to some degree. So, there’s a lot to do product, so you never really get a break
didn’t really want to be a dance artist; I behind the scenes. If you would have from it. I think that’s why, when I do
wanted to be in front of a band. My plan told me in the ‘80s, ‘Wow, you’re gonna come home, I just kind of shut it off. I’m
was to start there and become Stevie grow up and have to do so much with always working, but when it comes to
Nicks. I was like, ‘That’s what’s gonna so much technology,’ I’d have been like, ‘Tiffany the entertainer’, I’m not always
happen,’ and then this happens. But I ‘What!? I just wanna sing!’ ‘on’. I put my hair in a ponytail, I’m
did take the track home, and my friends wearing my frumpy clothes - it’s not
loved it - there was just no denying it - You’ve seen the industry from both flattering - I’m just doing stuff that’s so
and it grew on me. sides, on a major label and as an anti-glamour to some degree. When I go
I was excited to be recording, so I back out there, it’s hair and makeup and
went in and sang the song, and I’m fabulous, and you’re ‘on’ all the time and
forever grateful - I really am - and I’m there are lots of people around you all the
glad that I did that and I didn’t say, ‘No, time. At any level, it’s like that.
I’m not gonna record it.’ I was like, ‘Well, I think it’s a little harder as an
I don’t really know, it’s not my favourite, independent artist, but it definitely is
but we’ll do it.’ something that I think you should have
to do at some point in your career. To
A lot of people think that was your learn how to do a lot of this stuff, and
song, but it’s been covered numerous survive it.
times and you’ve changed it up over
the years. Do you have a favourite We’ve already touched on your new
version? album ‘Shadows’, but what can we
Yes, they do - which is great! The expect from the full record?
song keeps having its own life. I I think the ‘Shadows’ album
mean, every generation… I’ve vocally, on some of the ballads, is
heard some really cool versions. overpowering. You’re just like,
I mean, I’ve done it punk, I’ve ‘Wow!’ And there are great stories
done it ska, I’ve done it really behind it of how we recorded
rock, I’ve done it acoustic on the album. A little more
piano, like jazzy… I’ve worked technical than maybe people
it! I think my favourite is just expect a Tiffany album.
every night that we’re doing I think on some of the
it - you just never know! uptempo tracks, you’re gonna
get that link to the ‘80s. A little
Touching on those different bit of that retro, pop-punk kind
styles, which is the real of sound, which is really cool.
Tiffany? Even now, there’s this pop art
I really am this mish mosh kind of culture happening, from
of 30 years of a career! LA younger kids to people that I
girl, raised pretty modest, love, like Berlin and Blondie.
and then thrusted into There’s so many people out
Hollywood at 14/15. So I right now doing shows and
love all of it, I make all of it they haven’t changed - they’re
work in my life. I love to get amazing! They’re bringing that
PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE ARTIST

dressed up and have my punky kind of rock and roll, edgy,

moments like that - that’s soft glamour back, and I love all
usually more on the road of that. And that’s kind of what
than at home. At home, no! ‘Shadows’ is going to really be.
You will find me with a pair of
my flip flops on and I wear really l ‘Shadows’ is due later this
flowy, earthy kind of stuff. And year. Tiffany’s ‘Rhythm &
my doors are always open; I love to Retro’ tour kicks off in the
cook, I love to garden at home, I love UK on June 20 - for full tour
people to come to my house... dates, visit our website.

RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM 17
 IIN
NTTOOTTH
HEE
GR
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EAT
AT
UN
U NKKNNOOW
WNN
18 RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM
 Q&A | Peter Wilson

From his high school years with the Minogue sisters to his long-running
musical partnership with PWL mixmaster Pete Hammond, Peter Wilson’s
‘80s renaissance continues on his latest LP ‘The Great Unknown’!
WORDS CONNOR GOTTO

ustralian dance pop star when I was able to be free for a moment every record that I see with their name

A Peter Wilson released a

string of singles in the mid-
1990s before retiring from
performing and establishing a career
in songwriting.
and get out, I went and did a photoshoot
for the album and the singles. So we just
made it work - I was not going to let the
pandemic stop me.
on it is going to be great.’
Around 1990, I think I was 17 years
old and I would call PWL, as a complete
unknown from Australia, saying, ‘Please
work with me.’ And of course they never
Having penned tracks for Nicki ‘The Great Unknown’ was born out of took my call, but Pete Hammond was
French, Gina G and Amanda Lear - ‘Electricity’, but when you realised it the one that I knew the name of - I loved
among others - he returned to the stage was going to become an album in its his mixes - and he ended up taking my
a decade later and has since carved out own right, what sound did you set out call. We spoke for a long time and he
a signature sound somewhere between to capture? actually treated me like I was an artist. So
PWL and Italo disco. When I first started ‘Electricity’, I knew that stuck with me and, years later, we
A year after releasing the superb that I wanted the foundation of the got together and we were making songs
‘Electricity’, he’s back with another album to be done with Italoconnection. that were in that style.
long player - ‘The Great Unknown’ - an So I made that happen; they did five
album he never intended to create… of the 13 tracks, and then we built it Has being a massive PWL fan helped
around that. So my sound is always you refine that sound in your music?
How did ‘The Great Unknown’ come going to be inspired by the ‘80s. I knew Obviously I have a benefit of Pete
about? that I covered the PWL sound Hammond, who mixed and did
I had just finished the ‘Electricity’ album throughout my career and I additional production - that he
and I started recording a few little bits thought with this album, I wanted didn’t get credited for - on so
and pieces with a producer called Jeff to keep that same vibe and, with many of Stock Aitken Waterman’s
Vincent in America. He produced Paul the songs that were records. Mike Stock
Lekakis in the ‘90s and is a big fan of starting to come has generously
PWL. So we tried a couple of things and through and with the allowed me to record
I thought they sounded great, and we amazing writing from
One track became a lot of his unreleased
ended up getting Pete Hammond to Larry in Sweden, there three and three material, and he’s been
co-produce and mix those tracks. was very much a pop extremely supportive
Then I did one track with Larry sensibility coming
became five, and of me, so that’s been
Forsberg in Sweden, who has written so through. So I wanted then I had seven great. I’ve been a
many songs for Melodifestivalen and to merge the classic songwriter since I
has his own dance duo called Eurotix - pop sound with those or eight tracks and was in my teenage
and it was The Great Unknown. I loved sounds I’d already I thought, ‘Well, years, so I feel like I
that so much that we both said, ‘Well, been doing. can get the essence
let’s do a couple more.’ So we did that why don’t I just of them. I think that
and I thought, ‘Cool, I can maybe do a You recreate finish an album? my favourite of that
deluxe version of ‘Electricity’.’ the PWL sound so classic sound that I’ve
So one track became three and three well. What draws done - I’ve got Let It
became five, and then I had seven or you to the whole Hit Rain, which is a cover
eight tracks and I thought, ‘Well, why Factory era? version of a BWO song, which to
don’t I just finish an album?’ I wish I knew! I remember when I me sounds classic PWL, and then
was listening to Divine and Dead there’s also Point Of No Return,
That’s how all the best things happen… or Alive when I was 11 years old, I would which is the second single from ‘The
It is so true! I was recording during instinctively - and I don’t know how Great Unknown’.
the very severe lockdown we had in many 11 year olds would do this - turn
Melbourne where I live, so when it was over the back cover and look at the Point Of No Return is a great track.
possible I’d sneak to the studio when credits. Back then it would say ‘Directed How did that one come about?
I could and get tracks done, and then by Mike Stock and Matt Aitken. A Pete When Pete sent me the demo, it was
there was a period where I had to record Waterman production.’ I knew both very, very different. It was a lot slower
a couple of tracks in my own bedroom. records sounded similar and then I saw and it sounded nothing like PWL. He
But we just made it work and then, the names attached, and I realised, ‘Well, just sent it to me and said, ‘Here’s what

RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM 19
 I’ve been working on.’ Immediately, I Dannii. Dannii was one year above me
loved all the different chords; I’m drawn and Kylie was in the final year of high
to chord changes that you don’t expect. school when I was in the first. Dannii
And I said, ‘Hey, I need to record this. was on the TV, she was on ‘Young Talent
How can we make it happen?’ He’s like, Time’ while we were all at school, and
‘OK, well, let’s do it.’ And I said, ‘On one I would see her every day. Kylie was
condition - it’s got a sound like PWL. It’s really nice to me at school and then,
got to sound like it’s from Bananarama’s when she went on to do ‘Neighbours’
‘WOW!’ album or Mel & Kim’s ‘F.L.M.’ and work with Stock Aitken Waterman,
album. That’s the sound we’ve got to I remember thinking, ‘I wanna be like
have.’ And he looked at me and said, that. I want to do that.’ I guess because
‘Again?!’ I said, ‘I promise you, it’s gonna they were at school and I was standing
sound great!’ And so then he sent me next to them in the canteen everyday,
the backing track and he goes, ‘Well, OK, it was like it was accessible. If they are
you were right’. standing next to me, that means I can
We were gonna get Nicki French on do the same thing.
backing vocals on that, but I think it
might have been during a lockdown So at what point did you make that
period when they couldn’t do that. So, decision and pursue music?
I did the backing vocals and then we I knew I could sing in tune and all of
got Nicki on Never Knew Love Like This those kinds of things, and I remember
Before, which is a Mike Stock original I built up the courage to sing in front
track that he did for Nancy Davis. It was of my cousin and my uncle and my
the B-side of Higher and Higher. auntie. My auntie said, ‘You’re good, but
if you’re serious you should probably go
You love an obscure cover version; how to singing and performance school.’ So I
do you go about choosing them? went to singing school for the next three
I do like to find songs that not many years and we did all the competitions
people know, ‘cause I don’t want to around the local shopping centres.
make it obvious. It’s always going to be I remember I performed with two
compared to the big hit version - and girls as a trio, we did The Reynolds Girls
most of the time less favourably. I’d Rather Jack, and we thought
So I try to find something obscure, it was fabulous, and we actually
something that just gets me in the got into the Grand Final. And
heart. There’s two tracks on this then this mother, who was like
current album; there’s an ‘80s Karen, walked
Goodbye My Love, up to us - because her
which was by a Euro
I was at daughter didn’t get
disco singer called Camberwell High into the Final - and
Panther Rex in 1988, she goes, ‘You guys
and to me it sounded School at the same were shit!’ I remember
a little bit like Sandra, time as Kylie and it really clearly. She’s
a little bit like Fancy. like, ‘How could you called Central Station Records. I got to
And I love that. And Dannii Minogue. get through after that know the shop guys and one of them
then there’s another I was standing shit performance?’ said to me, ‘I know a guy that makes
Italo disco song called I remember her music and I think that you might want
Lullaby from a singer next to them saying something to connect with him. He writes tracks
called Cherry. She to the effect of, ‘My and he does it in a style that might suit
did Magic Holiday
in the canteen daughter’s fantastic you.’ So I contacted this guy and we
with Pete Hammond, everyday, so being and better than started writing, working on some demos
and it is very much you’ll ever be,’ and I originally, and he produced the first
a PWL track and it’s
a pop star became remember saying, song I ever wrote when I was 15, Never
great, but I found this accessible ‘Well, I’ll see her at In A Million Years, which I ended up
earlier track and I the top of the charts,” putting on my ‘Overdrive’ album.
immediately just fell in or something as There was a track called I Want To
love with it. ridiculous as that! Dance that we sent to a radio station
But those experiences prepared called Hitz FM, which was run by kids
Growing up in the 1980s, you me for what I wanted to do and under 25. And I came in at the right
were surrounded by amazing pop just made me even more determined to time where they played my demo, and
music. What are your memories of get going and try and make it happen. then a few weeks later it did so well that
that time? a label called Colossal Records signed
Well, I was at Camberwell High School What happened next? me up, they released the single and then
at the same time as Kylie Minogue and I used to shop at an import music store released a couple more.

20 RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM
 Q&A | Peter Wilson

The only thing

that I would ever
want to do that
I haven’t done
would be to record
a song directly
with Mike Stock. If
I can ever do that,
then I can retire
happy.

Back in the ‘90s I had five singles and You’ve gone on to write with plenty of then I can retire happy.
it didn’t work out the way that I had other people since…
hoped it would. So, I went off and got I ended up writing for Nicki French. Aside from working with Mike,
a job and did all that, and then a few Amanda Lear as well - she’s one of my obviously, do you have any idea of
years later, I started writing with Gina favourite all time people and I wrote what you want to do after ‘The Great
G. We did a track that was going to be for her. I also wrote for Haywoode Unknown’?
for her comeback, which didn’t happen as well, and then after having some I’m actually 50 next year, which is crazy.
ultimately. connection with Energise, we started This album, I didn’t expect to make it -
PHOTOS ANTHONY AF JONES, DENNYS ILIC

working on a track - a solo track - and it’s one that just happened. All of it just
Was that for her unreleased second Energise decided to release it. That was worked out that way. The plan is to come
album? Intoxicated. Then after that happened, to the UK to hopefully do the Energise
No - but there was a Warner album that I was in contact with Pete Hammond, 30th anniversary celebration, which
wasn’t put out… There was an album and Dave Ford and Ian Curnow from they’re going to be planning, and perform
that was done that I don’t think she was PWL, and we did a couple of things. with all of those people.
happy with, so she wanted to go back Then before we knew it, we had an But again, I’m turning 50 - maybe I
and pick up from where the Motiv8 album deal, and I guess it led me to want to see what else is out there for me.
sound left off. That album - the second where I am now. So I’m just gonna enjoy the next couple of
one - it was very, very different. The As an artist, I think the only thing that years and see where that takes me…
track we did was You Rock The Love, I would ever want to do that I haven’t
and I think it was incredible, but it done would be to record a song directly l ‘The Great Unknown’ is out July 8
ultimately didn’t work out. with Mike Stock. If I can ever do that, on Energise Records.

RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM 21
 A little frea k i n e ss i n s i d e !
Freak Like Me AT 20
Sugababes landed their first chart-topper back in 2002 with their
monster-hit Freak Like Me - the brainchild of producer Richard X,
who looks back on how it fell into the hands of the trio.
t’s 2002 and Sugababes are because they’d been on London Records using those sorts of sounds, analogue

I starting over.
The group launched two years
earlier with their debut album
‘One Touch’ but, following its release,
founding member Siobhan Donaghy
and Island picked them up.
“Steve Mackey from Pulp and Ross
Allen the DJ, I think, played the bootleg
version to Darcus and the label as an
idea - I wasn’t involved in any of that -
synths and all that stuff. It was sort of my
obsession, really.”
The song had already become an
underground dance hit, but releasing
it commercially meant clearing the
quit and Keisha Buchanan and Mutya and then they reached out [and said], sample and cover, and appealing to
Buena were one member down as they ‘Is this something we could turn into a a largely different audience than the
headed into the recording of follow-up pop record?’” niche following the track had already
LP ‘Angels With Dirty Faces’. With their debut, Sugababes made earned. But with the label behind them,
Heidi Range - an original member a name for themselves by writing the Sugababes were up for the challenge
of Atomic Kitten - was drafted in as a majority of their first album, but things and struck gold in the studio.
replacement and, back as a three-piece, were different this time around. Freak “It’s funny, because they were quite
the group hit the studio with producer Like Me was originally released by an NME band - I still read music papers
Richard X to work on what was to be American R&B singer Adina Howard, at that point, that was my indie and pop
their big comeback: Freak Like Me. and it was Richard who had the idea to upbringing,” he laughs. “So I remember
“I put out the bootleg version under combine the song with the instrumental seeing Overload and those few singles
my act name Girls On Top as a 7” from Gary Numan and Tubeway Army’s from the London era. Even when I met
single,” he recalls. “That was kind of Are ‘Friends’ Electric? Darcus, he was going, ‘Look, I know
quite popular, even though there were “In the ‘90s, people were sampling they’ve been dropped and we picked
only a few hundred copies. But it had things and sticking things together,” them up, but this band is really cool. You
quite an impact; you’d hear it in places he explains. “I really wanted to just need to meet them; they’re not just a
in London, clubs and random places. put records out and I was inspired by pop band.’
Sometimes dance clubs, sometimes electroclash and things like that. There “I think they were open minded.
indie clubs. And then I think it was were a lot of new wave and synth pop When I met them and we did the first
brought to the attention of Island and things being referenced again at the bits of recording, they were like, ‘Who
Darcus Beese, who was the label boss end of the ‘90s - which is my favourite are you?’ It was kind of, ‘What’s all this
and involved in relaunching Sugababes, music - so I felt quite comfortable in about?’ But they obviously knew the

22 RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM
 RETROSPECTIVE | Sugababes

Sugababes (l-r): Keisha

Buchanan, Heidi
Range, Mutya Buena

Adina Howard track - I think it was one Sugababes, Freak Like Me remains Bananarama’s 2019 album ‘In Stereo’.
of Mutya’s favourites - so I think because their only commercially released “They worked really hard on that and
it had a twist with it being bootleg and collaboration - although he was I don’t quite know why it didn’t fully
coming from a different place, they approached to work with them again. come out,” he admits. “I don’t know what
were more comfortable doing that. I “They did ask me to do some backing happened there… All I know is that our
think by then they probably had some tracks for them, which never got written song and a lot of others leaked and we
PHOTO PA IMAGES / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

more material as well, so were probably on,” he reveals. “And they did ask me if thought, ‘Ah, that’s a shame, but at least
feeling reasonably confident.” I’d do another bootleg thing for them, some people can hear it.’
Having been issued as the lead single which I think ended up… did they have “I think it was Peter Loraine - he was
from ‘Angels With Dirty Faces’, Freak Like something that sampled Let’s Go All The managing Bananarama at the time and
Me took the UK charts by storm, peaking Way by Slide Box?” - ‘Three’ album track I think he played it to them and they were
at No. 1 and becoming Sugababes’ Whatever Makes You Happy - “I didn’t like, ‘Yes, this is perfect for us.’ It lyrically
biggest hit yet. In addition to the album really want to do that… because I wasn’t worked really well for them and almost
version, the ‘We Don’t Give a Damn really into being told what to do!” felt like it had been written for them in
Mix’ of the song went on to appear However, a decade later he did work a way.”
on Richard’s 2003 album, ‘Richard X with the reunited original line-up on
Presents His X-Factor Vol. 1’. their intended comeback record, with l Sugababes are set to play a number
Despite helping relaunch the Love In Stereo later being included on of festival dates over the summer.

RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM 23
 I’ve go t y o u r m u s i c !
Words and
Music by
Saint Etienne
TURNS 10
In 2012, Saint Etienne served up a celebration of pop music
on their modern classic ‘Words and Music’ - an album that,
10 years later, holds up as one of their very best!

S
aint Etienne returned to the band. It brought the group together with Turnpike House’.
UK Top 40 for the first time in superproducer Richard X, who grew up Band member Pete Wiggs says:
over a decade in 2012 with their a massive fan of the trio. “When we did ‘Tales From Turnpike
eighth studio album ‘Words “Saint Etienne are another band I grew House’, that was centring around
and Music’. up loving and then ended up working imaginary characters in a block of flats.
The project - the band’s first to be with quite a lot,” he beams. “They were a When you can picture that, you can start
released via Heavenly Recordings big influence on me. And actually, their writing lyrics and music.
- saw the group reunite with sensibility of pop, and how it intersected “Sometimes we write personal songs,
longtime associate Ian Catt, plus pop within indie and dance, is probably the but we sort of cover it up by making a
heavyweights Richard X and former closest to what I do. Quite referential, a story about someone else.”
Xenomania members Tim Powell and bit magpie-like.” This time around, however, they
Nick Coler, on a selection of tracks While Richard made a name for hone in on certain references, fleshing
“about believing in music [and] living himself with his bootleg mash-ups out songs like the semi-spoken opener
your life by its rules”. of classic hit records, Saint Etienne Over The Border with nods to Peter
“It is about how music affects your began their career exploring samples Gabriel, Genesis, New Order, Marc
life,” said the group ahead of its release. in a very different way, showcasing Bolan, Smash Hits, the NME, and
“How it defines the way you see the their love of 1960s pop, with tracks also Factory Records, among various other
world as a child, how it can get you bridged by samples from films or by cultural institutions. Meanwhile, another
through bad times in unexpected short songs, on their debut studio track, Popular, namechecks several UK
ways, and how songs you’ve known all record ‘Foxbase Alpha’. chart-topping singles, including Slade’s
your life can suddenly develop a new Although it became a characteristic Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me and The KLF’s 3
attachment, and hurt every time you of their work throughout the following a.m. Eternal.
hear them.” decades, the referential quality of ‘Words Intrinsic to the set is a sense of
The record was preceded by the and Music’ comes more from its lyrics nostalgia and longing for the past -
single Tonight; a storming anthem that than the instrumentals themselves, something Saint Etienne have explored
captures the excitement of preparing serving as a natural progression from so well over their career - not only
for and attending a gig from a favourite their previous release ‘Tales From through their lyrics, but subtle nods to

24 RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM
 RETROSPECTIVE | Saint Etienne

Saint Etienne (l-r):

Pete Wiggs, Bob Stanley,
Sarah Cracknell

their own ‘90s pop masterpieces, progression for Saint Etienne’s long- different people in different genres and
such as Like a Motorway and He’s on running study of popular music; we’re sometimes worried that it doesn’t
the Phone. whereas their 2012 LP is largely about sound like it’s Saint Etienne anymore,”
“They were just in a mood to make how music makes you feel in the he laughs. “But there’s something that
that sort of record again,” says Richard. moment, its successor deals with the always seems to make the songs sound
“Something with big, brash singles and memories it evokes of a time gone by. like Saint Etienne.
things that the radio would play. And it “The whole slowing down process felt “Obviously, there’s Sarah’s voice.
was great to be involved with that.” like a sort of forensic investigation, like Otherwise, I don’t know why…
While sonically worlds apart, ‘Words using a microscope and really going We have a shared aesthetic, which
and Music’ is conceptually similar to into the essence of the song,” muses I think probably cuts through, and
Saint Etienne’s 2021 album ‘I’ve Been Pete. “Extracting something beautiful we know not to go in certain ways
Trying To Tell You’; their first Top 20 from somebody else’s works and not not sometimes. Although we might be
record in almost 30 years and a treating it with disrespect. And there’s veering towards it.
sample-led project that dissects songs loads of great bits.” “There’s always some interesting
PHOTO ELAINE CONSTANTINE

from 1997-2001. On the album, the It leads to a question as to just what chord progressions and things that
group use stems from songs such as the Saint Etienne sound really is - even make you extract emotion; key changes
Beauty on the Fire by Natalie Imbruglia on ‘Words & Music’, they cover synth- and things like that. Melancholy is a big
and Joy by the Lightning Seeds, for an pop, dance and house, with nods to thing. But it can be fun and melancholy
exploration of “memory, how it works, baroque pop, R&B and techno, with at the same time, hopefully.”
how it tricks you and creates a dream- ease. But according to Pete, the secret
like state.” comes from within himself, Bob Stanley l Saint Etienne’s latest album ‘I’ve
Although notably slower in pace and Sarah Cracknell. Been Trying To Tell You’ is out now
than “Words and Music’, it’s a natural “It’s funny because we’ve worked with on Heavenly.

RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM 25
JUS T
THE
WA Y
IT IS
26 RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM
 INTERVIEW | Bruce Hornsby

Celebrating the release of ‘‘Flicted’ - his third album in four

years - Bruce Hornsby looks back on his life on music and
reveals why he finds his early recordings “unlistenable”
WORDS CONNOR GOTTO

“W
hen you grow up in a very small The follow-up to his acclaimed albums ‘Absolute
town like Williamsburg, Virginia with Zero’ (2019) and ‘Non-Secure Connection’ (2020)
nothing to do, you end up going to see features a number of collaborations, including Ezra
the Colonial Williamsburg orientation Koenig of Vampire Weekend on the single Sidelines.
film, called ‘The Story of a Patriot’,” laughs Bruce Bruce explains: “As you can see on the last three
Hornsby, looking back on his childhood. records, I’ve been working with all these younger
Son of Robert, an attorney and real estate developer, musicians, and it started off like this…
and Lois, a church community liaison, the singer, “About 2013, I started getting all these Google alerts
songwriter and multi-instrumentalist was raised in the about this guy, Justin Vernon, who was shouting my
church of Christian Science and an active member of name and giving me credit for being an inspiration
the James Blair High School basketball team. to him when he was coming along. Justin Vernon
“In high school, I was the only white guy of the band Bon Iver,” he shares, admitting it
on the basketball team, so that was a beautiful sparked one of the “four deep collaborations” of
experience for me,” he adds. “Most of those guys, his career. “So I investigated and went, ‘Wow,
if they’re still alive, are still my this guy is fantastic.’ The music
hanging pals here in town. We’re is often transcendent and just
just great friends.”
MOST PEOPLE gorgeous and beautiful. Then
It’s from spending his I KNOW WHO HAVE he reached out to me a couple
formative years in such a diverse of years later, in 2015, asking me
environment - his high school BEEN DOING THIS to do a duet with him for this
was “virtually 50/50” white to FOR A LONG TIME Grateful Dead tribute record.”
Black students, he says - that Bruce, of course, has a history
broadened his horizons and, MINE THE SAME with the Grateful Dead, and so
decades later, influenced the STYLISTIC AREA FOR graciously accepted the offer,
title of his latest studio record, and he and Justin went on to
‘‘Flicted’. THE MOST PART. work together on a number of
recordings, including Cast-Off
LIFE IMITATES ART THAT’S WHAT MY from his 2019 LP. “I say that
“When you’re a white guy FANS WANT. THAT’S Justin opened this door for me
moving into this other world, you in my later life and I walked
learn a lot of interesting, funny
WHY I GET NASTY through to find there were a
phrases,” he recalls. “The classic LETTERS. whole lot more people in this
shot that you take in basketball room who felt the same way as
is elbows in, straight up, follow Justin did about me,” he admits,
through straight. But when including Ezra and Danielle
you’ve got somebody out there who’s Haim, who also appears on the ‘‘Flicted’ album
throwing up some raggedy ass stuff, my cut Days Ahead.
teammates would go, ‘Oh, man, that dude’s got a
‘flicted shot.’ As in afflicted. NICKS FIX
“It seemed appropriate because this record was born Bruce’s involvement in the careers of younger artists is
in March, 2020 - when the world shut down - and so not too dissimilar to another of his past collaborators,
I wrote some songs that referenced this time, fairly Stevie Nicks, with whom he dueted on the 1989 single
obliquely in some cases and fairly literally in other Two Kinds Of Love. The Fleetwood Mac frontwoman
cases. So this was my COVID record, I guess you could has also worked with Daniele’s band Haim, along with
say, and so ‘‘Flicted’ just seemed perfect, because the Harry Styles, Miley Cyrus, Lana Del Rey and others.
world was ‘flicted.” Calling her a “goddess of the Gen X,” the star - who

RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM 27
 released his US chart-topper The Way It Is shortly prior
to the collaboration, admits to being blown away by the
pair’s studio session.
“Stevie just reached out to me. I’ve been collaborating
so much for virtually my whole career and I got a call
from the Stevie Nicks people saying she’d like you to
come to play on the record, but most importantly, sing
a duet with her,” he recalls. “It was an instant, ‘Yes!’ I
always loved her, with Fleetwood Mac and her solo
records - maybe especially the solo records. Stand Back
is just fantastic. And Landslide - such classic songs...
“So, I go to the studio and people might not realise
this - she has one of the most powerful voices. I’m
singing on a mic just about as close to me as I am
to you, maybe six inches from the mic. Stevie starts
singing and her producer at the time, Rupert Hine,
said, ‘Oh, Stevie, can you move back a little bit?’ Next
time we try, ‘Stevie, back a little more…’
“She ended up about 12 feet from the microphone
and still sounded like she was right on it. That was one
of those mind blowing moments where you just go,
‘Wow, what a gift she has vocally.’ So that’s the aspect of
that session that most stands out for obvious reasons. It
was quite amazing.”
The pair reconnected over the years occasionally,
but decades later when Bruce’s friend Eileen was
diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), she
invited them down to her local concert and gave her a
night to remember.
“I had a young friend from school who got ALS and
she was, of course, dealing with that horror,” he shares.
“So I said, ‘Look, if someone comes that you’d like to
see, give me a call, and maybe I could help you.’
“About a year and a half later, Stevie Nicks was
coming to town, so she called me and said, ‘Hey, how
about this one,’ and I said, ‘Well, I think I can help you
here.’ So, I called Stevie and talked to her about this
and she was so, so great. We went backstage - my
wife Kathy, Eileen and I - and Stevie gave Eileen this
necklace and spent so much time with her. We got the
greatest picture of the two of them; it’s just beautiful.
“I get chills thinking about it. So that’s who Stevie
Nicks is, man, and for that experience alone, I’m so glad
she asked me to sing that song with her.” you through any sort of adjustment period you have
with whatever keyboard player you hire.’ It ended up
PEOPLE AND PLACES being Vince Welnick from the Tubes, who was a very
Throughout his career, Bruce has worked with a broad good musician - but he didn’t know the music like I
array of collaborators, some of whom have been there knew it.
right from the start. His involvement with the Grateful “So I ended up playing with him for about 19/20
Dead began when the group asked him to open two months,” he says, revealing that prior to Vince’s passing
shows in Monterey, California in the spring of 1987, in 2006, the band would “fly me to a place to play with
after which he continued to open concerts through them just to pick him up, because they thought that
to 1990 and, following the tragic death of keyboardist would give him a boost.”
Brent Mydland, joined the band as a touring member Alongside Justin and Ricky Skaggs - with whom
from September 1990 to March 1992, playing over 100 he released ‘Ricky Skaggs and Bruce Hornsby’ (2007)
shows during that period. and the live ‘Cluck Ol’ Hen’ (2013) - Bruce’s final “deep”
Looking back, he considers his involvement with musical bond is his long-running collaboration with
the Dead one of his most important collaborations - Spike Lee, which remains one of his best-known and
despite never becoming a full-time member of the most acclaimed working relationships. A significant
group. “They asked me to join the band, but I said, one for the hitmaker, their collaboration began in the
‘Look, if you’d caught me five years ago, before I got my early 1990s, when jazz musician Branford Marsalis
own thing going, I’d have said, ‘Of course’, but I’ll help hooked the pair up over dinner.

28 RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM
 INTERVIEW | Bruce Hornsby

documentary - ‘Red Hook Summer’ (2012) and ‘Da

THIS IS MY T Sweet Blood of Jesus’ (2015), among others.
HIRD The sheer volume of work led to Bruce producing
RECORD IN
FOUR “about 240 different pieces of music” - half of which
YEARS AND went unused, until he started his recent trio of releases.
, MOST “I had amassed all this content, all these compositions,
LIKELY NEXT
YEAR, IT and some of them really sounded like they needed to
WILL BE MY be expanded into some proper songs,” he explains.
FOURTH “So I started doing that and that led me to these last
RELEASE IN three records.”
FIVE
YEARS , BEC
AUSE FOR FULL CIRCLE
THE PAST YE Having spent more than 35 years in the spotlight,
AR I’VE Bruce is determined to continue pushing the
BEEN MAKIN
G TWO boundaries when it comes to his musical style and,
RECORDS A reflecting on his earliest recordings, he consesses he’s
T ONCE. “not much of a fan of that guy’s singing”.
“I find it unlistenable, to be honest,” he readily admits.
“If you listen to ‘‘Flicted’, you’ll see that it’s so different.
It’s so much more expressive and sounds like a
different person. It’s been a gradual progression - that’s
what I’m interested in.”
His creative outlook has proven contentious with
fans who, Bruce says, ignore his newer recordings in
favour of his earlier output. “Most people I know who,
like me, have been doing this for a long time. They kind
of mine the same stylistic area for the most part. Every
now and then, they’ll make a little foray into something
different, but generally they’re mining the same
stylistic area, and that’s what their fans want.
“That’s what my fans want. That’s why I get nasty
letters - from my second record on until today - but
it’s a prison, creatively, to feel like you have to placate
that person who just wants to stand still for their whole
life. That’s why I do it and that’s why I’m still engaged,
because I feel like I do it for the right reasons. I’m trying
to please myself and push myself.”
His message to those opposed to his recent work:
“I want to tell them, ‘Well, then please just don’t listen!’
You know, ‘Just go away. Why do try to limit me in
this way?’”
One thing’s for sure: he has no plans to stop working
just yet. “This is my third record in four years and, most
“Our creative relationship started off when I asked likely next year, it will be my fourth release in five years,
him to direct a video for me, for a song about the first because for the past year I’ve been making two records
interracial love affair in my small Southern town and all at once: the ‘‘Flicted’ record and also a record with the
the consternation that it caused within the white power New York Chamber Ensemble,” he reveals.
structure. So we made that, had a great time doing that, “We’re making a whole record together and I’m very
and a couple of years later, he asked me to contribute excited about it. It’s very different, but I think that it’s
an end title song to his great movie ‘Clockers’ from ‘95. arresting. I think it’s pretty unique,” he says. “And then
“I happened to be writing a song with Chaka Khan after that, to be honest with you, I might take a bit of a
at the time. She called me, she wanted to write with break, because I’ve been grinding really hard. So my
me, so she flew down to Virginia and we wrote Love feeling now is, I can’t wait for 2024, when I will maybe
Me Still,” he recalls of the track, which also appeared on back off for just a little bit and recharge.”
PHOTOS TRISTAN WILLIAMS

her compilation release ‘Epiphany’. “She’s one of those However, in the next breath he adds: “I say that -
phonebook singers, you know. She could sing the probably some crazy request will come through and,
phone book and give you chills.” if that comes in and if it’s making me excited, then
He went on to contribute the title music to I’m gonna say, ‘OK, I’ll put off the break for a little
‘Bamboozled’ (2000), alongside compositions for ‘If longer…’”
God is Willin’ and the Creek Don’t Rise’ (2010), ‘Old Boy’
(2013) and ‘Chiraq’ (2015), along with full film scores l ‘‘Flicted’ is out now on Zappo Productions/
for ‘Kobe Doin’ Work’ - Spike’s 2009 ESPN Kobe Bryant Thirty Tigers.

RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM 29
 INY
M IN
S K
Celebrating 25 years of one of Britain’s
most revolutionary groups, Skin looks back
on two decades of success and reveals
what’s to come from the all-new Skunk
Anansie 3.0!
WORDS CONNOR GOTTO

S
kunk Anansie frontwoman Skin has carved out
a career as one of Britain’s premier musicians.
Having found fame as the pioneering vocalist
of the group and soundtracking a generation
with her unique brand of hard-hitting, politically charged
rock and roll, the star - real name Deborah Anne Dyer -
remains an figurehead of the UK music scene.
But she’s far more than just a performer; having
trained as an interior designer, launched a solo
career and positioned herself as both a fashion icon
and political and social activist, Skin’s impact and
continuing legacy extends beyond record sales and
chart placements.
This summer, as part of the band’s 25th anniversary
celebrations, she’ll take to the stage at London’s Royal
Festival Hall as part of Grace Jones’ Meltdown festival,
having been personally invited to appear on the line-up
by the legend herself - an offer she could, and would,
never turn down…

HEADING FOR A MELTDOWN

“Grace wrote us a letter,” recalls Skin, “and the crux of the
letter is, ‘You’d better fucking do this gig’. In her Grace
Jones style. And it was a really sweet letter, it made us
laugh. It was more like a command than an ask.”
The 27th edition of the artist-curated music festival

30 RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM
 COVER FEATURE | Skunk Anansie

I REMEMBER GOING INTO A PUB IN

CAMDEN AND PEOPLE WERE TRYING
TO BUY ME DRINKS. I WAS LIKE,
‘REALLY, WHY?’ AND THEN I REALISED
IT WAS BECAUSE I WAS FAMOUS.

RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM 31
COVER FEATURE | Skunk Anansie

features an international line-up of performers

from across the globe, such as Blancmange,
Greentea Peng, Honey Dijon, Hot Chip, John Grant,
Meshell Ndegeocello and Peaches. Skunk Anansie’s
involvement has been on the cards since 2019, when
work on the festival began, and after three years of
delays Meltdown will finally return on June 10.
For Skin, it’s an opportunity to reconnect with Grace,
who’s been a friend “for a long time”. “I first saw her in
the ‘90s, in a nightclub in New York,” she recalls, “and
it was interesting, because for many years, people had
been saying to me, ‘You remind me of Grace Jones’.
Every review compared me to Grace Jones.
“It wasn’t an insult, of course, it was an honour to
be compared to Grace Jones. But I thought, we’re
so different musically and in every such way, that it
was just a bit of lazy journalism. But, when I saw her
in New York, I kind of got why. I was like, ‘OK, I see
the similarity’. And it’s just because we really go for it
on stage and we have attitude; that, for me, was the
common running thing that we both have. So I could
see the comparison - but that’s it, I think that we have
two completely different styles.
“It’s just lazy journalism,” she shrugs. “A lot of lazy
journalists go, ‘Oh yeah, there’s another Black woman
who’s a bit fiery on stage’. You get tarred with the
same brush all Black women get: if you’re not sexy,
you’re aggressive.”
As a young Jamaican girl, born and raised in
Brixton, south London, however, watching Grace
Jones’ success inspired Skin to follow her passion for
music. “When you talk about Jamaicans that I grew up
with, there was Bob Marley, Grace Jones, Peter Tosh,
Gregory Isaacs,” she reflects, “and Grace Jones was the
one that was doing a bit of the reggae thing - with Sly &
Robbie, of course - but she was the one that also linked
up fashion and style and all those other things.
“Grace Jones went to America and was right in the IT FEELS LIKE SKUNK ANANSIE 3.0.
middle of that scene that was happening, you know, WE’RE LITERALLY CHANGING
The Factory and Andy Warhol. She was involved in
Studio 54. If you think about influence in terms of EVERYTHING. WE’RE REALLY
major artists, she’s up there with Mick Jagger and
David Bowie - but she doesn’t get the same respect.
LOOKING AT EVERYTHING THAT
If you think about what she does… she’s even been WE’RE DOING AND WORKING OUT
a Bond girl! So for me growing up, of course I loved
Grace Jones’ music, she was just one of those
WHAT WE WANT TO DO AND WHAT
inspirations and icons.” WE DON’T WANT TO DO.
During her early years, Skin lived close by her
Grandfather who ran a shebeen - an unlicensed club
- frequented by stars such as Marley and Tosh, and a
young Cassius Clay, before he was Muhammad Ali.
The vibe was reggae and, although Skin is a fan, when
it came to her own music she endeavoured to push
boundaries and experiment with different styles.
“I didn’t want to sing reggae because I was from a
Black Jamaican family,” she insists. “You don’t want to
do what’s already big or is already huge. And I didn’t
want to be Grace Jones, because there already was a

32 RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM
Grace Jones. She was an inspiration and something to
aspire to, but I didn’t want to be her.”
However, the inspiration hit: “What I like about her
is that she just did her own thing. But she was also
from that kind of clique of people, where people were
really doing something different and trying to achieve
something different - not do what the mainstream told
them to do.”

CAPTURING FAME
Skunk Anansie formed in 1994, with guitarist Martin
‘Ace’ Kent, bassist Richard ‘Cass’ Lewis, and Robbie
France on drums, and made waves with a pair of
statement singles. After debuting with anti-fascist
anthem Little Baby Swastikkka, they unleashed Selling
Jesus; a protest of religion and politics, which featured
on the soundtrack to the movie ‘Strange Days’ and saw
the group land their first chart entry at No. 46.
It was the breakthrough they needed and, over
the course of their first album campaign - their only
collection to feature France, before Mark Richardson

RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM 33
 IN TERMS OF MAJOR
ARTISTS, GRACE
JONES IS UP THERE
WITH MICK JAGGER
AND DAVID BOWIE -
BUT SHE DOESN’T GET
THE SAME RESPECT!

34 RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM
 COVER FEATURE | Skunk Anansie

took over - saw them earn Top 20 hits with Weak and
Charity. But no one was more surprised than the group
themselves: “We weren’t really going after true success
and being a pop band if I’m really honest,” says Skin.
“We were just happy when we got signed.
“It’s kind of like, once we’d had a little success… you
climb a hill and you see a mountain, and then you
climb that mountain and you see Everest. So the bigger A GLOBAL STAGE
you get, the more you realise that there’s more to By the time they returned home, everybody knew who
achieve. So for us, it was a very gradual thing.” Skunk Anansie was, and for Skin the notoriety was
From the outside, Skunk Anansie’s rise to the top proof enough for her parents to back her music career.
seemed unstoppable: having released three albums Prior to her success as a singer, she graduated with
in five years - ‘Paranoid and Sunburnt’ (1995), ‘Stoosh’ a BA (Hons) degree in Interior Architecture & Design
(1996), ‘Post Orgasmic Chill’ (1999) - the group scored from Teesside Polytechnic in 1989, but when it came
a string of Top 40 hits, collaborated with major names to her career change, Skin kept her parents in the dark,
from Björk to Pavarotti, and spent their life on the road, insisting “you can tell people what you want to do, but
opening for artists such as Lenny Kravitz, David Bowie, until you actually do it and are achieving something,
Aerosmith and U2. it’s kind of irrelevant.”
“We would have just been successful in England Once the band had appeared on ‘Top of the Pops’,
and then we started touring all these other countries however - a show the family tuned into religiously on
and being successful in other countries,” admits Skin. Thursday evenings - her mother was totally on board.
“There was always more to do and more success to “That’s when my mum stopped bitching about it,”
be had.” she laughs. “That’s when my mum was like, ‘OK, OK,
Life on the road may have propelled Skunk Anansie that’s OK, you can continue that’. Because I’d been a
to global superstardom, but the extent of their fame successful designer and I’d worked and studied interior
remained a mystery within the group, with Skin architecture and I’d got my degree and I was working
admitting it wasn’t until 1998 that they realised how for a firm and earning lots of money. And I literally left
much their life had changed. one day, lived on baked beans for three years, and my
“It hit us at a very different time. In the ‘90s, there was mum just didn’t understand it.”
no social media and there were no computers. I got Skin remembers that, “whenever we saw Black artists
my first computer in 1999,” she muses. “It’s kind of like: on ‘Top of the Pops’, it was like, ‘Wow!’,” and in 1999 she
you do a gig, everyone goes crazy, then at two o’clock went on to make history as the first Black female artist
in the morning you’re off to the next town. So all the to headline the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury.
buzz and all the newspaper articles - you don’t see any It’s a milestone moment in music history and one
of it. Because you’re in the next town, where you’ve she’s keen to set straight. “I can claim being the first
got to convince everybody again. So for us in the ‘90s, Black woman,” insists Skin. “I’ll tell you what, it wasn’t
success was always behind us because we were always fucking Beyoncé!”
on the move.” The former Destiny’s Child star “irritated” Skin by
It’s no exaggeration; according to Skin, the band claiming her headline slot was the first for a Black
toured for nine months in 1996, and only paused two female performer and attracting mass media attention;
years later - between the ‘Stoosh’ and ‘Post Orgasmic a far cry from the climate in 1999 when, she says,
Chill’ records, when they switched record labels - and nobody spoke about its significance.
were able to comprehend their success. “Now, when you do something and you’re the first
“We went back to London and it was like, ‘Oh, I’m Black person to do it, it’s expected that everybody talks
getting recognised in the street’,” she laughs, revealing about it and you shout it from the top of the hill. You
that it took up until that point for the band to receive make as much noise about it as possible,” she explains.
any kind of remuneration for their work. “In those “But in those days, the racism was that, ‘You’re just
days, PRS would take four years to catch up and give like every other band and we’re just gonna treat you
you your money. So we weren’t rich; we were earning like the other band’. But then they don’t treat you like
money, but we weren’t seeing any of it. every other band, because every other band gets the TV
“It wasn’t until we stopped touring and went back shows and radio and stuff.”
home, and I remember going into a pub in Camden The situation varied globally. “In America, the
and people were trying to buy me drinks. I was like, racism is just out there. They’re like, ‘Well, we don’t like
‘Really, why?’ And then I realised it was because I bands with a Black lead singer.’ They said that to us in
was famous.” America. In England, they did this whole thing like,
‘Oh, we just don’t like her voice,’ or, ‘Oh, we just don’t
like the single’. They won’t actually come out and say,
‘We don’t like Black people playing rock music.’ They’ll
just pretend that there are other reasons and it’s not
their problem. That’s the British way.”

RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM 35
COVER FEATURE | Skunk Anansie

Looking back on the band’s career and stellar run

of hit singles - Weak, Hedonism, Charity, Brazen, All
I Want etc. - the music stands the test of time, but
looking back on that period, it’s often characterised
by Britpop and the Oasis Vs Blur saga. “That’s what the
industry at the time was trying to project,” insists Skin. the thing I found really annoying was, when you’re a
“You know what racism looks like? Racism looks like solo artist, you’re at the top of the tree. When you’re a
what the fascists are trying to do now, trying to pretend band, you’re kind of like a little clique. But when you’re a
that Auschwitz didn’t happen, that there was no ethnic solo artist, it’s just you, and I really understood why solo
cleansing. And what I mean is that, if you don’t talk artists could just have crazy egos - because everybody
about something and make it become invisible then it just gives you what you want and tells you you’re
almost doesn’t exist. amazing all the time.
“It wasn’t just Skunk Anansie that was selling millions “I just found it really hard to get a true opinion out
of records; so was Goldie, so were the Black R&B of people. When I was like, ‘What do you think of this?’
singers and the Black girl bands. There was a whole And they’re like, ‘Oh, it’s amazing.’ I’m like, ‘It’s not
R&B scene, drum and bass was starting, there was also amazing, it’s a work in progress, but I need to work out
Bristol and all the music that was coming out of there. how to make it better, because I know it’s not there
And in terms of influence, I would say that drum and yet.’ And no one tells you the truth, because everybody
bass is the most influential music that has come out of wants to keep their jobs.”
Britain since the ‘90s, because you see that now in what In 2009, Skunk Anansie reunited and released their
Stormzy’s doing and what Dave’s doing. You see that in compilation album ‘Smashes and Trashes’, followed
dubstep, you see that influence in London Grammar, by their fourth LP ‘Wonderlustre’ (2010), with Skin
you see that influence in Björk. You see that influence acknowledging the reunion came at the right time.
in so much music now. “When the band came back together, it was Cass who
“Whereas Britpop kind of raised its head and died in was hassling everybody, calling everyone up going,
the ‘90s and no one’s ever really tried to do that again. I ‘Look, let’s just go into rehearsal. Let’s do something’,”
think that it’s just a kind of erasure; like that’s what the she recalls.
journalists want to talk about, and you try and erase “I’m a band person. I love to collaborate. And I think
things by just not talking about them. The amount of a solo artist really needs to be much more narcissistic,
people that had no idea that we headlined Glastonbury, or they’re just not going to get there. And I don’t mean
because nobody talks about it… Until I started shouting that in an awful way. But they just really need to think
about it, that moment was ignored.” about themselves all the time, or they’re just not going
Despite the walls the band came up against, Skunk to happen…”
Anansie have continued to push forward and, for Skin, In the years that followed, Skunk Anansie released
her approach is simple. “It’s just not my problem,” she their fifth and sixth albums - ‘Black Traffic’ (2012) and
says. “It’s not our job to make radio stations play our ‘Anarchytecture’ (2016) - and after a period of downtime
music and try to convince people not to be racist or are back on the road celebrating their latest milestone.
convince people that we’re a great band and we’re “We’ve been managing ourselves since last
worthy. It’s not our job. November, so for us, it feels like Skunk Anansie 3.0,”
“Our job is to write and record and play music and to Skin beams. “We’re just changing everything. We’re
tour. And we change minds with our music.” literally changing everything, and this tour has been
quite different than all the other tours - from my outfits,
STARTING OVER to social media - we’re just really looking at everything
In 2001, Skunk Anansie split and Skin embarked on that we’re doing and working out what we want to do,
a solo career, releasing two albums - ‘Fleshwounds’ what we don’t want to do, and managing ourselves.”
(2003) and ‘Fake Chemical State’ (2006) - marking When the tour comes to an end, there are plans to
her first musical projects away from the group. Her release a new album. “We’re working on a new single
debut single Trashed peaked in the UK Top 40, but and exciting stuff around that. We’ve just been releasing
PHOTOS INDIA FLEMING, MARCO OVANDO

subsequent releases fared not so well and, looking back singles as a little bit of a test, but I think we really do
on the venture, she admits it was “so much more work” want to do an album.
than she envisioned. “We’ve written a bunch of songs, but we’re not… we
“I had to retrain a band from the start. I had to pay for wrote them during Covid, and we want to actually look
everything, provide all the instruments and the amps, at them again and be in the same room with each other
and it was just so much more work,” she confesses. “But for a couple of weeks and write some songs that way.
Because that’s where we write the best material, to be
quite honest.
“And then we’ll think about an album…”

l Grace Jones’ Meltdown Festival runs from 10

- 19 June at London’s Southbank Centre. Skunk
Anansie play the Royal Festival Hall on June 17.

36 RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM
THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT HAD NO
IDEA THAT WE HEADLINED GLASTONBURY,
BECAUSE NOBODY TALKS ABOUT IT…
UNTIL I STARTED SHOUTING ABOUT IT!

RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM 37
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INTERVIEW | Todrick Hall

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With his latest album ‘Algorhythm’
rooted firmly in the ‘80s, Todrick Hall
shares his love of the classic decade
and the influence behind his powerful
new sound
H
REGULAR
WORDS FABIO MAGNOCAVALLO

T
odrick Hall has enjoyed a phenomenal
career in entertainment.
In addition to releasing six studio albums,
he’s performed on Broadway, served as a
judge on multiple talent shows, acted in a number of
TV series, and grown a YouTube following of more
than 3.6 million subscribers.

REVIEWS
More than a decade after first showcasing his talent
to the world, he’s back with ‘Algorhythm’, a brand new
LP that showcases his love of the 1980s and the iconic
sounds of that era.
It comes off the back of his appearance as Bull on
the US edition of ‘The Masked Singer’, which drew
attention to his powerhouse vocals and led to the latest
chapter in his recording journey.

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RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM 67

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RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM 39
 FINDING
FREEDOM
As George Michael’s solo career reaches its 35th
anniversary, a new film ‘George Michael: Freedom Uncut’
explores his legacy via his own narration and those closest
to him - and ahead of the one-day-only cinema event,
biographer James Gavin offers an insight into the life and
struggles of the late superstar.
WORDS CONNOR GOTTO

G
eorge Michael’s story is one of of his mother in 1997.
stratospheric highs and devastating lows. It’s also a celebration of his outstanding contribution
Having found fame as one-half of to music, delving deep into his transition to global
legendary 1980s pop duo Wham!, he went superstar over the course of his original solo album
on to launch a chart-topping solo career with debut series, and his influence on the cultural landscape
LP ‘Faith’ (1987), but as the decade came to a close, his during that time.
success on the global stage started to dwindle and he On June 22, ‘George Michael: Freedom Uncut’
entered into a turbulent period of heartbreak and legal will debut as a global cinema event, co-produced by
woes that fuelled the tabloids and cast a shadow on his his longtime friend and frequent collaborator David
musical output. Austin, ahead of which James Gavin, biographer and
In his later years, he began work on ‘George Michael: author of ‘George Michael: A Life’, offers an insight into
Freedom’; a documentary film narrated by the singer, the late superstar’s storied career.
offering an unprecedented look into his life during
the turbulent period after his breakthrough, leading MAKE IT BIG
up to, during and after the making of ‘Listen Without “Everything about George and the way things turn
Prejudice: Vol 1’ (1990). It explores George’s life in out for him can be found in his childhood - I’d say
the spotlight, as he navigates solo success following that’s true for most of us,” explains James. “But the
the end of the duo, alongside his personal trauma way George was raised - his relationship with his
of meeting his first real love, Anselmo Feleppa, who father, more than anything else - almost determines
tragically died from an AIDS related brain haemorrhage everything else that would happen for him.”
in 1993 - years before George himself spoke openly and Born in East Finchley, London, Georgios Kyriacos
publicly about his sexuality - and the devastating loss Panayiotou was the son of Kyriacos ‘Jack’ Panayiotou,

40 RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM
 FEATURE | George Michael

Whenever you mention the

name George Michael to anybody,
they smile, and the mention of
his name brings clearly a rush of
good feelings in people.

RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM 41
FEATURE | George Michael

a Greek Cypriot restaurateur who emigrated to England Released in 1983, the album topped the UK charts
in the 1950s, and Lesley Angold. The youngest of three and produced four Top 10 singles, including Young
children and the couple’s only boy, George - who Guns (Go for It), Wham Rap! (Enjoy What You Do),
legally changed his name while on the cusp of his Bad Boys and Club Tropicana. Wham! were a runaway
fame - spoke openly about his early years over the hit in their home country and follow-up ‘Make It Big’
years, claiming he was “never praised, never held” and saw them dominate the charts
admitting he “never got over” some of the encounters internationally, hitting No. 1 in
he had with his father. the US and spawning three chart-
He was, for a
From an early age, however, his passion for music topping singles on both sides of
was evident and, after the family relocated to Radlett, while there in the the Atlantic.
near Watford in Hertfordshire, he met future musical In the spring of 1986, Wham!
partner Andrew Ridgeley at Bushey Meads School,
late ‘80s, on top announced they were parting
where it soon became clear that their career ambitions of the world - all company following the release of
aligned. But their friendship was unlikely; his good their farewell single The Edge of
looks and well-known talent resulted in Andrew his dreams had Heaven and its parent album, ‘The
becoming a firm favourite of both his teachers and come true. He Final’, which featured a compilation
peers at school, whereas curly-haired George, who of their biggest hits and select new
arrived during the second year of high school, was had made it all recordings. Before separating,
something of an outsider. That didn’t stop Andrew happen himself, George and Andrew performed a
taking the newcomer under his wing, however, and farewell concert to 72,000 fans at
the two soon became close, forming ska band The and it left him London’s Wembley Stadium on
Executive during their teenage years, along with June 28, 1986, celebrating their huge
Andrew’s brother Paul, Andrew Leaver, Jamie Gould,
miserable. success and enduring legacy, which
and David Mortimer - later known as David Austin. saw Wham! sell over 28 million
Aged 18, George and Andrew formed Wham! records and 15 million singles during the course of
and attracted the attention of Innervision Records five years.
executive Mark Dean, who took a punt on the duo and “He said, and I believe it’s true, that the Wham! period
sent them into the studio to work on tracks for their was the happiest he ever was,” comments James.
debut LP ‘Fantastic’. “Although he was dead set on becoming a superstar, it

42 RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM
was still kind of fun for George at that time; the stakes the world - all his dreams had come true. He had made
were not so high. He was still managing to have fun it all happen himself, and it left him miserable.”
making music and the burden of hiding was not so The experience affected him both personally and
heavy on him.” professionally and, when it came
to working on follow-up ‘Listen
FAITH Everything Without Prejudice Vol. 1’, he refused
Following the demise of the duo, George spent much to promote the LP, appearing in
of 1987 writing, recording and perfecting his solo about George none of the music videos made
debut ‘Faith’. Released in the final quarter of the year, for any of its singles. It was at that
the LP topped the charts in both the UK and the US,
and the way point in his career, James suggests,
going on to win the Grammy for Album of the Year. It things turn out that George began to experience
was, by all accounts a triumph, with the pop superstar writer’s block which plagued him
ensuring the latest chapter in his legacy didn’t go for him can be going forward.
unnoticed thanks to lead track I Want Your Sex, which found in his “Songwriting was so easy to him
was restricted to post-watershed hours by the BBC due when he was young, but it became
to apparent concerns that it may promote promiscuity childhood. The so hard for him as early as the
and hinder AIDS awareness campaigns. ‘Listen Without Prejudice’ album,” he
Regardless, it was a Top 3 hit in the UK and the
way George was explains. “And then it just got harder
US, and George headed out on a world tour, which raised almost and harder for him as time went on.”
cemented his status as a pop superstar, but left Despite his reluctance to publicise
him feeling exhausted and experiencing periods
determines the record, it outsold ‘Faith’ in the
of depression. everything UK - although global sales didn’t
“He’d spent the first half of his life creating the match up with its predecessor - and
George Michael character and the second half of his else that would George headed out on another
life destroying the George Michael character,” reflects happen for him. world tour, during which he met his
James. “And at that point in the story, when he is doing partner Anselmo in 1991. Although
massively successful stadium concerts for ‘Faith’, he’s he wouldn’t speak about his sexuality until years later,
absolutely miserable and would later describe that it seemed George had finally found happiness, but
‘Faith’ tour as one of the worst experiences of his life. the death of his lover just two years later resulted in
“He was, for a while there in the late ‘80s, on top of devastation and, amid a legal dispute with his record

RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM 43
44 RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM
 FEATURE | George Michael

company, Sony, plans for ‘Listen Without Prejudice set that explosion up subconsciously - because he
Vol. 2’ were shelved and the project never materialised. was so exhausted from hiding,” he muses. “He didn’t
At the time, he donated three songs to the charity have the courage to say, ‘I’m gay,’ and so he created
project ‘Red Hot + Dance’ - Do You Really Want to a set of circumstances that would force him to be
Know, Happy and Too Funky - for which a fourth, exposed. But then he also said that, if that incident had
Crazy Man, appeared on the B-side. The LP raised not happened, he probably would not have come out.”
funds for the Red Hot Organization’s AIDS awareness The incident meant George no longer had to live
campaign, and George also donated the royalties for in hiding from his sexuality, but it didn’t necessarily
the single to the cause. bring him closure. “Do I think he accepted himself
as a human being and that he was at peace with
OLDER himself? Never,” insists James. “Maybe fleetingly. But,
Following his heartbreak, George found a new musical you can simply trace the arc of his self-destruction
home at Virgin and returned to the studio in the mid- from the mid-’90s onward; the loss of Anselmo and
’90s to channel his emotions into his third solo LP, the the loss of his mother are more or less what sent him
poignant and noticeably darker ‘Older’. Recorded over spiralling downward.”
a period of three years, the project appeared to mark a
new beginning for the superstar, who ditched his long PATIENCE
hair and beard in favour of a new cropped hairstyle, In the years that followed, George continued to record,
and lyrics that directly referenced the loss of Anselmo releasing his first and only covers collection and
and his sexuality. the self-penned ‘Patience’ in 2004 - his final studio
Jesus to a Child, the album’s lead track, is a tribute album. He later embarked on a series of headlining
to his late partner, and it emerged following tours, including ‘25 Live’ (2006-2008) and
his passing that George had donated all of ‘Symphonica’ (2011-2012), but in his final years
the single’s royalties to the charity ChildLine. the music took a backseat.
Meanwhile another single, Spinning “For a while in his concerts, he had
The Wheel, is “an explicit song about been dropping the keys for things,”
the dangers of AIDS and the risk You can simply reflects James. “In the ‘Symphonica’
of cruising,” and one of his most trace the arc concert, one is aware - although he
cinematic lyrics. “It’s filled with sounds sounded lovely in ‘Symphonica’ - that
that are atmospheric. It has late night of his self- he lost the top of his voice. He had
sounds, it has danger in it,” says James. ingested a lot of smoke.” It was to be
“The sounds of him at the end rolling
destruction from his final major tour prior to his passing
up a joint in the studio, which is the mid-’90s on December 25, 2016, aged just 53.
literally what it was, and how evocative In spite of his relatively limited
that is of standing in Hampstead
onward; the loss output and the scandal that plagued
Heath, lighting a cigarette as a kind of of Anselmo and his career, George’s legacy is upheld in
flashlight on yourself, is fascinating. the UK and he remains one of Britain’s
There is no way that any gay man the loss of his best-selling music artists - but globally,
could have heard that song and not mother are more perceptions differ. In ‘Freedom Uncut’,
known exactly what it was about.” famous friends and collaborators -
By all accounts, ‘Older’ was a triumph or less what sent including Stevie Wonder, Elton John,
in the UK and Europe, with George him spiralling Nile Rodgers and Mary J. Blige, among
voted Best British Male at the BRIT others - celebrate his artistry, and
Awards and winning Songwriter of downward. for James it’s important to “remind
the Year for the third time at the Ivor people of what a truly fine, at his best,
Novello Awards. Just as his career seemed to songwriter he was, what a deeply honest singer
get back on track, however, tragedy struck he was, and what a great natural gift he had
once again and the death of his mother from for singing”.
cancer saw him spiral into further depression, “There’s a big difference between his perception
after which he was arrested in a Beverley Hills in the UK and the US, I would say - because the US
public toilet by an undercover police officer was more or less through with George Michael by
and charged with engaging in a lewd act. the mid ‘90s. After the arrest in Beverly Hills, he was
It forced him to speak openly about his a ‘disgraced fallen pop star’ - and in a way, he’s still
sexuality and go public with his relationship perceived that way. The scandals of his life from the
with Dallas based businessman Kenny Goss last 20 years have become somewhat indistinguishable
- something that, according to James, he from all the good stuff.”
suggested he may never have done willingly. However, he insists: “He made people feel good. He
“When he finally forced himself out of the could not make himself feel good. Which is so often
closet in 1998, he said on the one hand that the case with the great divas of pop and jazz, who were
he probably behaved that way - he probably on stage, serving as these oracles of romance. These

RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM 45
 It’s hard to watch
someone that
precious destroy
himself. Once
that started for
George, it was just
an unstoppable
freight train.

women who could empower millions of people and who couldn’t

do it for themselves. And I guess there’s some truth to that in George
Michael’s story.
“There’s no getting around the fact that it is a terribly sad story. It’s
hard to watch someone that precious destroy himself. Once that
started for George, it was just an unstoppable freight train. I don’t think
anybody or anything around him could have stopped him; such was
the ferocity and his drive for self-destruction at that point. So, what
PHOTOS COURTESY OF SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT

does that tell you about the way he felt about himself?”
In the film, George reflects on the “overwhelming hysteria” he
experienced from fans during the height of his success, admitting
it made him consider stepping away from the spotlight altogether.
Perhaps the biggest tragedy of all, then, is that, while all-consumed
by stardom, he wasn’t able to enjoy and appreciate just how loved he
truly was.
James concurs: “Whenever you mention the name George Michael
AND TRAFALGAR RELEASING

to anybody, they smile, and the mention of his name brings clearly a
rush of good feelings in people and it takes them back to a time when
they heard Freedom! ‘90, or they heard Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go
or some other meaningful song. Everybody - they all know him. And
he has happy associations for people. And it’s lovely to see that…”

l ‘George Michael: Freedom Uncut’ hits cinemas on June 22.

‘George Michael: A Life’ by James Gavin is released in the UK on
July 7.

46 RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM
FEATURE | George Michael

RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM 47
 F E E L I N ’
FOXY
In a previously unpublished 2017 interview,
‘80s icon Samantha Fox looks back over her career
as she celebrates the release of her epic compilation
‘Play It Again, Sam: The Fox Box’ - and teases her
first album in over a decade…
INTERVIEW DARREN SCOTT ADDITIONAL WORDS CONNOR GOTTO

S
amantha Fox is one of the most photographed
women of the ‘80s - and to music fans, the
former glamour model remains one of the era’s
most iconic performers.
Making her chart debut in 1986 with Touch Me (I Want
Your Body) - a Top 5 hit on both sides of the Atlantic - she
went on to score success with singles such as Do Ya Do
Ya (Wanna Please Me) and Naughty Girls (Need Love Too),
along with her Stock Aitken Waterman productions I Only
Wanna Be With You and Nothing’s Gonna Stop Me Now.
Looking back at her biggest successes from the past
four decades, the superstar delves deep into the creation
of her four-disc ‘Fox Box’ set and sets her sights on the
future, as she teases her seventh studio album.

48 RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM
FROM THE VAULT | Samantha Fox

RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM 49
FROM THE VAULT | Samantha Fox

So, where did ‘The Fox Box’ come from in terms of couldn’t use them all. Some of them were fantastic,
working with Cherry Pop? ‘Cause I’m guessing it was some of them are timeless and still hold up now. Some
probably born of the re-releases that you did a few of the stuff I had, some of the stuff I wrote on some
years back? previous albums that didn’t get on the album.
Yeah, it is Tom Parker who - he knows everything and
anything about music, and it was his idea really. Jive Was there anything that got uncovered where you
records sold to Sony music, so all of my back catalogue thought, ‘My God, I didn’t know that existed,’ or, ‘I
went to Sony, and he thought it would be really good haven’t heard this before’. Were there any surprises
to do deluxe editions, where each album… for you?
there was like 30/40 tracks on each. Tracks Certain mixes most definitely. I couldn’t
that people never heard before, B-sides, I LIKED ALL KINDS believe when I did the song for Eurovision,
remixes that were only available on vinyl. OF MUSIC BACK Go For The Heart, back in the ‘90s - that
So that was interesting to do. was remixed in Italy so many times, so
Whereas this is a box, there’s four - two IN THE ‘80S AND I it was interesting to pick different mixes
DVDs and two CDs. A lot of my videos of that. A lot of that was down to me
back in the ‘80s were VHS, they’ve all
WANTED TO TRY ALL looking on eBay and seeing what fans
been [upgraded to] HQ now on DVD and KINDS OF SOUNDS. were buying or selling, or what they were
remastered, there’s the making of some collecting, and I was like, ‘Oh!’ I saw a CD
of the videos, different edits, some of the
TO BE HONEST, I of an Italian version of Go For The Heart
sexier edits which went on MTV late at DIDN’T WANT EACH and it had like 10/12 remixes on. Some of
night - not for the children to see! So it’s them were really good, but I could only
probably going to have an over 18 on it, OF MY ALBUMS TO pick one.
I’m not sure… SOUND TOO MUCH
They’re not too sexy actually. Back in Were you having to outbid your own fans
the day they probably were, but when you THE SAME - I LIKE TO to buy your back catalogue?
look at music videos now, [mine were] EXPERIMENT AND I Well, that CD I had never seen, so I guess
nowhere near as risqué. it’s what Tom Parker was doing. You have
STILL DO. to go in and see what there is, because
You were ahead of your time with those so many countries… you don’t hear from
videos, cause you know these days… every country what mixes they’ve done.
Well yeah - it was always my idea too! If we did a scene, So yeah, it was quite interesting looking and I’ve got to
to shoot extra footage for - in those days - on MTV, say, I was like ‘Oh that’s interesting. I think I’ll buy that
after 10 o’clock they would one while I’m here.’
play the 12” versions of
those videos, which were So the videos have all been
always a bit more risqué. So remastered and there is
it was really important when quite a lot of behind the
we were shooting them to scenes stuff?
say, ‘Look, in this situation Yes! Some interviews,
let’s shoot a bit more for another video of Touch Me
those late night versions.’ with Gunther, a Swedish
So yeah, they’re all going to singer. Rockin’ With My
be on there and then lots Radio, which was my first
of singles that haven’t been ever song before Touch Me,
released, tracks that were which was when I was in a
never released. It’s great; band called S.F.X., which I
the fans are gonna love it, I don’t think a lot of fans have
know they are. seen. We have got behind
the scenes footage of that
So when you were getting too - that was when I was
this material, did you have about 18. I think Touch Me
stuff that nobody had, or was when I was 20. So that
did Tom find all the stuff? was the beginning of my
I had stuff and he found music career then.
stuff. He found some
remixes that were never Was there anything that
released on vinyl or CD. you thought, ‘I don’t want
Sometimes, if you had a hit that to go on here’? Apart
with something - especially from remixes, is there
in the States - they would anything left?
do up to 15 mixes, but you No. The Reason Is You

50 RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM
RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM 51
FROM THE VAULT | Samantha Fox

which was… I’ve got to say, I actually

hated the video. I felt it was really
corny when it was edited and I was
like, ‘Oh I don’t like this video.’ But
then my true fans said, ‘You must put
it on, it’s not embarrassing Sam, it’s
fun and that’s what you are.’ But at the
time when I did it, it wasn’t what I had
envisaged it to be, put it that way.
When I watch it now, I can look at
it with a sense of humour, but when I
first did it back in the ‘90s, we spent so
much money on it! We went to LA, there
were helicopters, speedboats, yachts…
it was very expensive, put it that way.
Mercedes cars - it had everything in it. I
wasn’t that happy with it really, but when
I look at it now, I look at it with a sense of
humour and it’s fun.

Is there anything left for any other

box sets or do you think we are done
with that?
Yeah, it’s my first box set and I think it will
be the last. Then again, who knows what’s
going to happen in the next five years in
my career. Never say no. I think there’s so
much there for fans, I think it’s really good.
It’s a great thing to own if you are a true
Foxy fan, most definitely, and it’s great. It
goes back to the ‘80s with button badges and
the poster. I love the packaging, I think it’s
great and it makes a change.

I think that’s what Cherry Pop does so well,

because they have grown up being fans of
the work and they do such a good job!
Yeah! There’s a picture pack - 32 page book
- which is really interesting, which I worked
very hard to do as well. I had to remember all
the stories about each video. There’s 20 videos
on there. People may think, ‘Oh didn’t she only
do three or four songs?’ But there’s actually 20
videos on there, which I think people will be surprised
by. And each video, I had to remember a story about is what a factory it was - then I went in to listen to it
each one, and I wrote a story about the rarities and the and they said, ‘We are so sorry, the track was meant for
remixes. So, by Tom, by me, my fans have also helped Jason Donavan.’ I was like, ‘Oh, okay.’ I think it was Too
with it - sourcing pictures and things like that - I think Late To Say Goodbye.
as a group effort, we have all done really well to make it It was only because I wasn’t signed to PWL. I think it
the best we can. was different back in the day if you were signed to the
label, but I liked all kinds of music back in the ‘80s and I
You mentioned Pete Hammond and Stock Aitken wanted to try all kinds of sounds. To be honest, I didn’t
Waterman. People think you’ve done quite a lot want each of my albums to sound too much the same -
with Stock Aitken Waterman, but I think it’s only a I like to experiment and I still do. I remember releasing
handful of tracks. Am I right? Nothing’s Gonna Stop Me Now, in Europe it was huge,
Yeah, I had two hits with them and they did about but when we released it in America, that sound was
two album tracks in the ‘80s, and then on the deluxe not fashionable there and it just didn’t take off. So that’s
editions recently I found two songs that we hadn’t why I went to work with Full Force, who were freestyle
released. One was because it was given to Jason producers of Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam, NSYNC, and I
Donovan… Well, it was given to me, I recorded it - this worked with those guys because that kind of sound

52 RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM
 I WAS FAMOUS
ON BOTH SIDES
OF THE ATLANTIC
WITH DIFFERENT
SOUNDS, SO HALF
OF THE PRODUCERS
WERE AMERICAN
AND HALF WERE
BRITISH, AND I
DIDN’T WANT TO
LOSE THAT SOUND
BY PUTTING OUT
TOO MANY STOCK
AITKEN WATERMAN
TRACKS.

wasn’t happening in America, and I don’t think it ever

really took off that big. Not for Kylie, not for any of those
artists signed at that time…

It never worked for Kylie until 2001 when she

did Can’t Get You Out Of My Head, so none of
that sound…
No, that sound didn’t really [translate]. I remember
doing lots of interviews back in the day, because Rick
Astley was on the same label as mine, it was BMG in
America, and we used to do a lot of interviews together.
He did have a hit with Never Gonna Give You Up, but I
know it was quite difficult for him.
That sound to them was like, ‘Oh my God, what is
this?’ It was totally different.

How did you get involved with Stock Aitken

Waterman? Was that your choice or was it someone
else’s recommendation?
Everybody at that time wanted to work with them
because, obviously, I was having a lot of success in
Europe and I was in America. I had two Top 10 records,
but totally different songs on both sides of the Atlantic
at the same time. So I kind of had these two different
types of careers in a way. But I did know that in Europe,
when I was travelling around and touring, that this
sound was very popular, and I definitely wanted to
work with them. I didn’t want to do a whole album
with them, and at that time I hadn’t long released

RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM 53
 I Surrender, which was a little bit rock-pop, and I
remember hearing Nothing’s Gonna Stop Me Now and
pleading with them to put a guitar solo in it.
I just wanted to have a little bit of a rock influence on
it and at first they were like, ‘We don’t put guitars on a
record,’ and Matt [Aitken], who plays guitar very well, I
was like, ‘Come on Matt, get your guitar out!’ It kind of
went on for a few weeks and then they agreed to put
the guitar on, so I was very pleased. So at least, when
I go live, we can use a guitarist and it’ll sound a lot like
the record. It’s very hard to create those songs live - it’s
all very sequence based - so it’s nice to have a bit of a
live feel.

I hadn’t thought about that! Of course, that wouldn’t

be very easy to translate on stage.
No. I mean, it’s a lot of pre-program and it’s a lot of
keyboards, so it’s nice to have the guitar part on, just
to give it that little bit of a live feel and that rocky
edge. Because that’s my style, you
know, after Touch Me, Do Ya Do Ya,
I Surrender… it would have been
totally different. It’s still kind of
different, but it wasn’t too much
of a shock.

Nothing’s Gonna Stop Me Now

still has a slightly dark edge
to it.
Well, yeah - it’s not so I ONLY WANNA
bubblegum, I don’t think…
BE WITH YOU IS
But I Only Wanna Be With You… A BIT CHEESY.
I Only Wanna Be With You is
very, let’s say, Euro… very, let’s
THAT’S THE KIND
say, it’s a bit cheesy. That’s the OF SONG IT IS…
kind of song it is, but when we
play it live, we play it more like… THE REASON WHY
The reason why I love the song I LOVE THE SONG
is because I bought it from
The Tourists back in the early IS BECAUSE I
‘80s - I think it’s 1980/1981 - by BOUGHT IT FROM
Annie Lennox, her first band.
I bought that version. My THE TOURISTS
mum always played the Dusty
[Springfield] version.
BACK IN THE
Obviously there is a very Stock EARLY ’80s.
Aitken Waterman sound on that
one, but they weren’t going to go
all out Tourists for me. So I looked at
it as a fun, jolly record - that’s the way
it is. But when I do it live, I do rock it up
a little bit.

You Started Something was the album track and

then there are the other ones you mentioned before
that weren’t released, That’s What Love Can Do and
Second Chance.
They are very Stock Aitken Waterman. That’s probably
why they didn’t get on the album, because I was
famous on both sides of the Atlantic with different
sounds, so half of the producers were American and
half were British, and I didn’t want to lose that sound by

54 RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM
 FROM THE VAULT | Samantha Fox

putting out too many Stock Aitken Waterman tracks, he was ringing me for a couple of years to get together
because I think it got to a stage where it was more about to write and we wrote a couple of songs, but one in
the producers than the artists, and that’s what I didn’t particular was really good. We went to mix it and I knew
want to happen. he wasn’t well, and then I got a phone call saying he
I was trying to establish myself, which is hard enough had passed away, so I’d like to put that on the album as
at the beginning, coming from modelling, and you’ve a dedication to him.
just got to keep on it and do your own sound. And you It’s a very electronic mix of guitars. So there’s dance,
don’t want it too far removed from what you really electronic rock, there’s not folk but electro folk in the
love. I spent a lot of time discussing with way of ballads. It’s a great album - I think it’s
producers how I really wanted things to be. probably my best, I would say.
I WROTE A
So the new album, did you say that’s going COUPLE OF Because it’s been a while.
to be called ‘Forever’, like the book? 10 years.
I’m not sure. It could be, because there SONGS WITH
is a song I have written called Forever… STEVE STRANGE How come? Why?
Hopefully the album will be around forever I’ve just been doing a lot of other things,
as well. The whole album is being produced AND ONE WAS really. Mainly just touring a lot and other
by one producer, who I have a great business that I’m involved in. I’ve got my
connection with, and we are more or less
REALLY GOOD. own label, I write for other people… The
doing it together. It’s Ian Masterson. I’m a I’D LIKE TO PUT album started being written four years ago
big fan of his. I tweeted him and I went to but my partner and manager [Myra Stratton]
meet him and had a little chat, and I sent him
THAT ON THE got really sick, so everything was put on hold
some stuff that I had written and he really NEW ALBUM AS for a couple of years, then the last couple of
liked it. So yeah, we only have three more years has been getting over it and getting
tracks to finish vocals for now. A DEDICATION back out there and touring. Getting my life
TO HIM. back together.
So I’m guessing quite dancey then?
It’s dance mixed with guitars as well. There l ‘Play It Again, Sam: The Fox Box’ is out
are a few lovely ballads; a big big ballad with lots now on Cherry Pop, alongside deluxe editions of
of strings, it’s very dramatic but the sound is great. ‘Touch Me’, ‘Samantha Fox’, ‘I Wanna Have Some
I mean, what he’s done with the songs is just amazing. Fun’ and ‘Just One Night’.
He’s very talented.
PHOTOS FOX 2000 / DEAN STOCKINGS; ARCHIVE IMAGES FROM SAMANTHA’S PERSONAL COLLECTION

He did Bananarama’s latest album as well?

I think that album was great!
Yeah, he’s great. He can turn his hand to everything
actually. He’s very versatile.

Are there any covers on there? Or all brand

new material?
All brand new. I have written with Ricky Wilde - it’s got
a bit of an ‘80s influence actually. I must say that the
‘80s is just so big at the moment everywhere. I haven’t
stopped touring, doing ‘80s gigs with all of the ‘80s
stars like Kim Wilde, Bonnie Tyler, Paul
Young, Tony Hadley… So I put a
lot of those sounds into
the album.
We use a
lot of juno
keyboards and
DX7s for basslines,
and a mix of real
guitars and real drums
on some of the tracks.
Percussion, so it has got a
lot of ‘80s influence too. I have
written songs with Ricky Wilde
- Kim Wilde’s brother - who wrote
many of her hits. I have written two
tracks with Katrina from the Waves,
who else... Myself, on my own.
I did write one with Steve Strange;

RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM 55
56 RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM
 INTERVIEW | Todrick Hall

ALGORHYTHM
NATION
With his latest album ‘Algorhythm’
rooted firmly in the ‘80s, Todrick Hall
shares his love of the classic decade
and the influence behind his powerful
new sound
WORDS FABIO MAGNOCAVALLO

odrick Hall has enjoyed a phenomenal

T career in entertainment.
In addition to releasing six studio albums,
he’s performed on Broadway, served as a
judge on multiple talent shows, acted in a number of
TV series, and grown a YouTube following of more
than 3.6 million subscribers.
More than a decade after first showcasing his talent
to the world, he’s back with ‘Algorhythm’, a brand new
LP that demonstrates his love of the 1980s and the
iconic sounds of that era.
It comes off the back of his appearance as Bull on
the US edition of ‘The Masked Singer’, which drew
attention to his powerhouse vocals and led to the latest
chapter in his recording journey.

RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM 57
58 RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM
 INTERVIEW | Todrick Hall

BEHIND THE MASK

“I started working on this album while I was shooting
[‘The Masked Singer’],” he says. “I performed Straight
Up by Paula Abdul and it made me really, really excited.
I don’t know, I’ve always loved ‘80s music; I was re-
watching ‘Stranger Things’ and I got really inspired.”
Of being asked to participate on the singing show,
he adds: “I was really really stoked that they reached
out. I had so many friends that had done the show
before and I was just flattered. I came up in a social
media world where I was making videos on YouTube,
and I think sometimes the validation of being on a that doesn’t resemble who I originally fell in love with.
show with people who are undeniable celebrities by I don’t think this is the case, I think people are going to
traditional media standards… For me, to be thrown see me in this music but it definitely feels like a new era
into the mix with people like Toni Braxton, Jewel, Faith and that I’m very very excited about.”
Evans, and Natasha Bedingfield was so flattering.”
Aside from singing in an outrageous costume every STRIKE A POSE
week, the key to ‘The Masked Singer’ is tricking viewers ‘Algorhythm’ is a soulful pop album that takes obvious
and the show’s panel of judges - a task he embraced influences from the greats who dominated the
wholeheartedly. Admitting that one of his love ‘80s with their show-stopping performances and
languages is “secrets and surprising people,” Todrick undeniable star power. According to Todrick, it’s
insists he didn’t struggle with that part of the show “kind of what would happen if you put Prince, Janet
at all. [Jackson], Michael [Jackson], Paula
“I’m one of those people, if you give Abdul, and a little bit of Powerline from
me a Christmas gift on December 23, I Disney’s ‘A Goofy Movie’ in a blender
will not open it until Christmas morning I think I’ve been together. It’s all of those things!”
when the sun is up. I’m just very patient afraid to do The single, Pre-Madonna, came about
when it comes to that,” he laughs. “I after the hitmaker watched an episode
enjoyed the mystery behind people challenging vocals of hit TV series ‘Pose’, about New York
asking me and wondering when it was. City’s drag ball culture scene throughout
We shot it beforehand and I was touring
in the studio, I’m so the 1980s and 1990s.
around so much, I was so busy that some insecure sometimes. “[In the show], they were talking
people thought it was shot in real time. about Madonna’s song Vogue that she
“The whole thing was really, really fun!
I also think I would just put out. After seeing that, I realised
I can understand why it’s the No. 1 show have never had the Madonna made something famous that
in America because the guessing game was essentially something underground
is the entire point of the show.” courage to sing a lot to mainstream media before she put it
Todrick found fame back in 2010 on of things I’m OK to on this pedestal,” he shares.
the ninth season ‘American Idol’, on Far from a diss towards the Queen of
which he made it through to the Top 16, say now. Pop, Todrick uses the track to highlight
but in recent years his musical output the history of the dance trend to his
has leaned more towards rap than audience. “I think people, especially
traditional singing, with the Texas-born during that time, were really grateful for
star admitting he’d become “insecure” when it came to it but it kind of saddened me that a lot of these people
his vocal abilities. didn’t get to put their own music and story out there,”
Luckily, ‘The Masked Singer’ gave him newfound he muses. “I wanted to pay homage to that time and to
confidence to evolve his sound. “I think me and my say it’s really cool what she did.”
team had a lot of fun, it’s a definite departure from what Despite a large back catalogue of music, the most
I’ve done in the past but it definitely feels like it’s still recent single from ‘Algorhythm’, Breath, has already
me,” he explains. “I don’t usually love when I fall in love been declared as Todrick’s favourite song he has ever
with an artist and they completely throw a curveball written and recorded. The vulnerable, heartfelt ballad
deals with a terrible breakup and sees the singer pour
his heart into the lyrics and performance. “I think
anytime I’m able to capture in words what I’m feeling,
it excites, but also I haven’t sung a song like this in a
long time,” he says of the track.
“I think I’ve been afraid to do challenging vocals

RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM 59
 in the studio, I’m so insecure sometimes. I also think
I would have never had the courage to sing a lot of
things I’m OK to say now. I have tried my hardest to
date other people but I think love can be toxic and
dangerous, scary, and problematic, and make you
wanna pull your hair out, but it can be so fiery and wild,
and one of those things you just can’t get enough of.”
He continues: “I think I’ve fallen into a category
where a lot of people find they love a person who
is dangerous, a bad boy, someone who keeps them
on the edge of their seat, someone who is not
predictable and the opposite of safe. I think this song
encapsulates everything that is. I know there are a lot
of people who know someone is not good for them
but they love them anyway. They know there’s
something dangerous.”
Todrick’s favourite line from the song, ‘Just a couple
masochist slow dancing at a precipice’, paints imagery
of that kind of love perfectly. “Somebody that enjoys
pain and slow dancing on a cliff where any moment
you might slip off and fall and die but it’s exciting and
gets your heart racing,” he explains. “I think that is
something worth singing about.
“There are a lot of songs about a lot of things that
have already been sung about but this is something I
sometimes come looking for in songs when I’m in my
feels. When I don’t find a song that really fully portrays
how I felt in that moment, then I go into the studio and
try and write one.”

REGAINING CONTROL
With an album so dedicated to the ‘80s, Todrick came
For this album, up with equally retro artwork that harkens back to
the classic era in not-so-subtle style, choosing Janet
I realised I don’t Jackson’s monumental ‘Control’ LP as his inspiration.
have to have a However, he didn’t initially set out to pay tribute to
the pop legend during the photoshoot. “I think that is
collaboration on it. something that happened accidentally,” he admits. “I
That doesn’t mean never planned to have a parody of that cover. We took
a photo and I wanted to find something to make the
there won’t be a photo feel like an homage to the ‘80s.
deluxe version that “I don’t think the photo necessarily gave Janet,
but when we edited the photo, I wanted to have
won’t have collabs something nostalgic and I always loved that cover.
I always thought she looked so gorgeous in it and I
because there are loved the animation.”
a lot of people that I For Todrick, it’s a thrill when artists merge worlds
in their pop videos, citing Paula Abdul’s Opposites
would love to come Attract clip as another example that used animation so
join me on these well. “I wanted there to be something real about it and
something that was surreal that was on top of it and
‘80s tracks. that was the inspiration. I was so happy we were able to
accomplish that,” he says.
If there’s one thing Todrick is known for, it’s bagging
big-name collaborations, performing with everyone
from Ciara and Tiffany Haddish to RuPaul herself!
His 2021 album, ‘Femuline’, turned it up a notch, with

60 RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM
 INTERVIEW | Todrick Hall

I think we’re living in

a time where talent
doesn’t really matter
that much as it’s about
whether someone
likes you and feels
like they have full
transparency to your
personal life.

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62 RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM
 INTERVIEW | Todrick Hall

Chaka Khan, Nicole Scherzinger, and even

supermodel Tyra Banks appearing on the tracklist,
alongside R&B icon Brandy – on the track Click Clack –
who Todrick idolises.
“Her voice is so iconic to me and she’s part of the
reason why I pursued dancing and singing and
musical theatre,” he shares. “To be able to hear a note
is incredible and she actually coached me on some
of my vocals as well and to have Brandy as kind of
your producer to help you sing something is to me,
legendary. Anyone who appreciates great vocalists and
music knows she is legendary. She’s done so much in
her career, is just the kindest human being ever, and
has the best energy. I hope we get to collaborate many, was more simple.
many more times.” “If I’m being really honest, I think we’re living in a
While he cites ‘Human’ as his favourite Brandy LP time where talent doesn’t really matter that much as
- although you can “never go wrong with ‘Never Say it’s about whether someone likes you and feels like
Never’” - and Camouflage a choice deep cut, he opted they have full transparency to your personal life,” he
out of recruiting guest vocalists on ‘Algorhythm’. states. “I’m sure that Paula Abdul, Whitney Houston,
“I was in the middle of doing so many things,” he and Prince were all great people, but people fell in
recalls. “I remember when I came out love with them because they had great
with two songs, Dem Beats and Low, music and it was about the vocals and
and RuPaul was on those. When I got I hope to start to chord progression. It wasn’t about how
ready to do Nails, Hair, Hips, Heels, I was many millions of dollars you can spend
so terribly frightened. I thought that if I remember what I on your videos, who you’re dating, and
didn’t have a collaboration on this, would am capable of doing what scandal you were involved in
it be successful? last week.”
“When I realised I was able to stand vocally because Insisting people’s obsession with
on my own two heels and get my own
song without an artist attached to it
honestly, I had figures from social media has people
“dumbing down their talent or skill in
to be the No. 1 song I ever recorded, it forgotten myself for order to sell a record,” Todrick admits he
gave me a lot of confidence. For this has been guilty of doing that himself. “I
album, I realised I don’t have to have a
a while. This was don’t think that’s necessary. True art is
collaboration on it. That doesn’t mean more an album for often found in specificity,” he adds.
there won’t be a deluxe version that Within his own career, the performer
won’t have collabs because there are a lot me to remember has had his own share of attention from
of people that I would love to come join who I am. the tabloids, but with his new release he
me on these ‘80s tracks but it does feel hopes listeners will see a different side to
exciting, an album that is just me.” his artistry.
He continues: “I’m excited for the fans to hear “I have sung in a lot of my songs but the ones that
something that reminds them of how I started because, are the most popular have not really shown what I
in the beginning, I was always singing live and R&B can do vocally. I hope to start to remember what I
music where I was using my voice. I love the fact that am capable of doing vocally because honestly, I had
the songs sound current but also nostalgic.” forgotten myself for a while. This was more an album
for me to remember who I am and the gift that I have
FUTURE NOSTALGIA been given,” Todrick smiles. “I think these songs sound
Across the music industry right now, there’s a massive classic, they speak about real things. I hope people stop
‘80s revival and, when it comes to the resurgence and listen to the actual lyricism because I love lyrics
in interest in that moment in music history, Todrick and I spend a lot of time carefully crafting them. Mixing
suggests it’s rooted in a nostalgia for a time when life them with all of the beats and computerised sounds,
sometimes the lyricism can get lost.
“I’m really really stoked to find out what the reviews
PHOTOS FRANZ SZONY

will be when it comes out because I think there is

something really special about it and I hope the general
public agrees when they hear the songs.”

l ‘Algorhythm’ is out now on frtyfve.

RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM 63
 HEY
MAN!
In the midst of an extensive tour supporting their
stellar second album ‘Tilt’, Confidence Man’s Sugar Bones
takes us behind the making of the album and reveals how
the band attracted a global following - including their
biggest fan, Noel Gallagher!
WORDS CONNOR GOTTO

ussie electro pop group Confidence Man than life sound is a welcome breath of fresh air and, for

A delivered one of the most joyous albums

of the year so far with ‘Tilt’ - a record that,
during its creation, could have torn the
very foundations of the band.
Fronted by the larger than life Sugar Bones and Janet
the four-piece, capturing that essence while the world
shut down was a challenge they tackled head-on.
“We were living together because we knew that, if
this lockdown thing was going to really take off, we
wanted to be together so we could get something
Planet - who perform alongside the elusive Clarence done, because all the touring was off the cards,” he
McGuffie and Reggie Goodchild on keyboards and recalls. “So we moved in together, we had this home
drums - the group formed in 2016 when members of studio and yeah, I think it pretty much saved our lives
The Belligerents, Moses Gunn Collective and Jungle having this big project to work on.
Giants ditched their psychedelic rock sound in search “For me, it really drilled home that point, that aspect
of a more upbeat direction. of music that’s just so magical, that can really take you
Having attracted the attention of Stu McCullough, wherever you want, pretty much. It can transcend
who would become their manager, they put out their you out of a terrible situation. It can pick you up in
debut LP ‘Confident Music for Confident People’ in the most boring, monotonous existence and take
2018 - breaking the Australian Top 40 - and earlier this you somewhere really amazing. It was pretty much
year made their Top 10 debut with ‘Tilt’, a celebration of our escape raft to escape the boredom of a 300-day
all things ‘90s. lockdown.”
Released in November 2021, lead track Holiday, in
PARTY PEOPLE many ways, encompasses the group’s mission this
“It was written over the last couple of years during the time around, opening with synthesised, choral singing
whole lockdown, which was relentless in Melbourne, before the beat kicks in and Janet declares, ‘I get away
where we were living,” says Sugar of the album, which every day, my holiday, I’m gettin’ paid / I live it up on
topped the UK Dance Charts back in April. Its larger the go, I’m gettin’ high, I’m never low’.

64 RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM
 INTERVIEW | Confidence Man

THE ONLY RULE

WAS THAT WE
JUST WANTED TO
G
KEEP THAT UPLIFTIN
E.
PARTY ATMOSPHER
AS LONG AS WE
T
WERE KEEPING THA
ALIVE, WE JUST LET
THE SONG WRITE
ITSELF AND LEAD US.

RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM 65
 “No one tells Confidence Man what to do,” she
says of the track’s essence. “Who said a holiday can’t
last forever? Spend big and live free, that’s our motto.
And it can be yours too. A vacation is just sunburn at
premium prices but a holiday is a state of mind.”
When it came to putting themselves in that
headspace, Confidence Man were savvy; instead of
lamenting the closure of performance venues, bars
and clubs, they took a DIY approach and created their
own party.
“We listened to a whole bunch of stuff. Lots of
dance stuff at the time,” Sugar explains. “We got
turning the back shed into a little rave cave - the fuck
bunker - maybe like six months in. We partied in the
kitchen more times than anyone should ever party in
the kitchen - I think everyone is familiar with that - so
we were like, ‘Let’s do something. Let’s turn the shed
into a club.’
“So we bought a smoke machine, some lasers,
dragged out the decks and these crappy little home
speakers. It was the same people [every night], but we
just got super lit, cranked the smoke machine, danced
in the shed all night and called it a club. It was actually
awesome!”
Not only did it keep the group going through the
tough times, their approach to lockdown helped make
the sounds and themes on ‘Tilt’ authentic.
“We needed it to be real, because there was just
nothing else happening. There was no other option - we
had to put everything into it,” Sugar insists. “We weren’t
going anywhere - any raves, any parties, any gigs…
Everyone was in that same position of just sitting around
at home, so escaping to our little happy place while we
were making the music was our one little freedom.”
Although far from an ideal set-up in the wider sense,
he admits the pandemic presented the group with “the
perfect way to write an album”. “You’re literally not legally
allowed to go anywhere, so you’ve got to get your fucking
work done,” Sugar laughs. “There’s nothing else. And I
think we’re super lucky in this band, because the four of
us… there’s brothers and sisters, there’s fiancés, there’s best
old, old friends. It’s a big family affair and we know each
other so fucking well that, the prospect of being stuck in a
house together for 300 days was exciting for us.
“At times, sure, Janet slapped me across the face - and I
deserved it - but it’s all family love. We just really love each
other so much and love making music together. So it was
actually pretty enjoyable, which is weird. I think it’s weird
for four people to be able to do that and still be friends at the
end of it.”

GO ‘90S!
With their debut, Confidence Man amassed a strong
following - particularly in their native Australia - but this
time around their appeal went truly global, thanks to an
approach that leaned into the current craving for nostalgia
and celebrated the sounds of a decade that often gets
overlooked.
For the group, however, the sounds of the 1990s were
all around them while recording ‘Tilt’. “Totally. Lots of ‘90s
stuff, going into some deeper techno and house stuff, going
deeper into that world and going down some weird little
avenues,” Sugar recalls. “Lesser-known producers and also the
classic UK big beat stuff was always around when we were

66 RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM
 INTERVIEW | Confidence Man

F
LY, TH ES E C H A RA CTERS CAME OUT O
WEIRD D OF
S. W E K N EW W E H AD TO BE THESE KIN
U T
C A RY , D O M IN ATI NG - THAT YOU WAN
SEMI-S GE
BE D O M IN A TE D BY - PEOPLE ON STA
TO

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68 RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM
 INTERVIEW | Confidence Man

listening to music. We were also exploring a lot of R&B, friends, they quit their current acts and united to follow
like Janet Jackson stuff as well, which is also kind of a their muse in a direction that was more fulfilling to
‘90s vibe. their personal musical tastes.
“A whole bunch of different avenues, ‘90s-style “We were all playing in different, guitar-based bands
music, whether it’s dance, R&B, hip-hop. That whole and Janet had joined a couple of the other bands,” says
world of pop that, for some reason, seems to resonate Sugar. “One day, we were hanging out and we were
with us.” like, ‘Let’s just make fun music.’ We were sick of making
Listening to the album, ‘Tilt’ is far from a nostalgia this emotional psych rock and wanking on about our
record - despite taking influence from the past, it’s one feelings.
of those genius records that caters to all generations “So we had these few beats going and then we were
and feeds into multiple reference points. That, Sugar like, ‘We don’t want another dude singing these songs.
suggests, was the group’s goal all along: “We didn’t Janet, hit the mic!’ And the moment she started laying
really want to have any restrictions on the sound of it down - she’s obviously just so fucking brilliant - it
the second album. We wanted to keep it more open, if became clear pretty quickly that she’s meant to be a
anything, and expand what Con Man could sound like. star. And she just hasn’t bloody stopped since.”
“The only rule was that we just wanted to keep that In the beginning, their early sessions were just a
uplifting party atmosphere. As long as we were keeping laugh, but after penning a few tracks and sharing
that alive, we just let the song write itself and lead us, them with manager Stu, it became clear launching a
rather than trying to smash it into a certain style. We new band was a viable option. “We had a few songs
just followed the songs. I think that was the only rule - that we literally thought were jokes, like Bubblegum
to keep the fucking party going.” and Boyfriend and a couple of other ones. And our
That’s evident in the group’s popularity with stars manager, who we’d worked with on other projects over
of the 1990s; during their recent UK tour, Dubstar’s the years, he just heard them and was like, ‘Yeah, I’ll
Steve Hillier shared clips from the crowd, while a more manage you guys.’ We were like, ‘What do you mean?
unlikely fan, Oasis’ Noel Gallagher, also stopped by to As a band?’ He goes, ‘Yeah, let’s make it happen.’”
see the group perform. According to Sugar, it was Noel There was one problem: “We were like, ‘How are
who reached out to them during his tour of Australia we gonna do this live?’ Janet said, ‘We’re gonna
with U2, and invited them backstage to hang out. synchronise dance,’ and I was like, ‘No, we’re not.’ She
“They were doing a big stadium tour and were kind goes, ‘Yes we fucking are’ - and six years later, I’m her
enough to reach out - it’s very bizarre - they reached little dancing queen, that’s just the way it is..”
out and asked if we wanted to come and hang out With a line-up sorted and a manager in tow, the
after the gig,” he says. “It was very strange and scary, group was keen to arrive as a polished act and, when
but they were just really lovely, down to earth people.
Super sweet. Noel was supporting them on that tour,
so he was there. I think that was even more scary for
NOW THAT ‘TILT’ HAS BEEN OUT FOR
me, personally, ‘cause when I was growing up - as a lot A LITTLE BIT, WE CAN START GETTING
of people did around our ages - I remember holding
the ‘(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?’ CD in my hands
BACK IN THE STUDIO AND WE’VE GOT
and loving it with all my heart. A BUNCH OF SEMI-IDEAS THAT WE
“I still do. I remember rinsing that CD so much when
I was in grade seven and all the way through high CAN START WORKING ON AND START
school and it having this massive impact on me. Then MOVING TOWARDS THE NEXT RELEASE.
this motherfucker was just standing right in front of me
and it was really fucking weird. But he’s a lovely, lovely
fella, just a really funny guy. I don’t know anyone who it came to their on stage personas, they opted to keep
can tell a story quite like him, to be honest.” their real identities hidden in favour of tongue in cheek
While chatting about their famous fans, Sugar goes pseudonyms.
noticeably quiet, admitting his disbelief that the band’s “The music was really fun for us and we wanted to do
mission to “make fun music that people could dance something a little different with the show,” he laughs.
and party to” has proven so popular. “We didn’t really know what that was, but the first thing
“That was the whole thing and we obviously had a bit was that we knew we wanted to be larger than life and
of fun with that and have been pretty cheeky and silly that’s when we decided to take fake names and make
with it along the way. But we’re just happy that it makes these characters. It was kind of spooky, because we
people smile - and we’re riffing off so many of these came up with the names and then after a few shows,
‘90s artists, so they probably hear themselves in there weirdly these characters kind of came out of us. We
as well.” didn’t have to sit down and think about it too much;
we just knew we had to be these kind of semi-scary,
MISTAKEN IDENTITY dominating - that you want to be dominated by -
Back in 2016, the members of Confidence Man people on stage.
were living in Brisbane, working with a variety of “Sugar and Janet just came out of us; it felt really
other bands within the music industry and growing good. They just took over and we wanted to make it
dissatisfied with the direction of their careers. Already visually impacting, psychologically impacting, and go

RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM 69
 into a room and take people on a journey.”
Sugar and Janet might have come naturally, but the
story behind Clarence McGuffie and Reggie Goodchild
is, if anything, more supernatural. “I think Clarence
McGuffie and Reggie Goodchild might have come off
tombstones. We were walking around a graveyard one
day and stumbled upon these names. I think it was out
in one of our hometowns, out in rural Queensland.”
That’s not all: “I’m pretty sure the original Reggie
Goodchild’s daughter got in contact with Reggie like,
‘I heard this story and I’m from that part of the world
- that’s my dad!’,” Sugar recalls. “She said, apparently,
Reggie Goodchild, the original, was a real party dog and
he’d be stoked to know that he’s now the synth player in
Confidence Man!”

TURN UP
Over the past six months, Confidence Man have proven
themselves an unstoppable force, rising from the ashes
of the pandemic with a standout sophomore effort
that’s won over legions of new fans and has brought
their live show to life like never before.
They’re currently in the midst of a string of tour
dates across the UK and Europe, which runs through
mid-June, before they head back Down Under for
an extended run of Australian gigs. In the wake of
an unprecedented two years, reuniting with fans in
venues across the world has been a revelation for the
group and, as they continue to promote ‘Tilt’, they’re
already looking forward to the next chapter in the
Confidence Man story.
“Right now, we just want to keep smashing out these
shows. It’s been so fucking good to finally be able to do
it again,” insists Sugar. “While we’re on this tour, I think

WE’RE JUST HAPPY THAT IT MAKES

PEOPLE SMILE - AND WE’RE RIFFING
OFF SO MANY OF THESE ‘90S
ARTISTS, SO THEY PROBABLY HEAR
THEMSELVES IN THERE AS WELL.
we’ll also do a couple of weeks writing in Barcelona
with a couple of friends who we want to collab with.
We’ve worked with them a little bit in the past and we’re
gonna explore that. We’ve got a few tracks that we
already started with them.
“But for the rest of the year, we’re gonna keep
smashing shows, because it gets so intense when you
put out an album. There’s not much time to write or
think about anything else, because the whole lead up
to the release is just so intense. That’s the only thing on
PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE ARTIST

your mind.”
However, he teases: “Now that it’s been out for a little
bit, we can start getting back in the studio and we’ve
got a bunch of semi-ideas that we can start working on
and start moving towards the next release.”

l ‘Tilt’ is out now on Heavenly. Confidence Man

are playing live across the UK and Europe, and
Australia throughout 2022.

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INTERVIEW | Confidence Man

RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM 71
PROFILE | Nina

72 RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM
 PROFILE
NINA
Synthwave star NINA has been making waves in the
music industry over the past decade and, with two records under
her belt and millions of Spotify streams to her name, she’s ready
for the next chapter in her career!

S
inger-songwriter Nina Boldt – moment. It was a gradual realisation Richard and I have had a few sessions
known mononymously as NINA after loving music so much and singing together in person, which is always
– has achieved success beyond all the time from early on. I eventually great. He has a really cool attitude and
her wildest dreams, releasing decided to take music lessons when encourages me to record as many takes
two stellar studio albums and a string I was a teenager and, when I was 18, as I want. I think he has a secret history
of standout singles and EPs I had my first big live performance as as a wizard, because I don’t know how
She boasts an impressive roster of a backing singer. After that, I couldn’t on earth he completes songs so quickly
A-list fans; after being tapped to support imagine my life any other way. with such style and pristine sound.
Erasure on their ‘The Violet Flame Tour’ He’s awesome!
in 2014, NINA has worked with pop When did you begin writing music? I’ve never had the pleasure of working
heavyweights including Ricky Wilde and I always wrote poetry, which later directly with Kim (who I adore) but I
Richard X, and collaborated with Kim turned into songs in my 20s. I have have had the honour of collaborating
Wilde on a remix of her track The Wire. always collaborated with other writers, with her songwriter/brother Ricky. He’s
She’s currently working on a handful who taught me a lot. Now, in my 30s, an absolute legend and he inspires me
of new projects and, while looking back I’m writing my own songs without so much. He has such a pure, youthful
on her biggest influences, NINA offers the need of a co-writer. I still enjoy spirit and a true ‘Gold Heart’.
a teaser of what’s to come over the next collaborating though!
12 months! If you could tell people to listen to
Which song do you wish you’d written/ one song of yours to get the best
What’s your first musical memory? was yours? flavour of NINA, what would it be?
My mum and dad, singing. I remember Nothing Compares 2 U by Sinéad Probably either Synthian or Beyond
them filming each other singing classic O’Connor (written by Prince). Memory, because they are a good
Disco and Rock ’n’ Roll songs. representation of most of my work to
If you could go back to any musical date. If I was to see into the future, I’d
What was the soundtrack to your era, which would it be? recommend Carnival Night because
childhood? The ‘50s. I love classic Rock ‘N’ Roll I’m heading in that direction with a
The ‘Back To The Future’ movie and my happy place is a retro diner more “world-building” and “Cinematic
soundtrack with a big milkshake in my hands while Pop” state of mind.
listening to Johnny B. Goode by
What’s the first record you bought? Chuck Berry. We can’t wait for new music, what
‘Dangerous’ by Michael Jackson are you working on at the minute?
Which artists inspire your sound? I’m collaborating with three other artists
What’s the first song you ever Depeche Mode, Kim Wilde, Kraftwerk, at the moment; Kid Moxie, Ricky Wilde,
PHOTO JOAKIM REIMER

performed? Tangerine Dream, Goldfrapp, Robyn, and Radio Wolf. All three projects are
Mein Kind by Peter Maffay, when I John Carpenter, David Lynch, Giorgio expecting EPs and/or LPs sometime this
was six years old. Moroder. year and maybe early next year. After
that, I have big plans for my next solo
When did you realise you wanted to You’ve worked with some industry album. I won’t give away too much, but
be a musician? legends like Richard X and Kim Wilde. I will say that I’m shaking things up and
I feel like there wasn’t one single What was that like? I’ve never been more inspired.

RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM 73
 A
WH EALT
I S R ORE ?
AN Y M
Inspired by early-‘00s
Euro-pop, Tom Aspaul returns
with a standout second album
of wall-to-wall anthems - but
behind the facade is his most
personal album to date…
WORDS ROSS MONDON

O
ver the past decade, Tom Aspaul has experienced
the music industry from both sides.
Having studied architecture at University in
London, the singer-songwriter made ends meet
with shifts at a local east London pub, during which time he
met several music industry A&Rs and soon found himself
drafted into writing sessions, penning tracks for Sugababes -
during their MKS era - and his song Indiana, which was picked
up and renamed Feels So Good by Kylie Minogue for her ‘Kiss
Me Once’ album.
In the years that followed, he went on to record his own
tracks, releasing a string of singles followed by his debut long-
player ‘Black Country Disco’ in 2020 - and this year he’e back
with his superb sophomore effort ‘Life In Plastic’!

74 RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM
INTERVIEW | Tom Aspaul

RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM 75
 PLASTIC FANTASTIC
“I think in many ways, it worked in my favour with
‘Black Country Disco’, because not many people had
anything going on,” Tom reflects. “So everyone was
consuming a lot more and had a lot more time to
check things out and discover things. And meeting KISS IT ALL AWAY
people face to face - especially during my tour - a lot While ‘Black Country Disco’, on paper, was a
of people said, ‘Your album got me through lockdown,’ contradiction - a pop album about the West Midlands
and that’s actually quite special.” surely hasn’t been done before - ‘Life In Plastic’
Released independently via his 1609 label, the album juxtaposes Tom’s status as a pop star with his personal
made waves in the LGBTQ+ community, with its circumstances; a 35-year-old, living with parents,
singles proving streaming hits and demand leading having found the bright lights and allure of London
to a number of vinyl represses. At the same time, his something of an illusion.
music attracted the attention of stars such as MNEK Although he may physically have been in
and Kim Wilde, both of whom made contributions to Wolverhampton, Tom took himself out of the WM and
the ‘Black Country Discothéque’ remix LP.   created a new headspace to perfect his latest LP. “I had
Despite the success, Tom is going into the ‘Life In a very clear idea of the sound of the album and what
Plastic’ era with a degree of nervousness, the references would be, which was
admitting he’s “been very stressed” ahead the turn of the millennium pop music
of its release. “In a good way,” he insists, I did ‘Black Country from Europe,” he smiles. “And in terms
“like a nervous energy type way. And on of the lyrical content, I was adamant that
the day I announced the album, nothing Disco’ and then I wouldn’t repeat what I’d done before
had been finished. I’ve been cutting it ‘Discothéque’ was with ‘Black Country Disco’, so creatively,
very fine, but I’m very excited, and I feel the sound and the references were
a bit more relaxed compared to a few the year after - but it always there from day one.”
weeks ago.” was like, ‘Well, what Explaining his process, Tom adds: I
‘Life In Plastic’ might just be his made a playlist on Spotify. And I would
most personal work, with the hitmaker else do you expect go jogging and listen to it, put it on
drawing on his personal experiences of in my car, and I immersed myself in
the past two years to deliver a set that
me to do? I’m gonna that sound. It actually did transform
cuts to the heart of him as an artist and keep writing!’ a bit, when I was asked to be a judge
shares his personal struggles during the for the UK Eurovision panel, and I
pandemic and beyond with his fans. He became obsessed with it. So I think that
admits: “It became more or less a continuation of ‘Black experience and what I was listening to channelled it
Country Disco’, of where I am, and I’m sure people go down to this Euro-pop vein.” 
through breakups and transformations. But I think On ‘Life In Plastic’, Tom digs deep and deals with
there are some particular experiences when you’re a numerous personal issues via his songs, which on the
single gay man where there is a lot to be said. surface appear as shimmering, glossy pop numbers.
“The pressure to have it all; to have a successful “Lyrically, it’s much more of a deeper contemplative
relationship, a great career and a social life. And I album that’s talking about growing older and looking
think when you have one of those taken from you back over my 20s and mistakes that I’ve made and
suddenly - in my situation, it was my relationship that loves that I’d lost,” he says. “Again, the big elephant in
ended - I feel like the pressure to find someone new the room is the fact that I wrote it during the pandemic,
was massive. And in a way, I’ve resisted that and made so I think that’s probably why it’s based around Europe,
a new relationship a low priority. I really, really couldn’t because I was desperate to leave. Obsessed with getting
give a shit about meeting someone else at the moment. on a plane and leaving.” 
I want to put myself first for a while. Listing references such as Steps, Aqua and Ace of
“So I think this project is wrapped up by the Base, he admits the LP is “inspired by the music I was
expectations of what you are, especially when you’re coming of age to,” before adding that, “thinking about
35-years-old, as time’s ticking away. And basically, a the album, I feel almost like I’m coming of age right
lot of songs are quite contemplative. It’s looking back now - so it makes sense for me to listen to that music
at my 20s and early 30s, using those experiences and again”.
making a song.”  He shares: “I kind of feel like a teenager again, so it’s
quite fun! Kiss It is possibly my favourite song on there,
but there’s one called Effigy, which is probably the most
emotional song. You wouldn’t think so listening to it,
because it sounds like All Fired Up by The Saturdays on

76 RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM
 INTERVIEW | Tom Aspaul

When you’re a
single gay man,
there’s a pressure
to have it all; to
have a successful
relationship, a
great career and a
social life.

RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM 77
78 RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM
 INTERVIEW | Tom Aspaul

poppers. But that song is really quite emotional.

“The lyrics are really deep and it’s about trauma and
living with grief - things I dealt with before on ‘Black
Country Disco’. But I would say as an entry point, Kiss
It is sonically what you can expect from the entire
I had a very clear album.”

idea of the sound A SPOONFUL OF SUGA

of the album and Over the past decade, Tom’s journey has been
impressive, from walking blindly into his first studio
what the references session with the newly-reformed Sugababes back
would be, which in 2012 with no idea of the protocol or etiquette, to
self-releasing two albums - plus a remix project - and
was the turn of the collaborating with some of the biggest names in the
industry.
millennium pop “Back in 2012, I had just started out as a writer and
music from Europe. I hadn’t even released Indiana at this point. I think I’d
done a couple of songwriting sessions, but nothing
major, and somehow I managed to be given a week
with the Sugababes,” he laughs. “I’d never really done
a proper studio session before and I didn’t know how
it worked, so I wanted to ingratiate myself with them
and I bought them loads of sweets - which was nice
- and it was such a big pinch me moment, because
more so than anyone else I’ve worked with, the
Sugababes soundtracked my youth and childhood and
adolescence.”
Tom might have been a newcomer to the studio, but
his sessions with the trio were a revelation and made
becoming a songwriter - or even a pop star - a viable
career option for the 20-something-year-old.
“I remember they treated me like an equal and asked
for my opinion on things. That was wild because I was
way out of my depth, and I didn’t know what I was
doing.” he reflects. “Little did I know there was so
much pressure on them from their at-the-time label to
get some decent demos made. I was so naive, but that
was literally my second session and, like I said, I went
in pretty hard at the time. Since then, I’ve felt like I can
do anything.” 
In the years that followed, Tom embarked on a
serious songwriting career, penning tracks for stars
including Louise Redknapp, Saara Alto, Little Boots,
Matt Terry and others, and while his current focus is
his own material, the discipline of those sessions has
influenced his approach to releasing music.
“I don’t enjoy it when artists take more than two
years,” he states. “Do you know what I mean? Like, I did
‘Black Country Disco’ and then ‘Discothéque’ was the
year after - and that was a whole other thing, so much
work. But it was like, ‘Well, what else do you expect me
to do? I’m gonna keep writing!’
‘Black Country Discothéque’ was released in April
2021 and, after penning the bulk of his latest effort
over the summer, he set to work on the visuals for lead

RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM 79
 single Let Them (It’s All Love) in the autumn of that In recent years, he’s been incredibly prolific,
year.” releasing ‘Black Country Disco’ and ‘Black Country
While Tom has been able to work with numerous Discothéque’ back to back in 2020 and 2021,
high-profile artists over the years, one thing respectively, and while a third album is a definite,
particularly close to his heart is collaborating with Tom admits his career beyond that is uncertain as
LGBTQ+ creatives and using his platform to give up- he eyes a move behind the scenes, nurturing a new
and-coming names in the community exposure and generation of talent and setting his focus on writing
help them establish a career and following of their own. and production.
“I always think it’s the ones you least expect that you “Album three will be part of the trilogy - and then
get the best results from. And when I after that I have no idea,” he says. “Part of
plan to do my remix album, I’m wanting me is thinking, ‘Will I go into managing
to make sure I work with other LGBT I always think it’s other artists and writing their music,
artists,” he reveals. “There are so many helping them set up as an artist?’ Maybe
great singers and producers out there
the ones you least I could do that, or maybe doing music
who are great.” expect that you get production for other artists is something
I’m interested in. Because ‘Life In Plastic’
GOING GAGA the best results was pretty much all produced by me
Right now, there are no limits for Tom from. And when I with Gil Lewis.
going forward, and when it comes to “So the idea of writing for other
‘Life In Plastic’ he’s dead set on bringing plan to do my remix people is something that I’m hesitant
out an expanded deluxe edition of the LP,
which will feature unreleased cuts from
album, I’m wanting to get back into, because I didn’t have a
great experience towards the end of my
the album sessions. to make sure I work songwriting career, but I’m a bit more
“I’m going to do a deluxe edition of confident in terms of what I can do as a
‘Life In Plastic’ because there are quite a
with other LGBT producer now. So, that’s sort of like my
few songs that are left off,” he confirms. artists. mid-term plan.”
PHOTOS JONATHAN DANIEL PRYCE; JUSTIN ATKINS

“And I’ll probably do extended versions Before he puts out the follow-up to
of the singles. Then, I would like to take ‘Life In Plastic’, Tom is planning a covers
some of the shows abroad for the first time, and after project. Although he remained tight-lipped about the
that, I’m not going to waste any time; I’m going to get EP, his new record features a cover of Alizée’s Hey!
back down to business writing.” Amigo!, offering a possible direction for the set.
Having released his debut during lockdown, he’s also He explains: “It’s not going to be part of the album
hoping to bring ‘Life In Plastic’ to life on stage with a cycle, but you know Lady Gaga does a jazz album every
string of live shows later this year. “I would like to do now and then? I’m not saying I’m doing a jazz album,
a tour with this album. And I want to try and make it but I’d like to do something a bit more organic with a
bigger,” he muses. “It’s all very slowly incrementally band, because I feel like I’ve gone so far this way with
getting there, but I think at least for the UK shows, ‘Life In Plastic’ that I feel like I need to do something a
wherever they end up being, I’d like to possibly have a bit more grounded.”
bit more of a show on stage. You know, have a couple
of costume changes. And maybe some dancers. I don’t l ‘Life In Plastic’ is out now digitally and available
know, we’ll see, but I want things to level up.” to pre-order on physical formats.

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 INTERVIEW | Tom Aspaul

Album three will be

part of the trilogy -
and then after that I
have no idea. Part of
me is thinking, ‘Will
I go into managing
other artists and
writing their music,
helping them set up
as an artist?

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17.06.22
 RELEASERADAR
A L B U M S | R E I S S U E S | C O M P I L AT I O N S

86
NEW VERSIONS
Neneh Cherry is
fêted by her favourite
female artists

89 93 94

UNPRECEDENTED MUNA ZIGGY STARDUST

UB40 Featuring Los Angeles trio Celebrating half
PHOTO JUERGEN TELLER

Ali Campbell and triumph and a century of David

Astro’s farewell deliver their best Bowie’s iconic fifth
offering yet album
RATINGS EXPLAINED: HHHHH
H BRILLIANT HHHHH GOOD HHHHH AVERAGE HHHHH POOR HHHHH TERRIBLE

RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM 83
 RELEASERADAR
A L B U M S | R E I S S U E S | C O M P I L AT I O N S

She adds: “When Neneh asked me

if I wanted to work with Dev Hynes
and cover Buffalo Stance for this album,
you can imagine how extremely
honoured I felt. My 10 year old mind
would have been completely blown
and that’s still how I feel about Neneh
and this powerful song, it’s timeless
and still relevant.”
The album might feature alternate
vocals, but Neneh continues to
push forward as an activist via her
involvement in the project, sharing a
NENEH CHERRY music video starring Indya Moore on
THE VERSIONS Trans Day of Visibility, raising awareness
HHHHH of discrimination faced by transgender
people worldwide.
RELEASED: June 10 Universal The set continues to demonstrate
the lasting impact of her topical lyrics,
FORMATS: which remain as potent as they did in
CD, Standard Black Vinyl the late 1980s/early 1990s, with Sia’s take
on Neneh’s signature anthem Manchild
another triumph.
oday’s hottest female artists It’s a particularly poignant moment, as

T
recordings.
honour trailblazer Neneh
Cherry with ‘The Versions’;
a 10-track collection of stellar
reinterpretations of her best-loved
Sia explains: “Neneh was my favourite
artist when she hit the scene. I saved my
pocket money for red filas and dreamt
one day we would meet.
“When I was struggling with my
Celebrating the Swedish singer- mental health in my early twenties,
songwriter’s legacy, the LP features I somehow ended up in their house
cuts from Neneh’s first three albums being taken care of as if I was one of
- her global smash hit debut ‘Raw Like their own children. I called her husband
Sushi’ (1989), follow-up ‘Homebrew’ during a suicide attempt, who had been
(1992), and her third studio record ‘Man’ mentoring me as an incredible music
(1996) - reimagined by a select group of producer, and they gave me all the love I
musicians from across genres. could have dreamt of.
Opener Buffalo Stance, newly “I owe them a huge thanks and would
recorded by Robyn and Mapei and sing ‘a-b-c’ for them if they asked.”
produced by Dev Hynes, sets out the Elsewhere on the album, pop
premise of the record, which brings the provocateur ANOHNI lends her
production of the tracks notably up to haunting vocals to Woman - a play
date - in accordance with current chart on James Brown’s 1966 hit It’s a Man’s
trends and the signature styles of the Man’s Man’s World, which served as the
artists featured - while maintaining and lead single from ‘Man’ - while Greentea
celebrating the essence of each track. Peng adds a garage flair to Buddy X.
Of her involvement, Robyn explains: Some musicians take more creative
“The imprint Neneh Cherry’s voice control than others, with artist and original, yet equally poignant - and
made on my 10-year-old brain has violinist Sudan Archives reconstructing delivering an immediate highlight from
stayed with me ever since I heard Heart into a sparse number and Kelsey the set. There’s also a remix of Buddy X
Buffalo Stance for the first time. Lu offering an alternative take on courtesy of Honey Dijon.
“The husky low tones and the high Manchild, with a sweeping arrangement What stands out on ‘The Versions’ is
frequency power in her voice, revealing and ethereal vocals. the quality of the tracks on offer, serving
truths about what it is like to be a Meanwhile, Neneh’s daughter TYSON as a reminder of just how strong a
girl without excuses, were intensely takes the reins on Sassy, showcasing discography Neneh Cherry has amassed
inspiring.” her impressive vocals - softer than the - particularly when it’s considered that

84 RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM
 REVIEWS | albums

ORIGINAL
VERSIONS
She might only have five solo albums
under her belt, but Neneh Cherry
has carved an impeccable pop legacy
over the past three decades…

RAW LIKE SUSHI

1989
A spectrum of styles
showcase Neneh Cherry’s
versatility as an artist
on her debut long-
player and commercial
breakthrough, launching
the artist into the global
charts.

HOMEBREW
1992
Picking up where her
debut left off, her
sophomore effort covers
jazz, funk, pop, dance
and hip-hop for another
winning set that was
woefully overlooked at
the time.

MAN
1996
Shying away from her
previous styles in favour
of a set of slow-burning,
alt-rock numbers, this
third album sees Neneh
move with the times and
align her sound with the
UK charts.

BLANK PROJECT
2014
PHOTO JUERGEN TELLER

After almost two decades

away, this big comeback
was recorded and mixed
in just five days, produced
by Four Tet’s Kieran
Hebden and featuring
a guest appearance by
Robyn.

the LP only encompasses her which, as a retrospective, BROKEN POLITICS

initial studio run, from 1989-1996. offers a fresh alternative to the 2018
On that note, it’s a shame the tired ‘Greatest Hits’ format and On her most recent
album doesn’t tackle some of her explores new avenues to bring studio output, Neneh
later recordings - particularly her classic hits to up-and-coming shares a meditative set of
stellar 2018 long-player ‘Broken generations while celebrating compositions about the
Politics’. the legacy of one of the most state of the world and her
But that shouldn’t take away influential female artists of the personal heartbreak of
from the merits of the album past three decades. losing her biological father.

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 RELEASERADAR
A L B U M S | R E I S S U E S | C O M P I L AT I O N S

TODRICK HALL
ALGORHYTHM
HHHHH
RELEASED: June 1 frytfve

FORMATS:
Digital
a poignant opening to the collection love like you didn’t know you could,”
and breathes life into his vision for a he explains. “That’s what this song is
odrick Hall shares his love of sound that feels reassuringly familiar yet about. This is my favourite song I have

T the 1980s on his latest feel-

good record ‘Algorhythm’.
Arriving off the back of his
appearance on ‘The Masked Singer’ in
the US, the set sees the star channel the
undeniably fresh.
It flourishes on Dance Forever,
the album’s lead single on which
he embraces his ‘80s fantasy
wholeheartedly while shunning
ever written and sang, inspired by my
favourite R&B ballads of the ‘80s.”
Elsewhere on the album, Higher is
a shimmering disco anthem that, as
the song suggests, ‘shuts the dance
icons of the classic decade across 11 the haters with uplifting lyrics and floor down’, while Impressed is a slick
songs that bring throwback sounds into irresistible beats. electronic number that proves Todrick
the 21st century. “This song, while strongly inspired by is more than deserving of his status as a
Of his vision for the album, Todrick the ‘80s, is a timeless dance song that global pop star, with a rap bridge packed
explains: “‘Algorhythm’ is an ‘80s makes you want to get up and move the with pop culture references.
inspired record that while still being on second you reach the first pre-chorus,” Among the classic reference points,
brand with my most popular work, it he beams of the record’s lead cut. there are also echoes of his past releases
reveals a side of my voice I have never On his previous album ‘Femuline’, - Sorry Barbie celebrates queer love via
accessed in my previous music. Todrick enlisted a heavyweight line-up the playful narrative of Barbie and Ken,
“I want this album to get back to good of guest stars, including Chaka Khan, with the earworm chorus, ‘Sorry Barbie
traditional music, no gimmicks, no Brandy and Nicole Scherzinger, but / Toys will be toys / Ken’s at the party /
smoke and mirrors, just great music, on ‘Algorhythm’ he hones in on his Kissing on boys’. We’re gonna need a
beats and rhythms. personal influences and channels them video for that one!
“My goal is not to create a replica through his music. Most notably, the On ‘Algorhythm’ Todrick sets out to
of ‘80s music but an evolution of my stunning ballad Breath is inspired by prove himself as a singer and, as he
music infused with ‘80s nostalgic Prince’s Purple Rain and is, according pushes his vocal abilities further than
PHOTO TREVOR PAUL

instrumentation.” to the hitmaker, “the most transparent ever before, he more than triumphs.
His ambition becomes clear from and vulnerable I have ever been as a But in silencing his critics, he also
the opening bars of synth-laden songwriter”. proves himself a fully-rounded pop star,
Algorhythm Intro, on which he sings, “Sometimes ‘the one that got away’ capable of blending classic vocals and
‘Let’s hear it for the heartbreakers / Who is someone who didn’t always bring rap with ease for a signature sound that
left my tears on the dance floor’. It’s out the best in you but also made you sets him apart from the crowd.

86 RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM
 REVIEWS | albums

CHRISTINE McVIE
SONGBIRD: A SOLO
COLLECTION
HHHHH
RELEASED: June24 Rhino

FORMATS:
CD, Standard Black Vinyl,
Limited Edition Sea Foam Green
Vinyl (HMV Exclusive)

leetwood Mac legend

F Christine McVie celebrates

her pop legacy with a timeless
collection of understated
highlights from her solo career.
In addition to her work with the
supergroup - for which she penned and
performed hits such as Say You Love
Me, You Make Loving Fun, Little Lies and
Everywhere - the singer-songwriter has - the only thing missing, of course, which hold their own and are more than
released three solo LPs: Christine Perfect are those classic Buckingham Nicks deserving of a place on the record and
(1970), Christine McVie (1984) and In The harmonies. will hopefully convince the hitmaker to
Meantime (2004). That’s not to detract from what’s on revisit more shelved projects.
Although her endeavours outside of offer however, as ‘Songbird’ serves as The jewel of the album comes as
the group never reached the heights of a reminder that Christine remained its final track, as Christine revisits her
bandmates Lindsey Buckingham and active during the group’s mid-’80s signature cut Songbird, which originally
Stevie Nicks, ‘Songbird’ puts Christine’s hiatus - between the ‘Mirage’ (1982) and appeared on Fleetwood Mac’s seminal
compositions front and centre, ‘Tango In The Night’ (1987) albums - and album ‘Rumours’ (1977), this time with
showcasing her inimitable blend of following her departure in 1998 after the backing of an orchestra, which
blues and pop that scored some of the ‘The Dance Tour’. allows the song to take flight and soar
most popular and enduring hits of the Despite scoring her biggest solo higher than ever before.
past five decades. success with her sophomore effort, It’s a poignant reminder that, despite
It features a selection of songs from much of ‘Songbird’ focuses on ‘In her position stage right with Fleetwood
the star’s latter two albums, which have The Meantime’, with half of the LP Mac, as Buckingham and Nicks share
been remastered by legendary producer comprising tracks from that album, the spotlight, Christine McVie is a vital
PHOTO RANDEE ST. NICHOLAS

Glyn Johns, who worked closely with while only two songs from ‘Christine part of the band’s make-up and the
the star on the project, alongside two McVie’ appear. Whether 18 or 38 years pop glue that held their sound together
previously unreleased studio recordings old, though, ‘Songbird’ is a testament to down the years.
from the vault. her ability to craft songs that stand the ‘Songbird’ is a testament to that and
Opening with 2004 cut Friend, test of time, outside of chart trends. a refreshing dive into her musical
Christine’s trademark pop hooks That’s evident on the new songs - contribution outside of the group. And
characterise this compilation, from ballad All You Gotta Do and Slowdown, after teasing us with two ‘new’ cuts, we
which any of the tracks wouldn’t sound which was originally written for the just hope there’s even more to come in
out of place on a Fleetwood Mac record 1985 film ‘American Flyers’ - both of the not so distant future…

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TOM ASPAUL
LIFE IN PLASTIC
HHHHH
RELEASED: Digital – Out now;
Physical – August 2022
1609

FORMATS:
CD, Blue Vunyl LP, Blue Cassette

hannelling the best of

C Europop, Tom Aspaul throws

things back to the early
‘00s on his feelgood second
album ‘Life In Plastic’.
Arriving two years after his debut
long-player ‘Black Country Disco’, and
subsequent remix LP ‘Black Country
Discothéque’, the new record sees the
singer-songwriter reunite with producer that had come under strain as a result of dichotomy between my persona as a
Gil Lewis on 10 new tracks, which he external circumstances. ‘popstar’ and the fact I live at home with
calls a “celebration [...] of European Album cut Statues - one of the earliest my parents.”
music”. tracks from the album sessions - sees It comes to a head on Effigy; a stellar,
“I wanted to widen the palette of the hitmaker “out here on my own”, trance-inspired number that addresses
references on this record to encompass while the playful Listen 2 Nicole - the trauma and baggage of a failed
sounds and genres I’d never felt inspired by the pop bangers of Nicole relationship, and how it continues to
confident enough to explore before,” Scherzinger and the Pussycat Dolls impact his life, head-on. Like a sequel to
says Tom. “At its core, ‘Life in Plastic’ is - riffs off some of her biggest hits as his fan-favourite hit Traces, it’s perhaps
all about subverting what I present to he warns himself not to revisit a past the most cinematic track on the record
the world.” relationship. and a perfect example of Tom’s fine
Opening with lead single Let Them Across the set, there’s an overarching pop sensibilities.
(It’s All Love), the album presents slick, desire for escapism, with tracks like ‘Life In Plastic’ might be uptempo, but
shiny production, underpinned by Wake Up In The Sun and Thessaloniki beneath the dancefloor beats and glossy
strikingly contemplative lyrics inspired seeing the star take himself away production is his most personal album
by the circumstances and challenges from the mundane realities of day- to date, revealing what life has really
Tom found himself facing over the past to-day living to a world of sun, sea been like for independent artists fighting
two years. and sexuality - which he continues to to keep their careers alight over the past
PHOTO JUSTIN ATKINS

While releasing his first LP at the explore across the LP, not least of all two years.
height of a global pandemic, the on pre-release track Kiss It, a standout The brilliance, though, is that it’s first
35-year-old found himself returning to single of the year so far. and foremost a monster pop record
his family home in the midlands, unable Meanwhile, Millionaire sees Tom - and further evidence that Tom Aspaul
to take the record out on the road, and who continues to self-release his music should by all accounts be one of the
questioning his personal relationships as an independent artist - highlight “the UK’s biggest music stars.

88 RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM
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mixes, so this is a way of keeping his “I love the melody,” says Ali. “In
memory alive.” the original UB40, we were good at
In wake of his passing, opener What choosing old reggae favourites like Eric
Have I Done cuts to the heart, as Ali Donaldson’s Cherry Oh Baby and Lord
sings, ‘I’ve got to learn how to do all the Creator’s Kingston Town, because we
things we used to do together / I’ve got grew up on songs like that. But it’s also
to find a way to carry on’. interesting to take a totally unexpected
Although the music predates his song and cover it in a reggae style.”
passing, many of the tracks take on a What stands out on the album is Ali
new meaning, reflecting the pair’s four- and Astro’s continued creativity, which
decades-long bond. Yet their timeless began 40 years ago and, amid various
sound permeates the set, which feels iterations of UB40, has never faltered.
UB40 FEATURING ALI strikingly positive and forward thinking. For this project, the pair took themselves
CAMPBELL & ASTRO “For me, it’s all about advancing on a productive, five-day stay in
UNPRECEDENTED reggae,” Ali adds. “I love all kinds of Jamaica, where they hooked up with the
HHHHH music, but we’ve always promoted cream of the island’s reggae players -
reggae. I’ve never deviated from that. including drummer Sly Dunbar, bassist
RELEASED: June 17 UMC I’m strictly reggae.” Chris Meredith, keyboardist Robbie Lyn
Alongside original compositions, and guitarist Mitchum ‘Khan’ Chan - to
FORMATS: the album features a number of cover bring the record to life.
CD, Signed CD (Amazon versions, including lead track Sufferer; The expedition paid off and, as UB40
Exclusive), 2LP Black Vinyl a reggae standard originally by The Featuring Ali Campbell & Astro share
Kingstonians, which brings Astro to the ‘Unprecedented’ with the world, it hits
fore with his ‘sing-jay’ style of MC-ing, home that the final chapter for one of
li Campbell celebrates also prominent on the title track. music’s great partnerships has come to

A his final collaborations

with the late Astro on the
pair’s new studio album
‘Unprecedented’.
Recorded prior to his tragic death last
They showcase the duo’s ability to take
songs from across genres and reinterpret
them in their signature reggae style. Kris
Kristofferson’s Sunday Mornin’ Comin’
Down and Stevie Wonder’s funky protest
a close.
Remaining true to the authentic
reggae spirit that kick-started his music
career in the late 1970s, however, Ali is
continuing to celebrate his and Astro’s
November after a short illness, the LP song Do Yourself A Favour come to legacy by passing their music down to
features 14 tracks that cut to the essence mind, along with a more surprising cut fans and bringing the album to life on
of UB40 Featuring Ali Campbell & Astro. - a new take on ‘90s boy band East 17’s stage later this year, for what’s sure to be
Ali says: “Astro’s death came as such single Stay Another Day. a moving yet memorable occasion.
a shock, and I’m still reeling from it.
This album is now more poignant and
special than either of us could have
imagined when we were recording it.
“Astro heartbreakingly passed just
two weeks after we’d finished the final
PHOTO ALEX BARRON HOUGH

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33 minutes and is the result of heavily But on ‘Eyeye’, the music is only half
restricted sessions at the insistence of of the story; the project is also a visual
the singer-songwriter. album, directed by Theo Lindquist
There were no clicktracks, no and shot on 16 millimetre film by
headphones, and no digital instruments, cinematographer Edu Grau.
and she recorded her vocals on a “We wanted to capture the beauty
handheld $70 drum mic - often in the and grandeur of a three-hour European
moment of composition - for her most arthouse movie, while making
intimate collection yet. something native to modern media,”
“I wanted the record to have the she says of the one-minute videos,
intimacy of listening to a voice memo which are to be viewed as fragments of
on a macro dose of LSD,” Lykke says. a bigger story.
LYKKE LI Setting the tone with first track “The intention is to deliver the full
EYEYE No Hotel, the album is strikingly impact of a movie in sixty seconds on a
HHHHH minimalistic, with her raw vocals and phone screen, which is where most of
lyrics the main focus of its eight songs. our emotional experiences happen now
RELEASED: On the quiet opener, Lykke is seen anyway.”
Digital - out now; reminiscing about a former love, as she In her quest, Lykke succeeds in
CD - June 17; almost whispers the lyrics: ‘There’s no crafting an arresting, emotive LP that
Vinyl - December 9 hotel / No cigarettes / And you’re still in demands attention and hooks you into
Play It Again Sam love with someone else’. a 360-degree immersive world of music
In carving out a style that’s wholly and film that pushes her artistry to
FORMATS: unique to who she is as a performer, another level.
CD, Standard Black Vinyl Lykke peppers the album with touches Largely a mid-tempo record, it’s
of various genres, from the synth-laden impossible not to wonder how ‘Eyeye’
Americana of Highway To Your Heart to would have turned out with a few more
PHOTO THEO LINDQUIST

ykke Li continues to prove the psych-pop of Happy Hurts. pop hooks; but there again, ‘Eyeye’

L herself a master of sad-pop on

her latest album ‘Eyeye’.
Reuniting the Swedish star
with her longtime collaborator Björn
Yttling, producer of her first three
Carousel is a dreamy mid-point in the
set that allows the LP to breathe, ahead
of closer Ü&I, which clocks in at over 7
minutes, featuring an extended outro of
ambient noise and creating a world for
isn’t an all-out pop record. Instead, it’s
a deeply personal, intimate collection
that explores who Lykke is as a person -
beyond her stage persona - resulting in
one of the most evocative albums we’ve
albums, the new record clocks in at the music beyond her vocals. heard in a long time.

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UNA deliver their finest moments to whet appetites.

M record yet with their

empowering, self-titled
third studio album.
After debuting in 2017 with ‘About
U’ and making waves with follow-up
“Breaking up is hard to do. In the past
we’ve stayed in relationships for a long
time, waiting until we hit low lows to
admit it was over,” says the group of
that song. “It’s about trusting yourself
‘Saves The World’ two years later, the trio and your instincts enough to walk away
are celebrating five years of music with from someone while you still have love
with an LP dedicated to queer love and for each other and before it gets too bad.
relationships. “The song embodies the lightness and
For their first long player since being a playfulness that floods in when you
dropped by RCA Records, the Los realise that there’s no lock on the door,
Angeles group, who all met in college no one’s holding you back – you can
MUNA at the University of Southern California, untie the knot and skip into the sunset
MUNA explore a broad range of sounds and whenever you’re ready.”
HHHHH styles, often returning to synth-pop Alongside uptempo breakup anthems,
territory, while showcasing their ‘MUNA’ also sees the band look back
RELEASED: June 24 versatility. on their personal experiences and take
Saddest Factory “What ultimately keeps us together is ownership of their past behaviour,
knowing that someone’s going to hear accepting their faults and learning to
FORMATS: each one of these songs and use it to move on from adversity.
CD, Standard Black Vinyl, make a change they need in their life,” Kind of Girl sees the group look
Limited Edition Opaque White says guitarist Josette Maskin of their inward, while on Loose Garment they
Vinyl (Artist Store Exclusive), drive to create the LP. “That people are work through earlier mistakes and
Limited Edition Olive Green going to feel a kind of catharsis, even if embrace what’s gone by, while setting
Vinyl (Indies Exclusive), it’s a catharsis that I might never have their sights on the future.
Limited Edition Translucent known myself, because I’m fucked up.” Thematically, ‘MUNA’ is the group’s
Orange Vinyl (Urban Outfitters The album opens with lead track most cohesive release yet, and while
Exclusive), Limited Edition Silk Chiffon, an ode to love and a it shifts between tender, stripped-
Champagne Wave Vinyl (VMP collaboration with Phoebe Bridgers, who back numbers and outright bangers,
Exclusive) signed the group to her Saddest Factory its sequencing pivots at all the right
label. It’s a raw opening, but the heat moments, bringing out the best in
soon picks up on the thumping What I each track.
Want, EDM-influenced Runner’s High Over the past five years, MUNA have
and synth-laden Home By Now. established a committed, loyal following
For fans of second single Anything But who will eat up their latest offering, and
Me - “a song about leaving a partnership it seems now is the time for their career
simply because it doesn’t feel right” - to really take off and hit its stride, bigger
there’s plenty of straightforward pop than ever before.
PHOTO ISAAC SCHNEIDER

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PRINCE AND THE

REVOLUTION
LIVE
HHHHH
RELEASED: Out now CMG

FORMATS: 2CD+Blu-ray,
3LP Black Vinyl,
Collector’s Edition Box
Set (3LP + 2CD + Blu-ray)

Prince’s iconic concert film with

The Revolution is remastered and
remixed for a brand new release. been
Restored from the original 2” revisited
multitrack master reels, the film has with such care
been digitally enhanced onto Blu- and attention.
ray video with selectable stereo, 5.1 In addition to the
surround and Dolby Atmos sound, audio and video from
offering a standout experience like the gig - which took
never before. place at Syracuse,
The show, which was recorded in New York’s Carrier stories and memories from all five
March 1985 and beamed to millions live Dome - the set includes an expansive members of The Revolution.
via satellite, remains one of the most 44-page book complete with never- Whether a hardcore fan or simply
iconic live recordings in pop and rock before-seen photos of the ‘Purple Rain looking to immerse yourself in the Prince
history, and it marks the first time it’s Tour’, new liner notes highlighting experience, this is not to be missed.

David Bowie’s iconic breakthrough hit singles Starman and Rock ‘n’ Roll
DAVID BOWIE ‘The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust Suicide.
THE RISE AND FALL and the Spiders from Mars’ is back Included with the stunning picture
OF ZIGGY STARDUST with a stunning reissue. disc edition is a replica promotional
AND THE SPIDERS Available 50 years and one day after poster for the album, showcasing
FROM MARS its original UK release date, the set is Bowie’s undeniable style and brilliance
HHHHH available as a limited edition half speed in defining an era.
mastered LP - cut by John Webber at He may have laid to rest Ziggy
RELEASED: June 17 Parlophone AIR Studios - and picture disc. Stardust in July 1973 at his infamous last
Featured is the album in its original show with the Spiders From Mars, but
FORMATS: Standard Black configuration, including the mega he lives on via this seminal record.
Vinyl, Picture Disc

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 REVIEWS | reissues

KEANE ELTON JOHN

THE BEST OF KEANE MADMAN ACROSS
HHHHH THE WATER
HHHHH
RELEASED: July 1
UMC - Universal / Island RELEASED: June 10 UMC

FORMATS: FORMATS: 2CD, 3CD+Blu-

Standard Black ray, 4LP Black Vinyl, Limited
Vinyl, Limited Edition Blue and White Vinyl
Edition Blue &
Orange 2LP Vinyl Elton John’s fourth studio
(Artist Store album hits 50 years with an
Exclusive) expanded deluxe reissue.
Largely written after Elton
had made his initial foray to
Sun and Won’t America, the LP remains a fan-
Keane’s first Be Broken. favourite, exploring a culture
official Since its he and songwriting partner
compilation release, Keane Bernie Taupin had so far only
album is pushed forward experienced in books or on film.
coming to with a studio comeback in 2019 It sees Elton’s classic band
vinyl for the first time. with their stellar fifth album ‘Cause and - starring Dee Murray, Nigel
‘The Best of Keane’ was first released Effect’, preceded by the mighty The Way Olsson, Davey Johnstone and
back in 2013 and features their biggest I Feel. Ray Cooper - unite for the
tracks, such as Somewhere Only We While the set is dated by that first time, and proved a US
Know, Everybody’s Changing and This noticeable omission, ‘The Best of hit, peaking in the Top 10 and
Is The Last Time. Keane’ serves as a documentation of spawning the classic single
Also included on the bumper 20-song their original chart reign and, for the Tiny Dancer.
collection are two new songs written longtime fans and completists among In addition to the original
during that period: Higher Than The us, no doubt an essential purchase. album, this set includes 18
previously-unreleased cuts,
along with the audio of the BBC
Late R&B superstar Aaliyah’s classic ‘Sounds For Saturday’ concert,
AALIYAH ‘Ultimate’ compilation finally arrives broadcast in 1972.
ULTIMATE on vinyl for the first time. The Blu-ray, meanwhile,
HHHHH As part of Blackground 2.0’s reissue contains a 5.1 mix by Greg Penny,
campaign, covering the star’s classic plus the ‘Sounds For Saturday’
RELEASED: June 24 LPs ‘One In A Million’ and ‘Aaliyah’, and his 1971 ‘Old Grey Whistle
Blackground / Empire the label is also revisiting her 2005 Test’ performance.
compilation for its first vinyl pressing. An essential album presented
FORMATS: 3LP Black Vinyl Her second and final retrospective in its definitive format.
album is split in two halves, beginning
with a greatest hits collection
including all of Aaliyah’s best-
loved singles.
Meanwhile the second
disc - entitled ‘Are You Feelin’
Me?’ contains material from
soundtracks and from studio
albums by labelmate Timbaland.
Spread across three LPs, the set
covers the star’s catalogue from
her 1994 debut up until her tragic
death in 2001, aged just 22.
More than two decades on, it’s
a pleasure to see Aaliyah’s music
being celebrated in this way and
finally getting the attention and
recognition it deserves.

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ROXY MUSIC CARLY RAE JEPSEN

SIREN, MANIFESTO KISS
HHHHH HHHHH
RELEASED: June 10 Virgin RELEASED: June 17
UMC / Polydor
FORMAT: Standard Black
Vinyl FORMATS: Standard Black
Vinyl, Limited Edition Opaque
White Vinyl (Artist Store
Roxy Music are revisiting their fifth Exclusive)
and sixth albums for a pair of 50th
anniversary reissues. Carly Rae-Jepsen’s
Originally released in 1975 and 1979, breakthrough second album
respectively, ‘Siren’ and ‘Manifesto’ feature celebrates its 10th anniversary
the UK No. 2 hits Love Is the Drug and with a new vinyl pressing.
Dance Away, arriving prior Originally released in 2012, the
to and after their recording hiatus. LP features the global smash hit
Marking the latest milestone, both records Call Me Maybe, alongside singles
have been given Half-Speed cuts by Miles This Kiss and Good Time with
Showell at Abbey Road Studios in London, Owl City.
for an enhanced listening experience. A decade on, Carly’s still
To reflect the remastered audio, going strong with recent release
the album artwork has been similarly Western Wind showcasing a new
revised with lyrics and a deluxe gloss direction for her latest project, but
laminated finish. she’s taking the time to look back
Years into their career, both records on this fan favourite.
demonstrate the band’s progression Previously only available as
over the course of their original run and a limited edition picture disc,
continue to uphold their legacy. the new pressing is available
on standard black and limited
edition opaque white options, in
Snap!’s chart-topping cult hit line with her most recent releases.
SNAP Rhythm Is A Dancer gets a shiny Slight gripe - the set only
RHYTHM IS A new vinyl reissue in line with its features the original 12-track
DANCER 30th anniversary. standard release, omitting the
HHHHH Released March 1992, the infectious numerous bonus tracks released
single soon turned out to be a internationally.
RELEASED: Out now BMG worldwide hit, topping the charts in That aside, however, we’re all
several countries across the world. for anything that helps people
FORMATS: Limited Edition 10” Having appeared as part of the realise Carly Rae Jepsen’s career
Yellow Vinyl platinum LP ‘The Madman‘s Return’, extends far beyond that one song.
the single helped kick off the
Eurodance wave and became the
launch pad for a chart craze.
Celebrating its legacy, the track
is being reissued on limited edition
sun yellow 10” vinyl, featuring
the 7” edits Rhythm Is A Dancer,
Exterminate, The Power and
Ooops Up.
An essential purchase? Perhaps
not… But it’s a pleasure to see
tracks like Rhythm Is A Dancer
being revisited after 30 years and
bringing a little joy to fans around
the world, all over again.

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RELEASERADAR
A L B U M S | R E I S S U E S | C O M P I L AT I O N S
of club-friendly remixes - such as
VARIOUS ARTISTS Cher’s Believe (Xenomania Mix) and
NOW THAT’W WHAT Mariah Carey’s My All (Classic Radio
I CALL PRIDE Club Mix) - sure to kick the party off
HHHHH in style.
On disc two, there’s a focus on
RELEASED: June 17 Sony contemporary stars, Pride allies
and advocates, opening with
FORMATS: Taylor Swift’s You Need To Calm
4CD Down. Also featured are mega hits
from Dua Lipa, Lil Nas X, Miley
Cyrus, and The Weeknd and
NOW Music is celebrating love and Ariana Grande, alongside offerings
joy with the ultimate soundtrack to a from LGBTQIA+ artists including
summer of Pride! Years & Years, Janelle Monáe, and
The four disc set features choice Kim Petras.
cuts from across the decades, bringing From the present day, disc
together some of the best loved three takes a journey through the Divine, Bananarama and Dead Or Alive,
anthems from down the years, up until decades to celebrate idols and heroes among others.
the present day. of the community, opening with the Closing out the set is a compilation of
Kicking off with a bunch of feelgood heavyweight duo of George Michael’s celebratory party classics, bringing cuts
greats, disc one includes iconic cuts Outside and Elton John’s Philadelphia from Queen, Dolly Parton and ABBA
like Kylie Minogue’s Better The Devil Freedom. Pet Shop Boys, Erasure, The together with more recent offerings
You Know, Robyn’s Dancing On My Communards, Liza Minnelli, Hazell from Steps, Gina G and Scissor Sisters,
Own and RuPaul’s Supermodel (You Dean, Grace Jones and Marc Almond celebrating the true essence of Pride:
Better Work), alongside a stellar line-up also appear, alongside classics from love, unity and equality.

ALSO AVAILABLE FROM NOW MUSIC…

Featuring 85 tracks that
VARIOUS ARTISTS VARIOUS ARTISTS defined the charts in 1981,
NOW THAT’S NOW YEARBOOK the latest in NOW Music’s
WHAT I CALL 1981 Yearbook series throws
TIMELESS… THE HHHHH things back to the beginning
SONGS of the iconic decade for an
HHHHH RELEASED: Out now eclectic collection of the
Sony year’s best-loved hits.
RELEASED: Out now Queen and David Bowie’s
Sony Take a journey through FORMATS: Under Pressure starts
the greatest and best- 4CD, Deluxe 4CD, proceedings, with singles
FORMATS: loved songs from the Translucent Red 3LP Vinyl from Ultravox, Visage, Duran
4CD past six decades with Duran, Japan, and Soft Cell
NOW Music’s selection of highlighting the quality of tracks on offer.
timeless hits. Following the death of John Lennon the previous year, disc two
Sequenced out of chronology, the set highlights classic offerings opens with Imagine, before showcasing an array of genres that
from some of the biggest and most successful artists from the dominated the charts - from ballads to rock and disco. It’s a theme
1960s through to the present day, kicking off with Queen’s anthem that continues across the following disc, which segues between
Somebody To Love. Lennon and Yoko Ono, and ABBA and Bucks Fizz, with ease.
Alongside massive hits from Blondie (Heart of Glass) and The final chapter embraces new artists
Kate Bush (Wuthering Heights), the collection delves deep and - ABC, Altered Images, The Teardrop
rediscovers tracks that, decades on, are regarded as standards. Take Explodes, Fun Boy Three, and U2, among
ABBA’s The Day Before You Came, for example, which stalled at No. others - and celebrates the New Romantic
32 in 1982, but 40 years on is considered one of their greatest. movement with second offerings from
Classics of the ‘60s from The Beach Boys, Ike and Tina Turner, Duran Duran and The Human League,
and Aretha Franklin are entwined with contemporary cuts from alongside Spandau Ballet.
U2, The Killers, and Amy Winehouse, proving a good song never Bursting with great pop music, it’s
goes out of fashion. another essential release
The pop aficionados among us may have most of these tracks in NOW’s unwavering
already, but if you’re looking to brush up on your essential music documentation of
history, look no further. pop history.

RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM 95
 RELEASERADAR
NEW MUSIC
Coming soon…

PETER WILSON
THE GREAT UNKNOWN
RELEASED: July 8 Energise
FORMATS: CD, 2CD, Limited Edition
Green Vinyl
Pop star Peter returns with 14 new tracks on his
second album in two years, with the help of PWL
mixmaster Pete Hammmond and others.

BANANARAMA
MASQUERADE
RELEASED: July 22 In Synk
FORMATS: CD, Limited Edition Red Vinyl, Limited
Edition Blue Vinyl, Limited Edition Purple Cassette
Girl group royalty celebrate 40 years of hits with a brand new
album, produced by regular collaborator Ian Masterson.

RINA SAWAYAMA
HOLD THE GIRL
RELEASED: September 2 Dirty Hit
FORMATS: CD, Red Cassette, Standard Apple
Red Vinyl, Limited Edition Lava Vinyl (Artist Store
Exclusive), Limited Edition Lemonade & Galaxy Swirl
Vinyl (Rough Trade Exclusive), Limited Edition Black Ice
Vinyl (HMV Exclusive), Limited Edition Red Splatter
Vinyl (Indies Exclusive),
The second album from the rising star arrives three years
after her debut ‘Sawayama’ and features hit single This Hell.

MARK OWEN
LAND OF DREAMS
RELEASED: September 23 BMG
FORMATS: CD, Standard Black
Vinyl, Limited Edition Coloured
Vinyl (Artist Store Exclusive),
Limited Edition Coloured Cassette
Take That star does things his way on
his first solo LP in almost a decade,
preceded by the single You Only
Want Me.

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 REVIEWS | coming soon

LOOKING BACK
SHAKESPEARS SISTER
HORMONALLY YOURS:
MENOPAUSAL
MEMORIES
Released: August 19 London
Formats: CD+DVD, 6CD+DVD Box Set,
Limited Edition Black And White Splatter
Vinyl, Limited Edition Opaque White Vinyl
CRAIG DAVID Featuring a handful of hit singles including the
22 massive hit Stay, Shakespears Sister look back
RELEASED: September 30 BMG on three decades of their stellar second album.
FORMATS: Standard CD,
Standard Black Vinyl, Deluxe
2CD, Deluxe 2LP Black Vinyl
The garage superstar’s eighth studio
LP, celebrating 22 years since he
released his debut album ‘Born To
Do It’ in August 2000.
MADONNA
FINALLY ENOUGH
LOVE: 50 NUMBER
ONES
Released: August 19 Warner
Formats: 3CD, Limited Edition
6LP Red And Black Vinyl
Queen of Pop celebrates her
50 US Billboard Dance
Club Songs Chart No. 1
hits with a massive new
SAM RYDER remix collection.
THERE’S NOTHING GEORGE
BUT SPACE, MAN! MICHAEL
RELEASED: October 14 OLDER
Parlophone Released: July 8 Sony
FORMATS: CD Formats: 3LP+5CD Box
Hot on the heels of his standout Set, 2LP Standard Black
performance at the Eurovision Song Vinyl, 2LP Limited Edition
Contest, the Space Man star is set to Red Vinyl (Artist Store
release his first long-player. Exclusive), 2LP Limited
Edition White Vinyl
(Amazon Exclusive), 2LP
Limited Edition Turquoise
Vinyl (Indies Exclusive)
Late superstar’s iconic 1996
album comes to vinyl in a
number of configurations,
including a massive
celebratory box set.

HEATHER SMALL WHIGFIELD

COLOUR MY LIFE I&II
RELEASED: 29 July East West Released: Autumn 2022
FORMATS: CD, Signed CD Plastic Pop
(HMV Exclusive), Standard Black Formats: 2LP Yellow Vinyl
Vinyl, Limited Edition Red Vinyl + Remix CD
(Amazon Exclusive) The first two albums from
M People star’s first solo effort in 16 the ‘90s star available on
years features reimagined versions vinyl for the first time,
of her Top 10 hits from her tenure along with a bonus CD of
with the group and her successful additional tracks.
solo career.

RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM 97
QUIZ | Summertime

H O T T O
T O O , B A BY !
D L E
HAN
Summer’s finally here
- and with sun, sea and
the occasional sangria
on the horizon, let’s
revisit some of our
favourite songs about
the season!

Here Comes the Sun has been

1 covered by everyone from Nina
Simone to Jon Bon Jovi, but which
group performed the original?

2 Which ‘Grease’ couple reminisce

about their Summer Nights in
the hit song from the movie?

9 It’s The Beach Boys’ favourite

season, but which sport did
Bombalurina dancer Dawn

3 It’s always Summer for the

Queen of Disco, but what was
they reminisce about playing in All
Summer Long? 15 Andrews is married to which
boy band frontman?
Donna looking for when she “almost
rang the phone off the wall”? Which rocker celebrated the
10 end of class with his summer
jam School’s Out?
16 Texas called on which
disco legend to remix their

4 ABBA’s hit single Summer

Night City is a tribute to
which Swedish city?
classic hit single Summer Son?

11 In The Boys of Summer,

what car decoration reminds Which Eurovision winning

In which US city did Bananarama

Don Henley of days gone by? 17 group hit the Top 10 on both

5 film the music video for their

1983 hit Cruel Summer?
sides of the Atlantic with Walking
on Sunshine?
Which iconic hip hop duo
12 performed Summertime?

6 It was the group’s first US Top 18 On the subject of Eurovision,

which UK entrant sang about
PHOTO DPA PICTURE ALLIANCE / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

10 hit after being featured in

which movie? 13 Vacation became a road
trip anthem and the title of
the second album from which all-
going on a Summer Holiday?

female rock group? In their hit Summer

7 Which Swedish group covered

Cruel Summer in 1998?
19 Sunshine, what did The
Corrs “borrow” in coffee city?
Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie
14 Yellow Polka Dot Bikini

8 Bryan Adams has enjoyed

some epic summers, but
which was the “best” of his life?
returned to the charts in 1990
thanks to Bombalurina - fronted 20 Which British group
christened a new Summer
by which comedian? of Love in 2000?

15 Take That’s Gary Barlow; 16 Giorgio Moroder; 17 Katrina and the Waves; 18 Cliff Richard; 19 Heaven; 20 Steps
9 Miniature Golf; 10 Alice Cooper; 11 A Deadhead sticker on a Cadillac; 12 DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince; 13 The Go-Go’s; 14 Timmy Mallett;
ANSWERS: 1 The Beatles; 2 Danny Zuko and Sandy Olsson; 3 Some Hot Stuff; 4 Stockholm; 5 New York; 6 The Karate Kid; 7 Ace of Base; 8 Summer of ‘69;

98 RETROPOPMAGAZINE.COM