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ESPCELEBS Sharleen Spiteri is the face and voice of one of the biggest British bands of the last 20 years. Texas boast over 15 million platinum sales and 13 top ten hits to their name and there’s more of where that came from, but not just yet. This is Sharleen time. A chance to take complete artistic control was something she’d always said no to, until now. “Texas are my family and they’ll always be there. But after the last record everybody decided they wanted to do different things and different projects. We’ve been together 22 years and still have every intention of continuing to make music together. I know when we go back to being a band again we’ll come back to the table with fresher ideas and even better material to record.” Timing is indeed everything and Melody is an album that wears its heart on its sleeve. It was written by Sharleen after a period in her life when she found herself having to reflect and refocus following a split from her long-term partner. But it’s far from morbid; Melody is touching, lyrically powerful, catchy and soulful. Sharleen has made the kind of album she’s always dreamed of and is very proud of it. “The catalyst for me writing this record came from my split with my long-term partner,” she explained. “Once I got my head together I still wanted to make music but this time it was from the heart. I always toyed with the idea of writing about my emotions when with Texas, but it didn’t really seem appropriate at the time and I was never confident of being able to express them like I am now. I guess writing about my personal circumstances has helped me move on and I also get satisfaction from knowing that people who buy this record can appreciate that it’s for real and created from within.
Sharleen Spiteri has released her first solo album and describes it as her ‘personal fantasy record’. Pep Cipriano spoke to the Texas frontwoman to find out why… 22
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“I think a lot of people just appreciate a quality song, one they can relate to and sing along with,” she tells me. “Songs from years ago were simple with a verse, bridge and chorus – they were usually around three and a half minutes long and made an impact because of it. I’ve used orchestration in this album and it’s something we’re hearing more of today. By making music this way, it takes it to another level and makes a change to listening to stuff with whistles and drums! Melody is all about well constructed songs with old themes accentuated with the use of new technology.” Melody is steeped in the sound and textures of 1960s Soul and 1950s Rock ‘n’ Roll but cleverly contemporary in spirit. It’s a timely reminder that Sharleen was already dabbling in similar influences over a decade ago. The opening track, It Was You, has an unmistakable Motown riff to it, much
the same as material the likes of Amy Winehouse and Duffy have been producing. But Melody is original and personal. Going solo has allowed her the freedom to indulge in consuming passions that are Sharleen Spiteri to the core. “I've always wanted to make a Nancy Sinatra record," she explains. "Being on my own meant I could take complete control and make the kind of album I've always dreamed of. That's what Melody is all about. It's my dream Nancy and Lee Hazlewood record, but with Johnny Cash, Motown, Elvis, The Righteous Brothers, all these things thrown in. “‘It Was You’ is a very strong female record and I think people will be able to relate to it. Hopefully the whole album will appeal to everyone. I’d like to think it has no age, genre or barriers. People have told me it’s the kind of record that has something for the young, old and both sexes and I’m glad it’s struck a cord in everyone who’s listened to it.” The finished article highlights the voice, soul and spirit that have already made Sharleen Spiteri one of the most successful women in modern British music. Sharleen’s career has grown with the same intensity as the public’s demand for gossip and sensationalism around pop stars and celebrities. But misbehaving, grabbing the headlines for something other than her talent and attacking paparazzi has never really been her scene. “Let’s say I’ve had an interesting 22 years with the guys in my band. With them (Texas) I’ve seen things in men that women should never know! But at the end of the day we’re all about making music and not headlines. I have a nice life, it’s simple and filled with good supportive friends I can go out and have fun with. I guess they’ve kept me grounded and focused at times. I have no interest in being a celebrity, I just want to make music and sing.” A photo of Sharleen graces the album cover and it’s an image she now appreciates reflects the emotional message of the album. “I think I was moving my hair out of my face or perhaps getting some mascara out of my eye when it was taken! I was trying to go for that Nancy Sinatra look anyway - and think I pulled it off to some degree. I guess the photo sums up where my head was after my split. It’s almost like I’m wiping away a tear, putting on my heels and getting on with it!” Melody has just been released on Mercury Records. www.sharleenspiteri.co.uk