Exclusive interview with Lisa Stansfield

She may have been 'All Around The World' but our very own pop star knows there's no place quite like home. Despite her many years spent living in Ireland and the States, Lisa has retained the most brilliant Rochdale accent - and the chatty, down-to-earth, straighttalking personality to match.

In the late '80s and throughout the '90s, the smiley singer was the coolest pop star on the planet. Her soulful vocals and timeless dance-pop songs saw her top the charts on both sides of Atlantic, duet with George Michael and Queen, win multiple Brits and Ivor Novello awards and feature on The Bodyguard, the biggest-selling film soundtrack of all time.

Four albums were international hits, selling more than 15 million copies and spawning over 20 hit singles, yet Lisa was never interested in fame. She made only the music she wanted to make, didn’t try to keep up with trends and took her career at her own pace, even turning to acting at one stage, with appearances in The Edge of Love, Miss Marple and Goldplated.

To mark the 30th anniversary of her debut album 'Affection', Lisa and her prodigious band have recently finished a UK tour, performing the hits, alongside favourites from Lisa’s seven subsequent solo records, including her latest album 'Deeper'.

Style's Editor, Ruth Parkinson, caught up with Lisa to chat about her incredible career, life in Rochdale and why she isn't Simon Cowell's biggest fan...!

Do you still live around here?

Yeah, still up near Norden. I live between Rochdale and London now.

What’s the best thing about living in Rochdale? Oh it’s the people in Rochdale. And I really love that you’re in a town but you’re so close to the countryside, it’s beautiful.

I love that you’ve kept the Rochdale accent… Yeah, I think it’s because me and Ian [Devaney] have always been together, so we’ve never lost our accents. Imagine if I was married to an American, I wonder what I’d sound like!

Which places in Rochdale hold the best memories for you?

I suppose Oulder Hill and Redbrook School. I thought Redbrook was the best school in the whole wide world. I never wanted to leave - oh I thought it was absolutely gorgeous. It’s where I made one of my best friends ever in my life. Then we went to Oulder Hill, so it was beautiful for me, because I loved singing and to have that theatre there [Gracie Fields Theatre] in just a normal community school was such a privilege for the kids. We did lots of school productions; it was unbelievable. And that’s where I met my husband, Ian - that theatre is where I first laid eyes on him!

You and Ian have the perfect love story…

Haha it’s a bit corny really isn’t it! Aw I just love him.

When did you first discover your voice?

I was about four years old! My mum was playing records and singing along so I sang along. I mean, I was four, so it probably sounded absolutely ridiculous, but it felt lovely. As a kid it felt really naughty, like everyone was going to tell me off! But I think that’s because it felt so good to do it… I know it’s not naughty anymore!!

Who influenced your style of singing?

A lot of Motown, Philadelphia - I could go on and on, but a lot of old soul music really. When I’m writing and I’m at a loose end, I’ll stick Marvin Gaye on and it just gets my creative juices flowing.

You’ve just finished your tour celebrating 30 years since the release of your debut album ‘Affection’, in 1989, which sold over 5 million copies...!

I feel enormously proud of ‘Affection’. I said it then and I’ll say it now. To have a part of yourself floating around out there for everyone to enjoy and knowing so many people still do enjoy it is a huge compliment.

Is ‘Affection’ your favourite album or does your latest album ‘Deeper’ top it? Well I think your last album is always your favourite album as it’s the freshest in your mind. But now I’m just onto the next one. All that’s gone now and I’m starting again. I love it, that’s the whole process of it. What’s gone to me is new to you really.

Do you have a title for your next album?

No, we don’t even know what format it’s going to be. It’s going to be very souly I think, but I don’t even know if it’s going to be an album, an EP or tracks here and there. It’s lovely though because there aren’t any rules.

What are your plans for 2020?

Writing and recording mainly. I don’t think there will be any tour dates.

How about a Rochdale gig?

We’ve often talked about the Feel Good Festival but we’ve always been very busy and never been able to organise it but you never know.

Imagine how excited everyone would be if you did…

Oh, they might throw cabbages at me, you never know!

Do you have an all-time favourite track of your own?

Not really because there are so many different songs that mean different things to me. They’re like little stories in a way. It’s like liking one child more than the other isn’t it – it’s not fair!

Is there a stand-out moment of your career that makes you look back and think ‘wow did that really happen'?

The Freddie Mercury tribute was unbelievable but I think Rock In Rio was a little bit more special, personally, because people were watching me and it wasn’t me doing someone else’s songs. And it was like 100,000 people. I wasn’t topping the bill - I was supporting George Michael. But it was just really, really incredible. I suppose it depends on the individual but when you stand infront of an audience that big, I think something happens to your body chemically, where you go into a state of complete calm. I think your body just goes ‘ok I can’t handle this’ so I’m just going to wipe it out and it’s fine. So it’s just sort of like being at home singing but with a blanket of 100,000 people. It’s just a really gorgeous feeling.

Your career kicked off after the ‘Search for a Star’ talent contest in Manchester – was that like today’s ‘X Factor’?

No everyone thinks it was like a massive thing. It was just a little talent contest in Eccles, in a little nightclub, called The Talk of the North. The main reason I became successful after that was that one of the judges was the Light Entertainment Producer at Granada television, Johnnie Hamp; and he was the man who put the Beatles on the television the first time. He thought I was the bee’s knees so he put me on Granada and then I just did other things from that, then formed Blue Zone.

What do you think of television talent shows like The X Factor, or this year’s Celebrity X Factor?

Well… I just so hope it’s all coming to an end because Simon Cowell’s face can’t last much longer!! I think it’s quite awful really, that show. The judges just massage each other’s ego’s - I think it’s very self indulgent television on prime time telly. It’s nothing to do with the acts and everything to do with the judges. I think it’s really coming to the end when you’ve got celebrities on there. Are we going to have pets doing it next? It’s unbelievable what s*** you can get out of the bottom of a barrel! It’s cheap television that makes an incredible amount of money for everyone involved, apart from the people who are actually going on it because they want to be successful.

If you could choose anyone - past or present - to duet with who would it be?

Marvin Gaye. But I’d just poo my pants so bad, I’d be so frightened! I imagine he’d put you at your ease though. But it was beautiful to sing with Barry White, he made me feel so comfortable.

If you could make one wish this Christmas what would it be?

I don’t know really. I don’t wish for very much. I’m quite happy with my lot.

Finally, a few questions to check you’re still a Rochdale girl…

What does cruckle mean?

When you go over on your ankle! God I love that word, I’m going to put it in a song! I love putting funny words in songs.

If someone is ‘pecking your head’ what are they doing?

I’d say they were getting on your nerves!

What’s a ginnel?

Oh a ginnel is like, a little alleyway between houses!

Is it a bap, barm, teacake, bun, roll, or a muffin?

Oh it’s a muffin. And an oven bottom muffin at that!

Ruth Parkinson