La Voix
La Voix online magazine.qxp_Layout 1 01/05/2019 09:43 Page 2
chats ahead of bringing her brand new tour to Brum... Oh, I’m beyond excited. It’s what I do! Travelling the country spreading the love! This year I’m let loose! You can expect to see me give my all, more than ever. It’s all new! New songs, stories, confessions and costumes. It’s hard to describe what occurs in my shows, but it’s an ‘experience’! You will leave feeling empowered, exhausted and relieved, all in one. It’s pure escapism entertainment mixed up with modern therapy. You can escape the misery of life like Gemma Collins on television, or celebs go smearing, anything political is out, and most of all, phones are turned off. I endeavour to make my audiences experience true variety. I recreate vaudeville-style cabaret, immerse them in quality entertainment and give them a blast of live music. There’s no one doing what I’m doing... who hasn’t been sectioned! Have you been busy so far this year? I haven’t stopped. As soon as the curtain fell on my last panto show, on New Year’s Eve, I hotfooted it to Heathrow to start my 2019 residency at the glamourous Limelight Club onboard P&O Britannia. Alongside that, I was itching to get home and join my full band for this new Live, Loud And Fabulous touring show. Add to that new dress designs, endless visits to the hairdressers for blowouts and my new passion for yoga... if I’m not downward dogging, I’m upright in a fitting!
How do you prepare before performing on stage?
Kylie fan club! Well, maybe I still am - I never called her to cancel.
I always listen to one of my inspirational divas whilst getting ready, be it Liza, Judy, Cher or Shirley. I find it just gets me in the mood. I have many rituals, which do include a cheeky vodka cranberry! My motto is, if the audience are at the bar in the theatre, I should join them backstage in having a tipple. I like to be on the stage in the wings, hearing the audience, rather than stuck in a dressing room. It’s all about soaking up the atmosphere.
“You will leave
feeling empowered, exhausted and relieved, all in one
“
Hello, La Voix! How exciting that you’re back on tour! What are you most looking forward to?
Who was the first person you ever saw in concert, and what was the first album you bought?
It was Barbra Streisand at Madison Square Gardens and it blew my mind. It wasn’t in person, it was on a VHS up north in Stockton-on-Tees, but she had a really profound impact on me. My first single was Eternal Flame by The Bangles, and my first album was Kylie’s first ever album! I was in the
Which song is your personal favourite to sing live?
It has to be anything Liza. New York, New York was my first Britain’s Got Talent audition song, and it still holds a great place in my heart. Her arrangement is so amazing. What can people expect from you on this tour?
There are many surprises in the new show. Have you seen my Theresa May singing Dreamgirls? Or Judy Garland singing Adel? If not, then you need to grab a ticket! My favourite classic divas, like Liza, Tina, Shirley and Cher, are still featured of course. And some of the most phenomenal costumes! If you hadn’t become the UK’s most glamorous performer, what would you be doing instead? Hunting down whoever had robbed me of that title! Is there anyone in particular who you’d like to work with? The Dame Shirley Bassey! It would be a dream! Finally, what have you learned from your experiences in the industry so far? Chase your dreams and be nice to everyone! Give an audience your all, and they will give you it back in buckets! Also, feathers cost a fortune and Swarovskis are better than men! La Voix plays The Old Rep Theatre, Birmingham, on Saturday 1 June