UNDERGROUND; THE INFLUENCES
I’m starting with a band that I think began influencing my musical sensibilities incredibly early. Although this post needs to remain focused on my single ‘Underground’, it feels impossible not to mention Tears For fears. I cannot recall the first time I heard this track but I know it must have been some time between 1989 (the year I was born) and 1997. Every time I hear it I feel small, physically little. Swallowed perhaps by a sofa, a car seat or sun lounger somewhere in East London commuting to either my mum or dad’s house or somewhere hot and dry in Europe. The width of Roland’s tone and the freedom in Curt’s harmonies gave me a sensation of exhilaration that I will never forget. It felt like being pinned down by a friend in a physical game at school. Complete submission to being so happily alive. I hear echos of that time in Underground, in the attitude and the joy. “Show me how, Show me how”. At the time of actual creation this part just felt great to sing and earnest in all the correct ways but listening back this evening with some reflection I really hear those early Tears For Fears tones are still living inside so many of my melodies.
Annie Lennox! Now, this is an interesting one. Firstly, I didn’t really listen to much Annie growing up, it wasn’t played much in my house, although my parents love when I do now. In fact the reason I got into Annie Lennox was when the previous manager of my last band NIMMO, her name is Rhianna (Not that one!), sent my ex band mate and I some references and thoughts on how she saw the project developing. She said ‘Little Bird’ was a track that my voice reminded her of. I’ll always remember that first listen because I truly thought “Fuck that sounds like me!” and then as the verse progressed and Annie launches like a Gazelle into the chorus I’m quickly humbled and realise “Fuck, I have work to do”.
From this point onwards (2020) I deep dived the Eurythmics, absorbed all the incredible imagery that felt so excitingly camp and mind blowingly confident. Slowly, I blissfully I made my way through the iconography of the project and into the avery-like heaven of Annie’s backing vocals. This had a HUGE influence on my new music. My vocal coach and I spend so much time pushing me up and over the fence and into the sky vocally to really see what can flourish above my low and bodied vocal tone. Falsetto! A place I had explored but now I would journey. I wanted ‘Underground’ to motor along with the same confidence and vocal gesticulation as an Annie track. To sore like a bird when the message hits home and to land back in those lower tones with a strength and power that makes the listener feel held. I think I’ve made headway on this but I want to keep trying. Keep playing with those dynamics and see where it goes. This leads me very nicely to talk about the third big music influence on Underground….
George Michael - Star People (MTV Unplugged 1997 Live)
Well. I will talk a lot about George as he really and truly has been the biggest influence on my music in my entire lifetime. For now let’s stay focused on ‘Underground’ and talk about how this live show for MTV Unplugged influenced its making.
Firstly, watch the clip. I feel like you have to see it before you read this bit. I am a bit of a George pusher so if any of my friends are reading this I’m sure they feel triggered and fatigued already, but really… Please click above and watch.
Ok, you’re back. Let’s talk about the THE BACKING SINGERS. My good god. After years of obsessively listening to George, watching every interview and listening to every track, I finally looked around and my musical world had changed forever. Of course, I have ears, I can hear the singers when I’m listening to his music but suddenly I was aware of this amazing new world where you sing with world class singers, singers better than yourself, singers with unique tones and varied attitudes. Singers that could boot the fucking door of your house down with the choral strength of a bull. This felt like a new beginning. I had explored the Avery of Annie’s backing vocals but now I sensed an army. I remember urgently messaging my friend Fabiana Palladino:
Fabi being once of the loveliest people I have met in this mad music job replied:
Senab and I clicked SO quickly. Within 5 minutes of being on the phone to each other we knew this was going to be a really special partnership in collaboration. I remember waking up in Paris with my partner and rolling over to check my phone and seeing that Senab had send the backing vocal parts in for ‘Underground’ and a few other tracks. I went straight in, half asleep holding the phone to my ear, one arm still resting on my thigh down my tracksuit bottoms, my ears slowly tuning in. I listened all the way through to every single track whilst a small pool of tears collected on my pillow. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. The power! The emotion. The fucking harmonies. The whole thing was too much to bare. This was when I knew I’d caught something special. THIS is the new chapter of my life. I’m ready. I have my people and now I can write and write and write knowing the creative infrastructure these tracks will be born into. Sent to flourish in a world of bird like falsetto, boisterous backing vocals and a message underpinning it all that gives thanks to all the amazing people in my life and community who helped me get to this very point.
Thanks so much for reading. I will be sharing more stories on what has influenced me over my life time. I would love to hear your stories in return too!
Until the next post! Much love. Sarah x