Gabrielle is back in the music biz after a few years out of the spotlight. She returns to celebrate 20 years since her No.1 hit ‘Dreams’ and to add to her 10million+ record sales with a new compilation album and single.
This weekend she’s headlining G-A-Y @ Heaven…
Was it a shock returning to the music industry? Had you forgotten how it all was?
No, I remembered. That’s why I had a long break! [Laughs] No, not really, it’s great. It’s a new time, different people and I’m really enjoying it.
Was it quite flattering for Naughty Boy to ask you to feature on his album, alongside a group of more contemporary artists?
It was an honour, because it’s such a different genre from myself, but I’m so pleased to be a part of it. Naughty Boy is so hot right now and he’s a lovely guy, so grown up. It’s interesting, different and totally out there.
You say you stopped making music because it stopped being fun…
A lot of my original team and record label team changed, and I kinda felt like I was on my own. On my last album I didn’t really even have an A&R person. There was someone who was supposed to be A&R, but they didn’t have a clue what I was doing. I had a song and I was like ‘it’s retro’, and he was like ‘no, retro isn’t happening now.’ I thought ‘are you serious, have you heard of Amy Winehouse?’ Her albums were huge and totally retro, and I have some twat telling me it’s not happening. I didn’t have anyone understanding me or championing me. I thought maybe I shouldn’t do this any more. I’d had more success than I could ever have dreamed off. From the first album, things just got better and better. It was bigger than my wildest dreams, plus I’m a mum so everything fell into place for me to take time out. But music is so great right now and I have this opportunity to work with so many great producers. I don’t remember making music and having this much fun.
Have you found that BBC Radio 1 is more focused on who’s popular as opposed to just playing good music?
Radio 1 has always been that way. I could never get played. I think they make the rules up as they go along. They know who they want to promote, they refuse to play Robbie Williams, and I think he’s a king still. But I do think that there are so many other stations catering to other people. Times are changing and rather than waste your breath moaning about the old days, just accept it and find other stations.
Looking back at your success, do you remember ever checking your bank balance and thinking, ‘Shit, I made it’?
[Laughs] In terms of what puts a smile on your face, it didn’t take a lot when I first started out. To be honest, making music changed my life, but I didn’t make it to have a cushy life. If all I was ever gonna do was sing in pubs, then that was fine, I just loved that people gave me the opportunity to sing. I sang in nightclubs, then on stage and eventually on records.
When did you realise that your success was off the scale?
You just gotta take it in your stride and not believe the hype. Cause one minute they love you, the next they might not care. I never fully immersed myself in the music industry; I could go away and be normal. I just love making music. You’ll see me do promo, but then I’ll disappear. I’ve never wanted to do the celebrity thing, but I don’t knock anyone who loves it, because I’m there first in line buying my copy of OK! magazine for the gossip, I’m just happy cause I’m not in it.
You’re performing at G-A-Y this weekend…
I’ve done G-A-Y before, but at a different venue. It’s at Heaven now, so I’m excited to perform at the new place. I love G-A-Y gigs though, I just think they’re fun, the atmosphere is amazing, the audiences are fabulous, I love the ride. I’m really excited about it.
Will you be doing a mix of old and new material?
Mostly old songs. I’m looking forward to performing the single and playing songs that people know like ‘Out of Reach’ and ‘Dreams’. I’m gonna have a ball there. I haven’t been there since about 2007.
Will we see you twerking on stage?
Oh, hell no! You’d have to pay me a lot to do that stuff. You need to be watching Miley. I love that twerking thing she does, I just think everyone got too used to seeing her young and now we’re seeing her as a woman being sexual and we’re like ‘Oh what is she doing?’ But she hasn’t lost her mind honey, no one says that when Rihanna goes and does her thing. Didn’t even [Lady] Gaga get naked at G-A-Y?
No ones carting her of to the nutty house. But, no, there’ll be no twerking from Gab!
• Gabrielle is at G-A-Y @ Heaven (Villiers Street, WC2N 6NG) on Saturday 23rd November, 10.30pm-5am. Discount wristbands available from G-A-Y Bar.
