Since releasing her debut album back in 1995, Beverley Knight has become something of a British pop institution. She's won MOBOs, nabbed Brit Award nominations and even collected an MBE in 2007. As she prepares to release her sixth album - the emphatically-titled 100% - we spoke to Beverley about her music, her split from EMI and the rise of the BNP. Oh yes, and she even found time to talk about partying with the Take That boys.

 

What can you tell us about your new album?

"It's a contemporary soul record, as opposed to the last one, which was very much an old-school record. This one's up-to-date. I wanted something that was going to make people feel good and smile and forget their worries. That was the spirit of the record I wanted to make and I think I've got there!"

 

Why have you called it "100%"?

"There's a track on the album called '100%' that describes the commitment I have to my relationship. But the bigger thing it describes is me, my attitude to my work and my music. I give 100% in everything I do because I have to. Finally, I own this record 100%. It's on my label and it's 100% me."

 

Why did you decide to part ways with EMI?

"There was no point in staying really. The only thing you need is the money to make, market and distribute your record. If you've got the money to pay for those things, you can cherry-pick your own little A-Team. I also really wanted to own the music I make - Jesus, it's a revelation! People think you write a song and it's yours but it's not."

 

Did the buyout by Terra Firma, which caused problems for Radiohead and Robbie Williams, have an impact on your decision?

"When you look at very big acts and you can see that they are looking for a way out of the situation, you know something is very wrong with the entire structure. It's not just EMI - I can't just pick on EMI bless 'em - it's the entire music industry as we know it. It's all changed. The digital age has blown the whole thing wide open. Things that record labels would traditionally do for you - and take a hell of a lot of your earnings to do - you can do in a few clicks on the internet now! I was in a position to jump ship, so man I was jumping!"

 

Is that why you've made 'Every Step' a free download from your website?

"Yes, because I can. People like Prince and David Bowie were doing this back in the day and everyone thought they were mad, but it makes perfect sense. I don't think it's for everyone, but it's definitely for me given the stage I'm at now."

 

Jam & Lewis produced the track, and of course they worked with Michael Jackson on HIStory. Was Jackson an influence on you?

"I wouldn't say I was an über-fan, but I loved the music and the standard of performance that he set. He was unrivalled in terms of how he put a great pop show together. You can't escape those kind of things when you're growing up with an artist. He was the guy that made black pop totally fine, totally cool and totally accessible."

 

You played a Love Music Hate Racism gig in Stoke recently. Is that type of gig more important since the BNP's European election success?

"Imagine a world if that lot got in! Everybody I know would be shipped out of the country and the economy would collapse in two seconds. It's a big, big deal. As much as I hate the fact that people went to the booths and voted for them, we live in a democracy. People can do what the hell they want and vote for who they want, which I think is absolutely right. But now we've got those two representatives in Europe, all their bad intentions and dodgy policies have to be brought to light. Give them the rope and they will probably end up hanging themselves."

 

You supported Take That back in 2006 and sang 'Relight My Fire' with them onstage. Are you still in touch with the boys?

"Yeah, I've kept close friends with the lads and I was there with them yesterday partying until 4am. I'm knackered now and paying the price! It's a joy to watch four lads from Manchester come back after ten years, put in plenty of hard graft and absolutely smash it. I'm very proud of them and I was very proud to sing with them when we on tour together."

ID love Bev to do a duet with Take That they worled together so well on tour and she did a great job on relight my fire. Also with Take That been so huge i think a duet could open bev up to new fans and she could benefit in album sales aswell,i also think they would work well as both take that and bev write their own music so they could write a killer duet.

ID love Bev to do a duet with Take That they worled together so well on tour and she did a great job on relight my fire. Also with Take That been so huge i think a duet could open bev up to new fans and she could benefit in album sales aswell,i also think they would work well as both take that and bev write their own music so they could write a killer duet.

Yeah, it's always puzzled me as to why they haven't done a duet or even a writing collaboration. I'm sure Gary and Beverley could come up with something quite special if they got together and wrote something.

 

So we now know the track called "100%" is about James then, sounds like a nice thing to write for him. ^_^

 

Nothing new really that we didn't already know in there ^_^ Video should be out soon now then.

Nothing new really that we didn't already know in there ^_^ Video should be out soon now then.

True, I didn't know what the song "100%" was about though and her views on the BNP are quite umm... admirable. (?) I'm sure she could have said a lot worse about them and - actually - the deputy leader of the BNP sort of responded to the comment:

A Beverley of a different kind now, that being the black singer Beverley Knight. She is not best pleased with June's European Election result and judging from recent comments she might be joining Snow Patrol and releasing a special track in order to "help the campaign against the BNP". Here is what she said:

 

 

"Imagine a world if that lot got in! Everybody I know would be shipped out of the country and the economy would collapse in two seconds. It's a big, big deal. As much as I hate the fact that people went to the booths and voted for them, we live in a democracy. People can do what the hell they want and vote for who they want, which I think is absolutely right. But now we've got those two representatives in Europe, all their bad intentions and dodgy policies have to be brought to light. Give them the rope and they will probably end up hanging themselves."

 

 

You never know, unlike Snow Patrol, she might pick up another MOBO, although the irony of this will more than likely be wasted on Gary Lightbody and Co.

 

I'm not smart enough to understand his comment but it seems to be some sort of intended dig at least! :arrr:

What? I dont get that. Should i know who Gary Lightbody are?

 

Epic failure to the BNP

What? I dont get that. Should i know who Gary Lightbody are?

 

Epic failure to the BNP

Gary Lightbody is the lead singer of Snow Patrol, so I'm assuming he's just talking about Snow Patrol. I just don't get what's ironic about her possibly winning a MOBO and them not? The only explanation I can think of is that only artists of black origin can win a MOBO so he's saying THEY'RE racist as white artists, such as Snow Patrol, could never win them.

The BNP are such failures. Even their sarcastic put-downs are $h!t!

The BNP are such failures. Even their sarcastic put-downs are $h!t!

LOL exactly, I think I'm probably right. They're calling the MOBO awards racist I think.