Beverley has been around since the mid-90s and her biggest hits include Greatest Day, Get Up and Come As You Are.
For her seventh studio album, the 38-year-old has decided to give us something a little different; she has raided the British soul vaults and produced a collection of covers of her favourite songs. The album is called Soul UK and we've had it on heavy rotation for the past week.
The album showcases the broad range of her voice – from the subtle to the huge - and we think Beverley has been very clever in her choice of songs. She hasn’t crammed it full of hits so the album feels very fresh albeit with a definite 80s vibe.At the centrepiece of the album is the timeless Omar classic There’s Nothing Like This along with songs like Say I'm Your Number One which was a big hit in its day and will now gain a new generation of fans.
We particularly love Southern Freeez - a great song for the summer. Check it out now before the sun disappears for another year. We had the pleasure of chatting with Beverley, check out the Q&A below:
Afro Boudoir: Tell us about the album?
Beverley: It’s called Soul UK. It’s me doing covers of British soul classics, the type of people who inspired me and made my path much easier. I’m celebrating their achievement because British soul is overshadowed by American soul. I want people to rediscover these great songs and great artists.
AB: How did you go about deciding which songs to cover?
Beverley: That was hard work. There are so many songs. The songs I looked at the most were those by people I had a relationship with; friends those I'd worked with or had a connection with the person or song. In that way, it became my personal version of British soul as opposed to a definitive collection.
AB: You’ve been in the business a long time. Seven albums later, what is the biggest lesson you’ve learned?
Beverley: You need to be patient. Don’t expect success to come quickly. Be driven. It’s hard to get people to care abut your work. You need to be talented and smart. If not, how can you be successful?
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| The cover of Beverley's first album in 1995 |
Beverley: Yes and I still intend to do that. But I won’t base myself there - I’m too British, I would miss Britain too much. I really admire people like Estelle going over there and making a huge smash.
AB: What is the wackiest encounter you’ve had in your career?
Beverley: Being chased through Covent Garden by very enthusiastic, screaming Japanese fans. It was for all of ten minutes. I dived into a shop to hide from them. It is very flattering to know that your music moves people in that way – that you made an album and people love it that much.
AB: What is your analysis of the current soul scene in the UK?
Beverley: At the moment, it seems to be underground. I don’t think enough singers are being given a platform. One person to keep an eye on is Emeli Sandé who will be coming out with an album soon. Of course, the likes of Terri Walker and Kele Le Roc are still around.
AB: Social media and the internet have made the music industry vastly different from the one you entered. What are the challenges and the benefits?
Beverley: There are so many more artists around now, it's great, but you have to raise your game as there is a lot more competition. As for benefits, it's so much easier to discover new artists. It is also easier to market yourself. The digital age has changed so many things.
AB: Describe your style?
Beverley: Eclectic. I don’t always wear the same kind of thing. I’m mostly influenced by rock and roll.
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