KELLY CLARKSON - ListedMagazine.com

interview
ALISON MOYET
After a career spanning 25 years, Alison Moyet, explains to
Bonnie Redfern why now she feels better than ever
Your sixth album, The Turn was released
in October. What is it about?
It’s not so much about what it’s about
– it’s a group of songs that I wanted to
write that would translate really well to
stage, so you can deconstruct all of the
songs down to just a voice and a guitar
and they’d still hold shape. They’re songs
that are structured around melody and
intelligent lyrics, more from 40 years of
living than 20 years of living.
So you’re putting a lot of life experience
into your music now?
Yes, and observation too. There’s still
the same sense of passion and the same
sense of sorrow, but there’s a resilience
that you don’t necessarily feel when
you’re young.
When you’re fi rst writing your songs tend
to be about projection, how you imagine
sex and romance to be. How you want it
to be as opposed to the reality of what
these things are after having lived it.
You’re far more able to tell it how it is and
know how it is rather than just imagine
how it is.
How do you think you’ve developed as a
performer?
I’ve certainly got a more varied tone and
after writing for 25 years, stylistically
there are a lot of different things that
have gone on for me – there’s more
variety in the material I perform. Because
I can sing bigger and louder doesn’t
mean I should do it all the time. It’s about
knowing when to hold back as much as
knowing when to give out. I think I’m a
very good live performer, and they’re very
passionate live events now.
Some people might call your latest
album release and forthcoming tour a
comeback – do you feel like you ever
went away?
No not really, over the last fi ve years
I’ve been busier than I have at any time
of my career. In 25 years you’re going to
have some time where you’re top of the
agenda as far as the media’s concerned
and other times when you’re not very
important.
Do you see yourself singing and
performing for years to come?
No, I never know, I always wonder if I
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“
I can cope with
diminishing audiences
but I can’t cope with a
diminishing ability
”
can feel like doing it the next year. But
what I can say without a shadow of a
doubt is that I’m a better singer now than
I was three years ago, and I was a better
singer then than I was three years before
that – as long as I’m on an upwards
trajectory creatively, then I shall carry
on. When I feel like I’m coming over the
other end then I’ll knock it on the head. I
can cope with diminishing audiences but
I can’t cope with a diminishing ability.
So you didn’t envisage such a long
career at the start?
I never had great ambitions. Everything
I aspired to do, I outdid in reality. I never
caught up with it or expected it to last as
long.
What does 2008 hold for you?
I’ve got more touring to do - I’m going to
Europe. I’m booked for the next 3 years
but I have a deal with my manager that
he’s not to tell - If I see a really long, full
diary it intimidates me!
Alison Moyet visits the Bournemouth
Pavilion on 16 February. Tickets cost £25.
Call 0870 111 3000; www.bic.co.uk
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