Talking To...Beverley Craven
HM: Yeah, they say the way children are born is the way they are. So, if you had to choose a favourite song from first time around, which would it be and why?
BC: Oh, that's really hard. I guess it would have to be Promise Me as without that I wouldn't have had a career. I don't know why but it just took off. Some people think it's because the Gulf war was beginning at the time.
HM: I never noticed that - that the dates coincided.
BC: Thank you, I'm glad - neither had I.
HM: I guess it makes sense that it would resonate with people, then.
BC: No one knows what makes a song take off. I thought the record company were mad for choosing Promise Me as the first single; there was nothing else like it in the charts.
HM: Maybe that's why people loved it. Which would you have chosen?
BC: Maybe. I'd have released Two of a Kind as it seemed more radio friendly.
HM: Do you still enjoy singing live, after all this time?
BC: Yeah, I love performing live. My band are geniuses and I am honoured to have them with me on stage. They bring something extra to each song at each show. I am privileged to have them all.
HM: Were any of them with you first time around?
BC: Frank on sax. I've worked with him from the beginning. He played on my demos and thought I was a middle class country girl who was going nowhere.
HM: He must have thought you had something to still be there!
BC: He just finds that funny now, I tease him all the time.
HM: Something I noticed in your bio, Beverley, was that you were born in Sri Lanka. Can you tell me about that?
BC: Yeah I was. My Dad worked for Kodak - you know I never really knew what he did - he won't tell me - but we left when I was 14 months old and came back to England. I wish we'd been there long enough for me to remember it.
HM: I was wondering, Beverley, what music you are listening to at the moment?
BC: Wow, well, I can see how the nostalgic thing has happened. I love the songs like Chicago's If You Leave Me Now - I doubt you'll remember it - and Foreigner - Waiting For a Girl Like You.
HM: I love the Chicago song - my favourite Foreigner is I Wanna Know What Love is.
BC: Ah yes. I find a song reminds me of where I was and what I was doing. I love that they remind me of that time.
HM: Yes, I know what you mean - a song reminds me how I felt, too.
BC: Yeah, smells do that too, don't they. I also love Kate Bush's Never Forever album which I stumbled across as a friend had it. I wore it out!
HM: I was playing Kate Bush yesterday.
BC: Really? She's great. I don't find modern music has the same appeal, do you?
HM: Not chart music, no, a lot of it feels like noise, rather than music to me - the lyrics don't really mean anything.
BC: Exactly. I do watch videos on Sky though, to look for ideas, especially how to make singing whilst playing a piano look interesting on a video, like the song by Ordinary People. You know, I don't think we're supposed to like what kids listen to now, our parents probably didn't like what we listened to either. I'm 45 now and I think I sing about stuff relevant to people of my age.
HM: Though you have younger fans as well?
BC: Yeah, lots were young - like you! - when I was first in the charts and remember me. I have young children who know me from hearing their parents' CDs. That's cool but makes me feel old! I like the age I am now though; there was always an anticipation of big birthdays, but I feel like I know where I am now.
HM: It's a state of mind, right?
BC: Right.
HM: I'm looking at the list of tour dates and there are a lot of venues between now and the Autumn. Did you play any of these the first time around?
BC: No, they're all new to me - I'm looking forward to seeing them.
HM: Well, the Sage is fabulous - I'll see you there. Well, I'll let you get back to the girls. Thankyou so much for your time, Beverley, it's been lovely chatting with you.
BC: No problem, thank you and I will look forward to seeing you at The Sage!
Fatea will be reviewing Beverley Craven's appearance at the Sage(0191 443 4661) on June 8th. Full Tour details at:www.myspace.com/beverleycravenmusic
Helen Mitchell