- Title: UK: M PEOPLE TALK AHEAD OF THE RELEASE OF THEIR NEW ALBUM "FRESCO"
- Date: 8th September 1997
- Summary: (RTV - ACCESS ALL) HEATHER SMALL (SOUNDBITE ENGLISH) SAYING, "THERE IS DEFINITELY A PROGRESSION, A MATURITY AND A CONFIDENCE. IT IS STILL RECOGNISABLE AS M PEOPLE BECAUSE FIRST AND FOREMOST WE LIKE STRONG SONGS AND THEN THERE'S MY VOICE AND I THINK THAT THE GUYS HAVE DEVELOPED A CERTAIN KIND OF PRODUCTION STYLE. THE SONGS ARE THE WINNING FORCE. I'M ALWAYS MORE INTERESTE
- Embargoed: 23rd September 1997 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
- Country: United Kingdom
- Reuters ID: LVACSYEV553JM2UGUME4CYRBDBCC
- Story Text: Their last album "Bizarre Fruit" sold almost two million copies and stayed in the UK album top 40 for more than two years.
Three years on M People are back with a new album, "Fresco".
The first single "Just For You" will be released next week (September 22).
The band's frontwoman, Heather Small -- the one with the formidable voice and gravity-defying hairdo -- and percussionist Shovell, spoke to Reuters about their latest offering.
"There is definitely a progression, a maturity and a confidence," Small said.
"It is still recognisable as M People because first and foremost, we like strong songs and then there's my voice." It is that voice that arguably has propelled M People from a promising dance act to international acclaim.
The band was founded by renowned Hacienda Club DJ and one-time Dire Straits roadie Mike Pickering. It is his initial that was the origin of the "M" in the band's name.
The band was intended to be a loose collective on the Soul II Soul mould, changing members as the mood demanded.
But the songs Heather sang on were the ones that everyone liked, so the collective became a band, moulding modern dance-floor craftmanship with old-fashioned ideas of being a band.
The core of M People is Small, Pickering, ex-Orange Juice man Paul Heard and percussionist Shovell.
The band started in the 90's -- a bad time for singers when the new sampling technology integral to the dance floor boom separated voices from their owners.
It was an era of Black Box, when the beautiful woman fronting the video didn't actually sing the songs -- a comparison often directed at Small in the early days.
The first of the band's phenomenal live performances put paid to that.
The strength of their live gigs proved the voice did belong to Small and that M People were here to stay.
The band has released three albums so far -- Northern Soul, Elegant Slumming and Bizarre Fruit.
As winners of the Mercury Music Prize in 1994 and a host of other awards including best dance act, M People are loved by radio programmers and club DJ's looking for a dance floor filler.
Their accessible sound -- a high octane mix of soul, dance, pop and glamour -- also has taken their music to product endorsement.
Car manufacturer Peugeot chose M People hit "Search For The Hero Inside Yourself" to help sell their family saloon.
Small, who came to M People from the band Hothouse, said the latest album was a labour of love.
The singer was pregnant during the making of the album, a process she describes as "really enjoyable".
"I was really calm and I enjoy my work," she said. "We fit everything in around my pregnancy, so it was fine." The album also includes a remake of the Roxy Music hit "Avalon".
Shovell explains the idea to record the song originated with Mike Pickering and despite early doubts, has worked.
It also gave Small the chance to use her voice on some powerful and "in your face" vocals.
"Fresco" is set for release on October 13. The band will then tour with the album, starting in the UK in November. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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