INTERVIEW 113 that immediately transmits to the audience. There’ s no Doubt that a huge packed venue is exhilarating, but the key person, especially in Festivals, is your sound man. I’ m so lucky to have Ferran Huijsmans doing mine. He’ s worked with legends, including Chick Correa, and I’ m so fortunate to have him making me and the callers feel and sound impeccable every show.
9. What are you most looking forward to about bringing“ Suit Yourself” to a live audience for the first time?
Seeing my audience joyful, elevated, and distracted from the crap in the world today. I love to take them on a trip through the known and unknown, the intimate and outrageous, to see them dancing in the aisles by the end, laughing and singing as they leave, feeling that they’ ve experienced something special and memorable, a night that will never be duplicated.
10. When people leave these shows, what do you hope they feel has stayed with them from the performance?
Joy, hope. I get to meet my audiences after the shows, especially when I’ m signing albums, and I’ m always very moved by the things they say. Young girls tend to ask me how they can be more confident and braver, grown women are delighted I’ m representing them with power and a be-suited sex appeal and humour that men and women can enjoy. But the 2 comments I hear the most after a show are …
1 /“ thank you for making me forget everything that’ s going on in the world, even for a couple of hours”.
2 /“ I didn’ t know I liked jazz, until tonight!”
ISSUE 77 2026 THE ART OF LUXURY