2014
INTERVIEW
THEGAYUK FEB/MARCH
LS: Things shift and audiences change or grow older.
Radio 1 isn't the same as when I was younger, it seems
less mainstream - that’s more Radio 2 these days.
How do you feel about the current state of the music
industry?
LS: There are 2 sides, manufactured versus integrity.
It’s always been like that though. You can feel
empowered by taking your time, owning your work,
putting your stamp on it rather than being told what to
do and with some Svengali in the background.
Lisa’s personal sense of style has always been a talking
point - remember the kiss curl and bakers boy caps back
in the day? For Jools Hollands Hootenanny, she showed
how to grow up and look classy and still relevant (lisastansfield.com/lisa-on-jools-hollands-hootenanny)
I asked her what input she had on this?
LS: I’m in control of what I wear, I have to be
comfortable with it and not wear something that’s simply
given to me. I work with a fabulous stylist called Johnnie
Blue Eyes. He understands what I like and I’ll ring him
and say “I’m thinking of wearing this with that and
those” and he’ll come back with “yeah, but add that too”
and it works.
It’s part of being who I am.
With it being 25 years since the release of All Around
The World, I asked if she still listens to her back
catalogue?
LS: No! Do I fuck! Once you’ve done an album and done
the promotion and tour, you tend to move on to create
the next. It’s funny but Ian and I (husband and cowriter/producer Ian Devaney) did a Greatest Hits a few
years ago, and we had to listen to the back catalogue to
choose the material, and when we were done, we looked
at each other and said god, we’re good! You forget some
of the material you’ve created and hearing it together
was unusual.
Some may be surprised by Lisa’s acting career - having
appeared in several films and TV series already, she is
set to star in the upcoming title: Northern Soul
(imdb.com/title/tt1837613/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_1), an
uplifting look at the world of all-nighters, flares and
american soul music via a town up North. She stars
alongside Steve Coogan, Ricky Tomlinson and John
Thomson.
LS: Love acting, it’s looking at a character, getting inside
them, finding their identity. I’m very excited about this
film.
I asked if she had plans to do more?
LS: I’d love to, and might once my schedule calms down.
As the clock was ticking, I asked Lisa why she thought
she was so popular with a gay audience? Was it her
torch song prowess? Her ability to convey emotions so
strong in her music? With typical Northern bluntness:
18
❝I think everyone
has an inner Diva
but to be truthful
I’m an inanimate
object first thing in
the morning, I’m
just human!
I tend to live with
whatever’s given
on tour, no major
demands - except
for monkey balls!❞