CommunityAd sit down with pop star Nicki French.
21 years ago, former Tenterden resident and Homewood School student Nicki French represented the United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest in Stockholm.
The singer and actress, perhaps best known for her 1995 dance cover version of Total Eclipse of the Heart which sold over 250,000 copies (UK) and reached number 5 on the UK singles chart, sat down with us where we discussed Nicki’s earliest music memories, her most memorable career moments and the effect COVID has had on the music scene…
What are your earliest memories of music and when did you realise you wanted to be a singer?
I remember I would sit next to my mum and dad’s old music centre every Sunday, singing along to the Top 20 on the radio. One time, my Godmother was visiting, and as mum and dad came in the room, Auntie Sally said ‘She’s going to be a singer when she grows up.’ I was six at the time, but it stuck – and became my goal!
21 years ago, you represented the UK at the 200 Eurovision song content, how much do you enjoy looking back at that memory and what did you enjoy most about it?
Oh, it truly was one of the most magical weeks of my life. The buzz around Stockholm, and all the camaraderie between the various contestants, plus the support from the fans, was just amazing. I’m so lucky that I am still very connected with Eurovision for the UK, and May is one of my favourite months, as I’m usually nice and busy with Eurovision gigs!
Where have been your favourite venues to play at and if you could pick one dream venue to perform at where would it be?
I love performing over in Brazil, as it is usually with my band over there, and the atmosphere is fantastic. Over in the UK, I would dearly love to perform at Hyde Park – but again with my live band. I do enjoy the outdoor shows, particularly when the weather is good! Back in 1995, I was touring around the USA, doing the equivalent to our Party in the Park shows over here, and nearly every venue was huge, with at least 35,000 people attending. I thoroughly enjoyed that tour, and got to work with, and know, many of the artists gracing the charts at that same time. Really good fun!
Do you have any fond memories of your time spent at Homewood School in Tenterden?
Oh, I LOVED Homewood! I am still in contact with many old school friends. Homewood was a great school to go to – I was very proud of it. I was blessed to grow up in Tenterden. It’s a lovely place, and I still enjoy getting down there to visit the family. Although I was born in the north, I lived in Tenterden from the age of four. My sisters are still there, and it is the place I still feel is ‘home’.
If you could pick a top 5 moments of your career, what would they be?
In no particular order:
- Winning the audience vote on A Song for Europe, and subsequently representing the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest.
- Appearing on Top of the Pops for the first time. Back then, it was the ultimate goal for anyone in music.
- Being booked for shows in Brazil – then being booked to return again and again – and hearing the audience singing MY original songs back to me the very first time I was there! That was a surreal moment.
- That first tour of the USA, and every tour of Brazil! Incredibly tiring, and incredibly hard work – but SO worth it.
- The theatre tour of ‘Menopause the Musical 2’. Theatre was what I originally wanted to do when I left college, but I fell into pop music – and have loved my career. But there is something really special about being backstage in a theatre, and the standing ovations every show were wonderful.
- If I could add a sixth, it would be every pantomime I’ve been lucky to be a part of. I have such a great time in panto!
Have you got any upcoming songs/albums coming out?
YES! I managed to get into a couple of studios to record new tracks for an album (in the times when we weren’t in full lockdown), which was originally scheduled for release later this year. There are still a few more songs to record, but we’re nearly there. However, I don’t want the album to be rushed out, so there is no firm date for release yet. What I CAN say is that Matt Pop, our main producer, has worked on some of the numbers already – and has done a fabulous job (as ever)! I am starting to get very excited about this new album…
How big a detrimental effect do you think COVID-19 will have presently and in the future on the music scene?
It’s already affected many of my fellow performers in a very ‘human’ way. Because most of us have not been able to work at all doing the job we are best at for nearly 18 months, it has hit the self-confidence of nearly everyone – can I still do this? Will I be tired after the first song? Will my voice last? Comedians worry that they won’t be able to ‘sell’ the jokes, and the audience won’t laugh. Singers worry that their voice won’t impress people anymore.
For all of us, the worry is also about venues. Many of them have not been able to open during the pandemic, and even those that have won’t have made any or much profit, so fees to artists will be affected – and sadly I think many of those venues will not be able to reopen at all, so the actual availability of places to work will diminish too. It has been very, very hard, and I don’t think it will miraculously improve overnight sadly.
I know everyone thinks that THEIR area of work has been worst hit – but I genuinely think hospitality and entertainment has suffered worse than most. We just have to hope and pray that audiences will be so keen to get back to being entertained, the work will build up nicely again – and fingers crossed that pantos will be able to go ahead properly this year, with no restrictions or distancing needed.
If you could only listen to one album for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
Goodness, there are so many – ‘Curtis Stigers’ by the man himself, anything by Earth, Wind & Fire, ‘The Long Run’ by Eagles, ‘The Plan’ by the Osmonds, any Bruno Mars album, Carpenters’ ‘Gold’ – and any greatest hits album by any of the aforementioned – or Donna Summer, Whitney Houston, Stevie Wonder, Andy Williams…! I really couldn’t pick just one album.
Away from singing, what do you enjoy doing to unwind?
I bake – a lot! My kitchen is my haven, and I prepare everything from scratch. I love baking and cooking, and having friends round for dinner is one of my favourite ways to spend an evening.
I sometimes look after various friends’ dogs if the owners need someone. I would dearly love to have my own, but doing the theatre tours means it’s not possible just yet – so having someone else’s hound for a week or two is great.
Other than that, I do a bit of gardening, particularly growing my own veg – or I just laze around and watch TV! Sometimes it’s nice to just relax and not HAVE to do anything, and TV (or reading a good book) is the best way to do that for me.