Jazz cocktail is just to Jools’ taste
Nov 29 2008 by Barbara Hodgson, The Journal
If you haven’t heard of Imelda May, Sam Wonfor reckons it won’t be long... and if you don't believe her, there's a fella who knows a bit about music who agrees.
FANS of Jools Holland’s late night musical melting pots on TV, radio and on stage will need no introducing to Imelda May.
The Dublin-born singer/songwriter has already notched appearances on Later..., his popular Radio Two show and served as a support act on an extended leg of his never ending tour.
It’s fair to say he’s a fan of her rockabilly, blues and jazz cocktail sound – as is the legendary Jeff Beck who cited her as the reason he was in the Later... audience.
“That was a lovely thing for him to say,” says Imelda, who, as we speak is taking a motorway break on her way to York for a gig, but as you read this, she’ll be en route to The Cluny in Newcastle’s Ouseburn for her gig there tonight.
“This is the first big tour I’ve done in a while and the first proper tour where I’m headlining. It’s pretty full on,” she says in an accent which would struggle to be more Irish. She recaps her journey thus far with Jools.
“We got to do a support tour with him... He watched us from the side of stage and then blagged a CD... he liked it and said he would get us on the show.
“We did his radio show first and then Later....when Natalie Cole had to pull out at the last minute, which was a bit crazy, but great. I loved it.
“I’ve been singing in bands since I was 16 years old and constantly writing songs,” she digresses.
“But I was always in other people’s bands, and was always very aware of that, so after a few years I decided that I would have to set up my own band.
“I asked a few friends if they fancied it and was delighted when they said yes.”
For those of you who aren’t avid Jools followers and haven’t come across Imelda by another means, the “here” she talks about translates to being on the cusp of big, fat success if the record company hype (and my gut feeling) are to be trusted.
Since setting up her band in 2007, she has been signed by industry big-hitters, Universal and has released her debut album, Love Tattoo.
Billed as a “timeless collection of jazz-a-billy” the album has been received with wide open arms, ears and smiles.
“It’s all been quite quick,” she admits and it’s been amazing. It was a bit of a gamble – well a really big gamble actually for me to start out on my own because singing was how I made my money... but I had to take a step back and start again really.
“Thankfully it has worked out and I’m having the best time.”
As you’ll notice from the picture, Imelda has crafted herself a distinctive look to go with her distinctive singing style... but she’s quick to point out that this isn’t anyone’s work but her own... and this is how she’s look if she was behind a bakery counter.
“I turned into a very small Rockabilly at 14,” she laughs. “Then I went through a typical teenager thing when I thought I would be a Goth for a bit and basically looked miserable for a while before I started looking the way I do now.
“For a year or so I thought maybe I should tone it down a bit, but I was just bloody miserable and thought, ‘that’s who I am’ – and that was that.”
Good decision.
Last year Imelda, who is 34 “unless you ask my manager who will tell you anything between 18 and 28”, earned herself a nomination for Best Burlesque Singer, as well as an LA Movie debut as the singing voice in the American gangster move, Dark Streets.
This year she won Best Female Newcomer of the Year at the prestigious Irish World Newspaper Awards... you can’t help thinking that 2009 will only add to the accolades.
:: Imelda May plays The Cluny, Newcastle tonight. For tickets, call (0191) 230-4474.
