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Keedie -
Live interview with Nick James on Torbay's Palm Radio
- 7 30pm
NJ: Since I first met you, your career has just gone,
blown out of proportion, hasn't it?
K: I know
NJ: How many years
ago was it? Hospital radio?
K: Blimey - I think
I was either sixteen or eighteen...
NJ: Because there
was three of you wasn't there? Keedie & Co?
K: Yes - Keedie
& Co! That's right! Looking at about
seven to eight years ago; I'm twenty-four now, well
next month.
NJ: Time flies.
K: It's gone really
fast
NJ: Really fast!
K: Just yesterday.
NJ: And for you -
it's been a big success story for you, hasn't it?
K: It's been
absolutely amazing. It's just one of those things
where I think I hit it lucky. At the right place
at the right time. Had the most amazing, best
support around me and I just shot and soared. And
it's just the most amazing thing to have happened.
You know, when you have worked for something for so long
and then it just happens like that. It's just you
don't want to wake up.
NJ: It's a dream
come true
K: Yes it is, a real
dream come true.
NJ: Start at the
beginning now, is it true you were christened Keedie,
because your Dad is a big fan of seventies singer Kiki
Dee?
K: Yes, thanks Dad!
Yes, that's true. My brother got stuck with Milan, because
he was actually named after the football team.
So I'd hate to think what the others would have been
called if he had any other interests. But, yes, I
was after Kiki Dee, which I don't mind because she is a
fabulous singer; so it's Keedie.
NJ: Obviously it's
rubbed off on you a little bit, so thanks Dad! So
you moved down here at Torquay at an early age, and even
at an early age you were singing outside local pubs,
hotel foyers; now, is it true that at one time you
even performed on top of an ice cream van?
K: That's correct;
just one cornetto!
NJ: Come on, tell
me, tell more, where was this to?
K: It was actually
in Dartmouth. They had a carnival down there and I
was asked to go along and sing and it was on top of the
ice cream hut that's just in front of the train track.
So actually, when people were watching me the train kept
going by and I kept disappearing which is actually quite
hard because I'm only five foot, you know? But it
was a lovely experience. Probably one that is on
top of the list to remember.
NJ: But singing has
always been your passion and you even left school at
fourteen to pursue your career?
K: That's correct.
Obviously, you know, the teachers were probably annoyed
with me because all I wanted to do was sing, sing, sing!
In the classroom, I'd be singing at all the shows that
they did in school, I'd be in the choir, so I was
actually music mad. So I found it in myself one
day to leave school because all I wanted to do was sing
so we travelled up and down the country with my Mum and
Dad support, taking me everywhere and getting in as many
places as I could really.
NJ: Because even
when you did come into the Hospital Radio studios for a
chat you were travelling up and down the country, you
were doing some miles in a week.
K: I know, I know!
In our little Volvo, brown thing, that was absolutely
falling apart with the fan belt that had gone and
making noises everywhere and so we got there.
NJ: And what's it
now? Chauffeur driven?
K: Absolutely! Only
joking! It's still me and my Dad up and down that
road. Absolutely crazy!
NJ: And how did you
make the transformation from pop songs, which is how you
started, and then going into classical music?
K: Well, what it
was, I started singing pop music ever since I can
remember and it was my Mum who said to me one day why
don't I give classical music a go. And I
suppose being in school, you kinda think to
yourself: "Classical music... no, it's not
really cool enough, I don't want to be taken the mickey
out of anything" and fortunately I was in a singing
lesson one day with my singing teacher Isabelle Morrow,
she got me doing it, and lucky enough I did
start to enjoy it, really, really, really well.
And you get to learn a lot about classical music as well
which was absolutely fantastic, so... thanks Mum!
NJ: Thanks to Mum
and Dad, isn't it?
K: That's it! I
know!
NJ: You got a very,
very powerful voice... (this is going to sound silly) what
range is your voice?
K: Well, I
have been told that I have three octaves in my voice.
So, I can reach, like, a top A which is actually above
top E, so I have very big toes, it all comes from down
there, I don't know where it comes from! Because
it all comes very natural, but it's a lot of hard
work! I have to practice everyday and my singing
teacher in London, Ian Adam, he teaches me some amazing
skills which I would never have even have
dream of learning but it really, really works hard
on your voice so it's a lot of hard work to keep it at
that peak, but yeah, it's going really well.
NJ: How long to you
have to train for each day, or rehearse?
K: About one
hour.
NJ: About an hour a
day?
K: Yea, yea, but not
when I am learning songs, obviously when I'm learning
arias and songs I have to keep going on and learning
different things, but apart from that it's just an hour
just to go through the scales and stuff.
NJ: Any particular
remedies for the throat?
K: Always the honey
and lemon, I say!
NJ: Honey and lemon.
K: And always,
before you sing, people always say you should drink lots
of water, but no, I find that absolutely wrong, because
it tends to dry your throat out. The best thing to
drink, actually, before you start singing, is a cup of
tea, because it warms up your vocals.
NJ: Cup of tea, well
Hogie's here (John Hogarth) in a minute, I'll get him to
make us a cup of tea.
K: Lovely!
NJ: What age did you
sign your first recording contract?
K: Well, the thing
is I didn't actually sign my first recording contract.
I had a recording contract on the cards but
unfortunately it didn't work out. I was actually 15
going into 16. I did a few demos and unfortunately
it was the record company, "Telstar." And
what we didn't know was that it actually had gone
bankrupt and the company actually broke down so I
didn't actually get a deal with them until
obviously a few years later when I got signed up with
EMI.
NJ: And that first
knock-back did really knock you back a little bit,
didn't it?
K: It did actually.
I suppose when you have been - because it had been
six years I'd been singing for. So it wasn't as if
I had been working for six months or a year or anything.
It had been a long six years going up and down the
country really, really wanting it and I mean,
really badly. And to have something on a plate and
then it's taken away from you... it took really
hard. And if I didn't have my family and friends
round me - I'd probably be in a nut home now because
honestly, it hit me hard, but I think the best thing I
learnt from it is that I am really strong now.
Anything can be thrown at me and with the support from
my family and how strong minded I am I can fight back
and be really strong.
NJ: I think being in
the business you are in you do have to be a
hardened!
K: Absolutely
NJ: But like you
said you had the knock-backs, but that all changed a
couple of months later when you appeared before a
celebrity audience. And is it true that one member
of the audience was wiping away their tears?
K: That's correct.
Well, I was actually at a place called the 'Groucho
Club' in London and I got told that this was just one of
those gigs in London, it will be fine and I got there
and there were people like Bob Geldof and Richard
Branson, and as I started performing, I caught in the
corner of my eye was Andrew Lloyd Webber, and he came up
to me with a tear in his eye and was like, 'Oh, in a
years time I have a brilliant thing coming on, I
would really like to work with you' and that was that.
Didn't think nothing of it. I was just really
taken aback, really, that he actually spoke to me, you
know, said 'hello'. Forgot all about it. And
that's when a year later he came back to me with 'I
Believe My Heart'.
NJ: That's it.
He came - and course you teamed up with Duncan James - a
member of Blue.
K: Duncan James from
Blue - I know!
NJ: And the song was
from 'The Woman In White' and the song got to number two
in the charts.
K: Well, it was
actually number one til Saturday and got taken about
despite the Sunday. So on CD:UK we were number
one.
NJ: Number one!
Number one.
K: I like to throw
that in. But yea, it was absolutely amazing,
because we went down to Leeds Castle in Kent. And
we did the video and it was absolutely beautiful.
Duncan was an amazing bloke and really taken by
him, because he was so down to earth and so helpful that
the video seemed to go so easy after getting up at 3
O'Clock in the morning, you know, eyes like, whatever.
But it turned out to be amazing - then it was just like
"bang bang bang", number two, straight away,
and then I was recording my album. It took me only
two weeks, you know, it was kinda like, there you go,
there's your deal, go for it. It was amazing.
NJ: It had massive
airplay, not only on radio stations, but also like, on
the box, it was just every time - it was just on telly
all the time.
K: Yea, we did Top
of the Pops, it was amazing. It was brilliant
really, because I know Top of the Pops isn't on anymore,
so it was one thing you like to have in your life saying
"I did that."
NJ: You achieved
that, yea.
K: It was
brilliant, really enjoyed it.
NJ: The next thing
what you can do then is play the song, so would you like
to introduce it?
K: Thank you. [mock
radio voice] Ladies and Gentleman, you are listening to
Palm 105.5FM and this is 'I Believe My Heart'
*'I Believe My
Heart' plays*
NJ: A number ONE
single for Keedie and Duncan James from the musical 'The
Woman in White' and 'I Believe My Heart'. So
Keedie, it's like I said it's just spiralled for you,
and you have performed with Duncan, who else would you
like to collaborate with?
K: Wow... there's so
many. I mean, there are so many phenomenal
phenomenal singers/performers out there, like Celine
Dion, Barbara Streisand, Andrea Bocelli... I've got so
many people that I would love to sing with.
And yet I'm still young so there's still time.
NJ: Still very
young.
K: Yea.
NJ: Now, how did
this come about: singing with the England Ashes winning
team?
K: Well, I have been
really lucky - I have been singing the PCA awards for
the last few years. And last year I started
singing 'Jerusalem', I was out in Dubai for the soccer X
and I had a phone call and they said 'We've
got you this song; called "Jerusalem" how
would you like to fly over to Pakistan?' So I
finished my performance in Dubai and got on the plane,
over to Pakistan and recorded this song 'Jerusalem' with
the England Cricket Team, which was really amazing.
Such an experience; eye-opening experience, because you
don't actually realise until you get over there that
these things that you see on the telly is actually
real - so we're driving through Pakistan and what you
see on the telly is actually brought to life, it was quite
hard to actually get over once I got back. So
we recorded 'Jerusalem' for the England Cricket team and
ti was a charity and it went to all of Pakistan for the
devastation that happened over there, and for the PCA
young cricketers. So it was a real pleasure to
sing that song with some lovely people because the
cricket people were really, really nice.
NJ: And that was
Christmas time, wasn't it?
K: That was
Christmas time, yea.
NJ: Contender for
Christmas number one but there's so many songs that
come out for Christmas number ones...
K: I know, I know!
We nearly got there!
NJ: So how did you
get on with the England Cricket team itself? Are
they a good bunch of lads?
K: Really, really good
fun I mean, obviously they were over there for the
tournament with Pakistan so, it was really hard for
them, you know, because what people don't realise is
that these lads are over there; they stuck in a hotel
room and they can't go out, they can't do nothing, so
it's emotionally frustrating and probably a little bit
depressing for them and what they do to get time out is
when they actually go on play. So when we got them
together and we got the song going - they were a little
bit tense at first but they got going. I think it
was a bit - it was nice for them because it was like
their own little night club they could relax and enjoy
themselves. So they were actually a really, really
lovely bunch of lads.
NJ: And how long
were you actually out there for?
K: We were out there
for about four, five days. Yea, it was a quite mad
actually. It felt like a really long time because
when you are stuck in a hotel room and you can't go out
you know, you tend to feel a bit claustrophobic.
Obviously there's reasons for that - but when we got
over there, the people from Pakistan were very, very
welcoming; lovely, lovely people. When we got home
we had a lot to talk about. It was really
eye-opening experience. It changed my life in a
certain way because you really appreciate what you've
got.
NJ: That's really
good. Now, going back to the start of your career,
your Dad was your manager...
K: I know, what a
disaster! I'm joking! I'm only joking!
NJ: Like you say,
your career, your still quite young, well, you are
young. Your family have been a big part of your
career, haven't they?
K: They have
probably been, actually the biggest part of my whole
life, my whole career. When I started
singing, obviously you can say at the age of ten, when
someone's tugging on your leg and saying 'Dad, Dad, I
wanna sing! I wanna sing!' and all he wanted to do
was support me and my Mum of course, and they just gave
up everything. They sold TVs, they sold, anything
you can think of... cars, just so they could put petrol
in or so they could buy me equipment and mic - so I have
had the most amazing parents that anybody could ever
dream of. And you know, my Dad is still with me
now, he still drives me everywhere...
NJ: Up and down the
country...
K: Yea! It's amazing
and my Mum comes as much as she can, obviously she -
we've got my little sister who is sixteen and still at
school. So, it's just really nice, that I think if
my Dad wasn't there anymore, I'd feel like - how would I
be able to perform, it's just like, it's like a duo.
Without him being on the stage in a way. It's
really nice -
NJ: It's really good
-
K: He's like my
best friend.
NJ: Oh, that's nice
- he's blushing in the corner now.
K: I know, he owes
me fifty pounds now for saying that.
NJ: That's it, get
your wallet out! So then Keedie, how would you
describe yourself?
K: Career-wise? or
as a person?
NJ: Career-wise.
K: Career-wise. I'm
very ambitious. I've been very ambitious since the
age of ten - I've wanted a number one is the classical
charts and the pop charts at the same time. But I
would say, when I'm on stage, even though I sing classical
music I make it very fun for people to watch - you know,
I have a little bit of a wiggle. And I work very
hard. I think if anybody needs to get anywhere in
life it's all down to working hard and travelling round
and being in the right places at the right time.
So as long as, you know, you work hard you'll get there,
I really do believe that.
NJ: You started at a
young age, now, what advice would you give to anyone
that would like to start a career in music?
K: The first big key
to wanting to do a career is to really, really enjoy it.
Not feel any pressure from it because starting a career
should be the fun part of it. I remember when I
started at the age of ten, and really, at the age of
three when I started singing, I just remember having so
much fun, going everywhere and we'd be laughing and
giggling and then I suppose when I come to sixteen was
where I wanted to do it professionally and that's when
it becomes a little bit serious, because that's when I
wanted to choose it as a career. but you have
really got to remember, to really enjoy it, work hard at
your voice, I know some people might think they have
natural talents and not have a singing teacher but
having a singing teacher helps improve those natural
talents so, have your singing teacher and just remember
to enjoy every last minute and savour it.
NJ: And like you
said you've got the added bonus with your family right
behind you as well.
K: Exactly.
And if you can get support from your family and even
your friends it's nice to have that second person beside
you. Because they're there to help you fall and
pick you up everytime.
NJ: And what's next
for Keedie?
K: What's next for
Keedie? Well, I'm actually talking with Tim Rice,
which obviously people know Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim
Rice is a person who writes a lot of music with Andrew
Lloyd Webber. He's absolutely a phenomenal, phenomenal
person who writes amazing west end shows and we are
talking about doing a CD. He's doing a show called
'Blondell', so I'll be going up there and working on the
songs for a CD and working with him in the future.
And I work in the studios back on different arias and
songs and should be releasing, fingers crossed, the
beginning of next year.
NJ: That's what I
was about to - next question: anymore single releases,
so fingers crossed, next year!
K: Yea, it will be
fantastic.
NJ: Now then,
Saturday night...
K: This Saturday
night, okay, I'm actually -
NJ: It's local.
K: I know, it's been
brilliant really because I have been back this last
month. It's been really nice people have asked me
to do quite a few things. And more than anything
coming home, and doing things, is always a pleasure for
me. So this Saturday, we are at the Inn On The
Green in Paignton which is for a young lad called Chris
Keartland, unfortunately he was at school at Sports day
and he had a heart-attack. So everybody's getting down
to the Inn On The Green, I think it's ten pound to
actually come at seven-thirty, there's a buffet,
there's entertainment, there's prize goods and I'm gonna
be there and I'm gonna perform, if you want to come down
with CDs I'll sign them for you, there's actually gonna
be a few CDs that go round anyway, and I'll take photos.
And I think it's really nice, that the whole Bay can get
together and do something special by raising some money
for this young lad of fourteen years old. And the
Inn On The Green have done really, really well by having
the event there and I think it would be really important
to get a few of the other pubs and top places to donate
some large money. It's a good thing for the Bay to
show their support.
NJ: Leave us those
details, we'll make sure we will give out up until
Saturday for you. A bit of a plug for you.
K: Thank you very
much
NJ: Last Saturday...
K: I know...
NJ: Another busy day
for you, you were performing for the Face Of The English
Riviera
K: That's correct.
Well, my friend went down to audition, and they do like,
this modelling competition and it's actually for breast
cancer, so I threw my money in and they asked me to take
my photo and I actually got through to the final, which
is quite crazy. But it was an absolutely amazing,
amazing event - there was a girl called Becca Laight,
who actually did the competition, it was phenonomal,
there was amazing dancers, beautiful, beautiful girls
modelling up and down the cat walk. And I think
they actually talk about the person who won it on Friday
at the Imperial Hotel, they did this big ball. But
while I was there, I actually performed 'Time To Say
Goodbye' to close the show which was lovely because I
had quite a few people that had come down to see me.
A bloke called Dave Haddock actually, who come down from
Manchester and he's actually at the Livermead House
Hotel Torquay at the moment, he has a big yellow bus
there which says 'Yelloway'. Which is
actually one of the first buses to come down from up
north to the Torbay area and it took two days. So
he's there, I'm going down on Friday for the Herald
Express and I'm taking some photos. And it's
actually got a box outside which raise money for the Air
Ambulance, so if anybody wants to support the Air
Ambulance also, if they get down to the Livermead House
Hotel you will see the big yellow bus there and he's a
lovely man. And it would be fantastic to support
that as well.
NJ: How long are you
actually in the Bay for now?
K: Yea, it's really
crazy, because I'm coming down for days at a time
and I'm down on Friday again. Apart from that I'm
not to sure, because you keep getting thrown - and
Saturday of course for the Inn On the Green, and
I'm away again. I get phone calls now, because
everything is all coming in now you don't know where you
are next to another. But these two events that
I've said I'm definitely going to be at, no matter
what, if I get a phone call these events are what I am
definitely 100% turning at, so don't worry about
that, I will definitely be there to support -
NJ: Well, I think if you
are here on Tuesday the 10th, you should come along to
AMF Bowling, raising money for Air
Ambulance. As many teams as we can get together.
So, your Dad can come along, your Mum and your sisters,
you need six in a team and I think you should enter
that.
K: Do you know, I
would love to - if I am here that will be an
absolute pleasure, I will be straight down there
and thank you for the invite.
NJ: And you can join
CJ's team, how does that sound?
K: Well, she's the
most amazing, amazing person, I would love to be on her
team anyway.
NJ: Speaking of
which, I have an e-mail: "Give love to Keedie, from
CJ and Jooles." And she asked me to ask you
about the talent show when Palm done their first R
S Ls she says she still has those recordings.
K: Oh no!
She's just, you know, when we first started out she was
just the most loveliest person she played all our songs
from 'Holiday Lover' to 'Time To Say Goodbye' and
she would give us a lot of time. And all I
can do is ever thank her, because you know, she was one
of the first people that give me my lucky break.
And Palm FM is just the most amazing radio station and
we listen to it all the time and thank you so much
for the support.
NJ: Not a problem,
so put that in your diary, if you are down here on
Tuesday the 10th - raising money for the Air Ambulance.
Keedie, many thanks for coming in -
K: Thank you for
having me.
NJ: - It's been
great having you in and joining us on Palm.
Gonna play a song, it's the one you done for Christmas
called 'Jerusalem'.
K: Of course, with
the boys!
NJ: With the boys!
K: Aren't I the
lucky one?
NJ: Go on, introduce
it then.
K: Okay, guys, this
is Keedie and the English Cricket Team; 'Jerusalem',
thank you.
*'Jerusalem' plays*
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This interview was kindly
transcripted from audio tape by Nicola Jarvis at
Keedie's
official website - www.keedieonline.com
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