Following on from her smash hit 2016 tour Lulu returns, to the Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells, as part of her biggest tour yet. There is one overriding influence in the life of this acclaimed singer, songwriter, actress, businesswoman, Grammy and Novello Award nominee, and that is, it has always been “All About the Music”
Lulu delivers a show packed full of her hits, new songs and songs that have influenced and guided her throughout her incredible career and, in a recent interview, she talked about her life in the music business…
Your “All About The Music” Tour celebrates six decades in the music industry, how do you keep the magic alive?
Six decades is amazing! You know the weird thing is I have to say “It’s really been that long?” They say time passes really fast when you are having fun and I could apply that to me. It’s happened without me even blinking because this is what I live for, I live for music. It’s a blessing in my life.
How do you keep the shows exciting for you and the audience?
First of all I’ve only been with this band for around 4 years and that’s helped shake things up. They’re all younger than me, so there’s a young energy which I love. We keep it fresh and new and the great thing is these guys are influenced by the same music that I was and still am but they have a new slant.
I’ve heard you exhaust them!
That’s what they say – haha! If it’s not fun it’s a slog, and who wants to do anything that’s a slog if you don’t have to? Sometimes in life one has to do a slog but generally it’s fun.
What was the first concert you ever performed at?
It was a theatre or small hall and I was very, very young and I sang ‘Smoke Gets In Your Eyes’ and I forgot the words. I just repeated the first verse and I wanted to die, but nobody mentioned it afterwards. I thought it was the worst thing I had done in my whole life. I was probably about 6. What I do remember is I had a sticky-out frock and I think I was so pleased with myself that the excitement affected my memory.
What was the first concert you went to?
I remember going to a really dirty club to see Alex Harvey when I was just about 13. I don’t know if that was my first show but I was not allowed to go to those places because I was so young, but my mother wangled it so I could go. I used to sing in a band at the weekends, so the boys in the band had to look after me. Alex came backstage dressed in black leather and jet-black hair and he sang ‘Shout’. It was the first time I ever heard it and I went out the next day and bought the record by The Isley Brothers, and the rest is history.
Where does your energy come from?
I guess I was blessed with a lot of energy, and I think if you are healthy you have a lot of energy. Some people love it and some would prefer you to shut up and sit down. It’s all about how you use your energy for the positive, and as you get older it’s about pacing your energy – and for that I do meditation and Chi Gong.
Do you listen to new music artists?
Yes I do. I know a lot of people my age sit around and listen to old music but that’s not what I do. I listen to lots of stuff, old and new. The new Lady Gaga record is great, I love Zayn Malik, Adele, Rihanna, Ed Sheeran, Bruno Mars, Sigma – and I think Beyoncé has done something that no other black female has done. She is a consummate entertainer. I just get so excited by so many artists. I also love Paolo Nutini – Paolo is the real deal; he’s a real blues singer. I also think Calvin Harris is doing the most unbelievable work. There is so much I enjoy.
How do you know what to perform on stage for the new tour?
If you are an artist you want to take your audience on a journey. You want to take them through memories, poignant, sad, happy, but ultimately you want them to have a good night out, so the goal is to get people up on their feet so they don’t have sore bums from sitting down. So a collection of my hits, a few new self-penned songs and it all just comes together organically once the boys and I are in rehearsals.
How were you affected when you needed vocal surgery in the early ‘80s?
It was pretty scary but thank god it all turned out ok. So now while on tour I don’t speak for 12 hours after a show. This makes sure I’m in peak condition for the next show .With all the travelling and the talking that needs to be done, I’ve learnt to pace myself. Sometimes you have things happen to you in your life which shape you, and if you recover and learn from them it’s not a bad experience. It’s actually a good experience, ultimately, because you learn what to do to prevent it happening again and it gives you humility. So from that experience I have a lot of gratitude that I’m still doing it and doin’ it good.
In your experience, what gets easier as you get older?
Most things become easier because I live from a position of having gratitude. I’ve become philosophical, and as tough as it is for me not to kneejerk into a negative place when things go wrong, I always have a way of getting back and looking at acceptance of what is and what I can’t change. It doesn’t happen in a flash; it’s a process, and I now have the support and the tools to process.
And what gets tougher?
Maintenance. It’s a bitch…ha-ha! There’s a big piece of acceptance in growing older. I look at myself and go ‘oh my God’. You never really thought this would happen. When you have success at a young age, the pop star sort of thing, you think you’re invincible, so it’s a shock to see that you are not.
Do you compare notes with your contemporaries?
Yes. I saw Ringo Starr the other day and we were very pleased with ourselves. (laughs) I said, “You look great”. And he said, “You look great, Lu”. It was all “Oh my God, we are still here!” There’s an appreciation of how we’ve managed to keep our heads above water. I know he has the same philosophy as me. We follow the same school of thought, in that we are very grateful for what we’ve got and we both love touring. Macca’s the same, Jagger’s the same. That’s all we talk about. We all say we love it.
Could you see yourself retiring?
No I could not! As far as I am concerned, I don’t work anywhere near the way I used to because it was compulsive then. Now I choose everything I do and I am as busy as I want to be – and as busy as anything.
Who has given you the best advice about your voice?
I met Frank Sinatra in Las Vegas and he asked if I made it a habit to warm up my voice and if I did vocal exercises before a show, which I didn’t back then. I was there with Maurice (Gibb) and Frank offered to teach me, but I never followed it up because I was too shy. And then of course I went off and hurt my voice, so now I am religious about looking after it. So, yes, Frank, I eventually took your advice.
Lulu – All About The Music appears at the Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells on Wednesday 11th October at 7:30pm Tickets are priced at £38 (Restricted View), £40 (Standard) and £75 (VIP – Laminate, Programme and Best Seats) and can be purchased from www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk or by calling the box office on 01892 530613