BrandNewMusicUK.com recently caught up with Rowetta, X-Factor finalist and more important to me a member of the Happy Mondays. A fabulous lady who helped put the MAD in Madchester and an independent musical trooper with distinct and powerful voice.

http://www.myspace.com/rowetta

Hi Rowetta, thanks for taking time out to have a chat with the readers of BrandNewMusicUK.com. As I always like to start my interviews, let’s go back to the start:

When did you realise you had a musical gift?

I started singing properly in my teens, in talent competitions. I didn’t realise I had a real gift until I was around 13, even though I loved to sing, but that’s when people started saying “Wow” and I started winning a lot of competitions.

Did you get a lot of encouragement from those around you?

I didn’t get much encouragement as a young kid, in fact one music teacher almost put me off, by saying my voice was too distinctive to be in the choir. My mum encouraged me as a teenager, and then a drama teacher called Mrs Roache, really gave me confidence, by putting on musicals around me, and that would specifically suit my voice.

You’ve worked with Simply Red, Inner City, Vanilla Sound Corp and the Happy Mondays to name a few. What would you say has been the highlight of your career so far?

There have been so many. With the Mondays probably my first Top Of The Pops, my first gig at Gmex, Rock In Rio, Glastonbury, Barrowlands and supporting Oasis at Wembley Stadium, but there are many more. As a solo artist, obviously working with Simon Cowell was a great experience and singing live at the BBC’s Children In Need and I love singing at Manchester Pride every year.

Did you musically really call it a day in 2000 or did you find yourself constantly being dragged back into it all?

I never really called it a day, I was always writing and collaborating with people, I just needed some time with my kids sometimes, for some normality, after the madness. Then there we relived the madness when I was asked to be part of Michael Winterbottom’s movie about Tony Wilson and the whole Factory story.

Was it an interesting experience playing yourself in the film “24 Hour Party People”?

It was such an amazing time. We all had a ball for the 8 weeks making it. The actors in the movie were brilliant as were the makers, and I made many new friends, and we got to sing as the Mondays at the Cannes Film Festival. It was wonderful.

You auditioned for X-Factor in 2004 and got through to the finals. I would imagine this was an experience and a half. Do you hold fond memories of this time?

I do, because I really enjoyed working with Simon and the support I got during the show was mindblowing.

There is a present culture for people wanting to be famous for the sake of being famous. Do you feel X-Factor encourages this?

I think it’s just the way this country is now. Magazines, reality shows. I can’t knock them, as I watch the majority, but I do hate the fact that people with no talent just dream of fame, for fame’s sake, and many succeed. X Factor is cool because it is looking for talent. I know some make it on there without talent, but it also gives a lot of people of all ages a much need break, and that’s a good thing.

Your skills are very versatile, recently co hosting your own radio show “The Terry and Ro Show” on Manchester’s Gaydio radio station. Any plans to continue this when the station goes full time?

Definitely. I love presenting on radio, and feel at home doing it. Terry and I love doing our show, and we are great friends so it’s easy for us. The only difficulty is time, as Terry runs hairdressing salon and I have a lot of singing work, but we will be doing as much as we can, and I was delighted when we (Gaydio) got the full time license. The first gay station to get a full time FM license, and I’m proud to be involved. The gay community have welcomed me with open arms, and I like to do as much as I can to help the community.

Is it true you’re the secret voice on the Black Eyed Peas hit “Boom Boom Pow”?

It is true. They sampled a track of mine called Reach Out, that I wrote and sang on with Sweet Mercy. It has been sampled a lot. This year it was sampled at the beginning of Show Me Love by Steve Angello and Robin S, and Reach Out was the number 1 dance download around the world for 3 week’s at the end of 2008. I was thrilled that the Black Eyed Peas chose to sample my voice. A huge compliment.

Finally, in one sentence, what one piece of advice would you give to anyone pursuing a career in rock and pop music?

Never give up.

http://www.myspace.com/rowetta

Thanks again for taking the time to chat with BrandNewMusicUK.com Rowetta. We wish you all the luck for the future and look forward to your next release. We’ll be sure to plug it for you

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