Carol Kidd talks about new album "Dreamsville"

Ahead of the release of her first album in seven year, jazz singer Carol Kidd, talked to Linn Records about what she has been up to since her last album and what her plans for the future are.

Linn Records: What made you decide to return to the recording studio after a seven-year break?

Carol Kidd: I performed at the Glasgow City Halls in 2006 and during the show did a question and answer session.  The most frequently asked question was when was I bringing out a new album. I realised I had been hiding away long enough so started putting together the songs for a new album.

LR: What have you been up to recently?

CK: I listened to Russell Davies last Sunday playing a track from my new album due out in October and he said "Not a lot has been heard of her in seven years, rumours of retirement". That took me by surprise and I realised that this was true I had kind of retreated although whilst I'm not performing as much in the UK I did do the Shanghai Jazz festival and performed in Hong Kong (to sell-out audiences) in Nov-Dec 2007. I've just "Sprinted" past the 60 mark and I love my life; I'm singing, have completed the album and am writing songs.

LR: Why did you wait so long to record your album?

CK: My partner John died in 2003 and his death hit me very hard. I tried to work after his death but I didn't have the energy or the heart, I really thought I'd never sing again. In fact I lost my voice completely - just woke up one morning with the phone ringing and when I picked it up to answer absolutely nothing came out. I saw a specialist and was told it was "Trauma" and that I should not under any circumstances push my voice. That lasted for about six months.  Then I started writing lyrics and it just flowed.  Words have always been important to me in the songs I perform, stories really, and I'm glad to say my voice gradually came back. I think the writing helped a lot - a kind of therapy really.

LR: You lived in Cambridgeshire for many years, but you have recently re-located to Majorca.  What brought you to that decision?

CK: I have friends who have lived in Majorca for twenty five years and they arranged for me to see some houses and I went over for a week and found a beautiful place alongside the beach.  I moved to Majorca in 2005 and I found an amazing peace there and it has become my base. I still have my place in Glasgow though.

LR: When you are not in the studio or writing lyrics, how else do you fill you time?

CK:  I write a lot and say "Thank-you Angels" every day.  I have also started painting and have quite a collection - I've sold ten paintings so far for my favourite charities.

LR: One of your favourite places to perform is Asia.  Can you tell me more about your special relationship with this part of the world?

CK: I was first invited by the Chinese government to perform in Beijing in 1994, the first western artist to perform there in twenty five years and I have been doing concerts in Asia every year since then.  I performed in Singapore to an audience of 15,000 and I performed for the Cambodian Royal Family in Cambodia during a tour of Vietnam and Cambodia.

LR: You have recorded a new version of "When I Dream" for "Dreamsville" - why did you decide to re-visit this particular song?

CK: My "Signature" song is "When I Dream". It was used as the theme song for a Korean movie called "Shiri" which out-boxed "Titanic".  This song stood at number one in the Korean charts for thirteen weeks holding back Robbie Williams and Celine Dion. It has been arranged by Nigel Clark and Wet Wet Wet's Graeme Duffin for "Dreamsville".