Feature

NU LIFE: Divine Aspirations

With their decade-plus career having already encompassed a MOBO Award, a sell-out tour of the UK, plus a royal performance before The Queen herself, Birmingham-born and-raised British urban gospel trio Nu Life this month finally release their long-overdue debut album �A Woman Like Me�.

Prestigiously described by prominent Radio One DJ/MTV presenter Trevor Nelson as �vocally and musically one of the best acts to come out of the UK ever�, a chatty Dionne Williams, Maryanne Hepburn and Estella Ible gather at a North West London recording studio on a bustling Saturday lunchtime to discuss with �B&S� their critically-acclaimed, musically-diverse new LP. Beginning with its bass-bumpin�, punchy title-track single, which has already been dubbed �a bold Christian sistas� anthem�.

�I wrote that song - �A Woman Like Me� - around seven years ago now�, begins Dionne, the trio�s most talkative member: �And I did it in response to a song that I�d heard on MTV that was a bit soppy, a bit soft. It was basically a woman singing to a guy about how he was making her feel, and it just made her sound really weak. So I wrote �A Woman Like Me� to testify to the strength of Christian women - something which all three of us are. You know, I hadn�t actually heard any song that had done that previously. And, in the song, I�m really making the distinction between us Christian women all the OTHER women out there. I�m basically saying that Christian women are stronger. We know our minds; we have our faith to fall back on - so that, when the going gets rough, we don�t bail out. You know, we�re in it for the long term. We love our men; we SUPPORT our men... And we do have something significant to offer.�

With production on the album coming courtesy of Midlands-based outfit 5am (famed for their remix work for the likes of Usher, Christina Aguilera and Joe), its varied moods range from upbeat cuts like the Sounds Of Blackness-sampling �Optimistic Remix� of the buoyant groover �Now That I�ve Found You� and pounding funker �Take My Eyes Off You�; to slower tracks like the majestically-orchestrated, emotional �Whole� and the jazzily swinging �Speak Father�.

�When we were trying to decide exactly how we wanted our album to sound, one of the things we definitely DIDN`T want to happen was for people to pigeonhole it as a stereotypical gospel album�, asserts Dionne: �Because not everybody likes straight-up traditional gospel, it was important to us to bring as much flavour and variety to the table as possible. Basically, we wanted the album to appeal to young and old alike while also transcending any racial and gender barriers.�

�And, with our own musical influences ranging from reggae and traditional gospel to jazz, R&B and even classical, we do feel the album reflects all that�, adds an equally articulate Maryanne: �So, while there are obviously songs on there that�ll lend themselves readily to a church environment, there are also tracks that will appeal more when we go out to the clubs or perform at open-air festivals.�

Nevertheless, in terms of the lyrics themselves, the threesome openly agree that their songs� uncompromisingly-straight-up gospel messages remain completely undiluted: �As we started out singing, if you like, hardcore gospel - albeit with contemporary lyrics and music - it just doesn�t make any sense for us to now water it down�, retorts Dionne: �For us to start saying something and then change that strategy just to appeal to the mass market, would be like a slap-in-the-face to God and to our integrity as people. So, while it�s not unheard-of for DJs to call us up and say `Your track�s great but why have you said Jesus in the middle of it?`, our answer is always `Because we�re a GOSPEL band!`!

�But then, though we do look at the upside to being a Christian, we also make a conscious decision to look at what it`s like to be on the rough side of the mountain too�, she continues: �It�s just that, while our songs reflect the fact that as young women we face the same experiences and temptations as everyone else, the difference is we write about those experiences from a Christian perspective.�

Having started out by winning a national talent competition 12 years ago, Nu Life have - over the years - found themselves supporting numerous visiting big US acts like Angie Stone, Mary Mary and Ne-Yo. Nevertheless, the performance that remains most significant in their minds took place in their own hometown back in 2002: �Performing for The Queen for her 50th Jubilee at Birmingham�s Symphony Hall was a definite highlight for us�, recalls Maryanne: �Basically they were asking for a gospel group. And, when we got the call from our manager, we were like `Us?! Are you SURE?!`!... But I guess, once we�d got over the initial shock, we just went ahead and did what we had to do! And it was definitely an honour to do it! We actually sang with a string quartet that day, and then afterwards we were able to meet The Queen and shake her hand. And, though we were very, very nervous about having to curtsey for the first time, we did it - and we�re all very proud of that moment!�

The album �A Woman Like Me� is out now. The single �A Woman Like Me� follows February 2, both through Urban Essentials
Words PETE LEWIS