‘Universal did some great things for me: they gave me a profile that enabled me to tour extensively, grow as a musician, and develop my artistic vision, so much so that I was no longer the artist they signed. They signed me predominantly as an interpreter and marketed me as a jazz artist; I’d been writing non-stop since Bittersweet and Blue, and nurturing my own sound. They were in the business of selling records, but for me, the need to tell my own stories and sing my own songs took over’.
And has this independent approach led to other changes?
‘Definitely. The whole ethos of the project has changed. The focus is now completely on the music; whereas before I was signed as a solo artist, it now feels very much like a band. Without the marketing concerns of a large corporation, we are free to write and record first and think how to promote later. I find this to be a much healthier environment in which to create. I am also free to explore different ventures and collaborate with other artists. Since leaving I have discovered a community of exciting, creative people that are really keen to share ideas. And with the internet becoming so much a part of everyday life and a fixture in most households, artists now have a much greater opportunity to promote their music themselves’.
So the net plays a big part for you?
‘I think the internet is a massive help. With the advent of sites such as MySpace and YouTube, independent artists now have a platform to make their music universally accessible. DJs such as Gilles Peterson actively use these forums to discover new acts, and I myself have found an ocean of beautiful, exciting music that would otherwise have passed me by’.
Would you recommend your approach to others?
‘It really depends on the individual(s) and the nature of their situation. I already had a platform from which to build my independent career, and the means to finance it.
‘For me, being an independent artist has allowed me to explore musical territories that would not have been possible with the pressures of “appealing to the grey pound” on my back.
‘I feel at my happiest now – I have a brilliantly talented, inspiring and enthusiastic band, I have claimed ownership of my voice, I am free to learn and create naturally and organically and to write and write and write. I get to sing my songs to people. I feel for the first time that the music is me and MINE. And God, it feels wonderful’.