Underground disco diva Nancy Nova releases a new album – Tour de Force. The Eighties legend, daughter of tv presenter Bob Holness and an inspiration to artists including Siouxsie Soux the album includes two stand out covers – The Winner Takes it All and Wuthering Heights.
We asked Nancy how it started and how it’s going.
How did your musical project/band first start? Is there a story to tell about it?
It’s a very long story, so I’ll try to condense it as much as possible. I meet my Husband to be, in the National Youth Theatre, straight after School. He wrote the Music for the show I was in. We started working together on songs and recordings and I was signed to the Ritz record label. We made an Album and landed a TV Show in Italy, based on the Album. We then wrote The Force and that’s when things really took off. The Clubs loved the song.
What was your first gig?
That would have been at Heaven, in London. An amazing night.
How have your music/live performances been received by fans?
Overwhelmingly well. I couldn’t really believe they, not only knew who I was, but danced, clapped, and cheered all the way through. They wanted autographs and lipstick kisses on their tea shirts. I honestly couldn’t believe it.
What three words best describe your musical style and why?
Avant-Pop, Disco, New Wave…That’s what they tell me.
Who are your biggest musical influences.
Hmm, tricky. I’m sure I’ve been influenced by many artists, subconsciously. I do like quirky (David Bowie, Laurie Anderson, Kate Bush), but I’ve never wanted to be just like another artist. What would be the point?
Tell us about your new release.
Tour De Force is an unashamedly fun Album. It consists of 16 of my self penned songs and a couple of crazy covers. Kingbones (my now deceased producer, co-writer and husband), and I realised that the 80s were making a big comeback and fans were buying my CDs and asking for new Productions of my Singles. So we went to the Studio and recorded everything fresh. The Productions were all KB, heavily influenced by the European Dance style, with a distinctive British twist. This is for all the Faithful Fans from the 80s and for the peeps who have only just discovered me. It’s a kind of thank you to them and that amazing era.
What inspires your lyrics?
To be honest, I have no idea. I rarely plan my songwriting. I might be doing the washing up or fiddling on the piano and suddenly there’ll be a melody or a first line and I have to catch it before it flies away. There are exceptions such as Made in Japan. KB had the idea and the melody. He put it to me and we popped down the pub to write the lyrics.
How do you hope listeners will feel after hearing your music?
It would be wonderful if they enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed the making of it. If it brightens their day, that would be Fab.
Do you have any upcoming tour dates?
Not yet. I would love it if the Summer Festivals asked me to appear.
What are you/your band working on next?
I have another album in the pipeline, that’s very different to this. But for now, it’s all about TDF.
Listen here:
