This is Part One of a two-part podcast where we chat to Manchester based singer, Rowetta about her life and love of music, her memories and experiences from School Hall's to Concert Halls, to life in Happy Mondays, her X-Factor adventure and other interesting stories from one of the most sampled and powerful female singers on the planet.
This interview was conducted at the offices of Forever Mancheter who today occupy the same building that used to be home to The Boardwalk, the very place where Happy Monday's cut their teeth!
Rowetta is secret voice on the Black Eyed Peas worldwide hit. “Boom Boom Pow”
She is also the voice on the renowned 1989 track "Reach Out", which has been sampled by many, including Steve Angello, DJ Zinc and Todd Terry to name but a few.
Steve Angello and Laidback Luke used her voice for the hit dance tune “Be” which David Guetta and Hardwell often use it to open their dj sets, it is also used on the Steve Angello/Robin S hit “Show Me Love”
Rowetta wrote the original with Sweet Mercy and it continues to be sampled and played globally today.
Cheryl Cole also sampled Rowetta on her Brits performance of 'Fight For This Love"
Rowetta is also the original female singer with the recently reformed Madchester band, Happy Mondays, singing on all their hits, and touring the world. She played herself in the Michael Winterbottom film 24 Hour Party People and was Simon Cowell’s favourite and the last lady standing in the UK’s very first X Factor in 2004.
She has collaborated with many house producers including Lights Out feat Rowetta with Tom Stephan and Pete Gleadell on New York label, Nervous Records and No More Comin' Down with J Nitti on Dos or Die (Unlimited Sounds) with remixes by Darude.
Rowetta also sings with Peter Hook (Joy Division/New Order) and his new band The Light and was the lead singer on the EP 1102/2011. Rowetta also performs and is a big hit at all the UK Gay Prides including London, Manchester and Brighton. She has also headlined the infamous, G-A-Y night twice.
Rowetta has toured with the Hacienda party including Graeme Park, Todd Terry, Marshall Jefferson, Mike Pickering and many more with performances in Japan, Thailand and Dubai alongside many Hacienda parties in the UK.
New Years Eve 2013 saw Rowetta at the Albert Hall, Manchester where she shared the stage to sing with the legendary Frankie Knuckles.
Recent collaborations will see releases with Eddie Le Funk, Mirror People & Shimi Sonic, as well as her own live funk band while recent releases include on Cr2 Records: Alex Gray & Rowetta “It’s All About House Music’; FSOE: Will Atkinson & Rowetta“Mesmerise”; Zulu Records: My Digital Enemy feat Rowetta “It Would Be”
Greco feat Rowetta: ‘BE' was named as one of Billboard's Top 20 House and Techno tracks of 2017. Rowetta currently tourws with Happy Mondays and Hacienda Classical as well as performing solo.
Days after the Manchester bomb, Rowetta was asked to perform on The Andrew Marr Show with Manchester Camerata strings as a tribute to the victims and along with Peter Hook, they led a minute’s silence at the opening of Glastonbury, before performing with Hacienda Classical and they also led a fitting tribute at The Royal Albert Hall.
Rowetta is also involved with and an ambassador of many charities and is passionate about Manchester. She fronted the ‘End the Fear’ campaign with Greater Manchester Police and continues to work with domestic violence support groups.
Forever Manchester is a charity that raises money to fund and support community activity across Greater Manchester, for more information please visit www.forevermanchester.com
Forever Manchester is a charity that raises money to fund and support grass-root community activity across Greater Manchester, for more information please visit www.forevermanchester.com
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