Noisettes

Soho House hosted an evening to launch 'Dark' Music of Quality and Distinction Volume 3 by the British Electric Foundation (BEF) which will be released on the 20th May 2013. The evening called “Question Mark” (get it?!) was hosted by Mark Jones, BBC6 presenter and owner of the Wall of Sound Label. Joining him were Martyn Ware the legendary electronic producer, icon singer Sandie Shaw and Shingai Shoniwa of the Noisettes.

Unpretentious and good fun, the evening could have been in Mark’s living room. With the media lounging comfortably wielding specially concocted cocktails, the evening’s events started with Mark Jones taking off Shingai Shoniwa’s shoes, just to make sure everyone knew this was an evening to relax. Mark’s line-up needed no introduction but once the legends of music had introduced themselves, Mark Jones first chatted with Martyn about his humble beginnings in music. Aspiring to do something a little more glamorous than his pals, he collected anything he could make electronic sound. In the late 70’s, he chose to buy a cheap synthesiser over driving lessons and still can’t drive to this day. Full of amazing stories – far too many to list here – one of the best from the evening was about Iggy Pop and his on tour antics – far too risque for print.

Sandie Shaw told us all about a self-imposed, lumber-jack filled exile to France caused by the recent comments at the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, which was hearing evidence in support of creative industries. Sandie attacked the music industry, saying that only bands like “Mumford & Sons” with a public school background now succeed and that the business was dominated by “Simon Cowell-type stuff” with the artists as “mere puppets”. Reflecting on the maelstrom, Sandie’s resolve was undettered discussing how the business model for creative arts has evolved since the 1970s. If it’s a multi-billion dollar industry, why is it so hard to fund grass-roots creative arts?

Shingai talked about how she originally thought she would be acting and that music has become a wonderful stage to become a performer. She also chatted about her musical influences and how recording has changed from working in studios with a single take to trusting Bill Gates and Skype to showcase your best voice.

With the lights turned off, we were privy to four of the tracks from the new album, including Sandie Shaw, Kim Wild, Iggy Pop and Shingai. The Noisettes singer delivers a spine chillingly beautiful version of Brian Wilsons “God only Knows” – there was an awful lot of foot tapping going on. An evening in Soho House is never complete without some Buddhist chanting for good measure and good Karma before Mark Jones launched into a DJ set.

To hear more about the album ‘Dark’, listen to my interview below with singer Shangai Shonwi of the Nosiettes.