AUDIO: Dreams come true with Leeds comeback album gig for Gabrielle

DREAMS can come true...just ask the queen of the lyric Gabrielle who is about to mark her recording comeback with a sneak peek of new album Under My Skin in Leeds.
GabrielleGabrielle
Gabrielle

t's been 11-years since the soul star with the famous glitzy eye-patch released her last collection of tunes.

But her dreams of a sixth smash hit album look a step closer after working with the songwriters behind hits for Amy Winehouse, Paloma Faith and Corrine Bailey Rae.

Under My Skin, out on August 17, a collection of brand new songs has already been teased with first single Show Me - classic Gabrielle, with her warm vocal style complimenting a hook-laden melody. It will be followed by new single, Shine.

And Leeds fans will be amongst the first in the world to hear he songs live - plus all the greatest hits, including Out Of Reach, Rise and, of course, Dreams - when the pop icon and Yorkshire funk band Ten Millennia support ex-Spandau Ballet frontman Tony Hadley for a Summer Series gig at Millennium Square on Saturday, July 21.

BUY TICKETS: Tickets for the Summer Series gigs in Millennium Square are priced from £29.50 plus booking fee (general admission) and £39.50 plus booking fee (Golden Circle). Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Buy tickets from www.lhgtickets.com, lizhobbsgroup.com, www.ticketmaster.co.uk, www.axs.com and Leeds City Centre Box Office on 0113 376 0318.

In an exclusive chat Gabrielle revealed how Dreams and her powerful look continues to inspire others.

LISTEN: Hear the full interview with Gabrielle talking to Graham Walker - CLICK HERE.

Under My Skin album out on August 17Under My Skin album out on August 17
Under My Skin album out on August 17

She also explained why she's been away from the recording studio for so long. She said of releasing new album Under My Skin: "Nothing happens before it's time and for me this is the right time for new music from me.

"I've been doing shows and writing on and off for years but you know when you've got something that's great.

"I am with a new label, BMG and got to work with amazing people - having the right collaborations to bring out the best in me, including Steve Chrisanthou, who has written with Corrine Bailey Rae, and Ian Barter, who has worked with Paloma Faith and Amy Winehoue.

"We had just this amazing rapport. I am really proud of this new album and I can't wait for fans to get to hear some of the songs in Leeds. But I'll also be doing all the hits.

Dreams soul star famed for her amazing voice and cool look - including that famous glitzy eye-patchDreams soul star famed for her amazing voice and cool look - including that famous glitzy eye-patch
Dreams soul star famed for her amazing voice and cool look - including that famous glitzy eye-patch

"You get some artists saying they don't want to sing the old stuff or they never really like a specific song. All I can say is I love all the songs I've done and I can't wait to be performing them."

Hackney-born singer Gabrielle - real name Louisa Gabrielle Bobb – is a two-time BRIT Award, MOBO Awards and Ivor Novello award winner, has sold over five million records in the UK alone.

She was realising the first of many dreams when she ruled the official singles chart for three weeks 25-years ago back in 1993 with that summery anthem of hope.

Dreams and her powerful eye patch look, to cover a so-called 'lazy eye' medical condition called Ptosis, continue to inspire others, she said.

She explained: "Dreams, on the surface, appears to be a love song. But for me at that time it was about feeling that I wanted to be a singer so badly.

"I was told that I wouldn't amount to stuff when I wanted to sing, when I was younger. With a lazy eyelid I never looked like what the traditional female singer songwriter would look like.

"But I'm having the last laugh. You can be very much out of the box and your own individual person. Other people tell me the song ha inspired them to make their dream come true."

And the same goes for that sparkly eye-patch look.

She added: "I have a lazy eyelid so it always looks as if I am half asleep. When I got something to my record company there was this amazing woman called Corinna Pyke who said 'we don't want you wearing sunglasses, you need to have eye contact with people interviewing you'.

"So it was an eye patch and I was really excited.

"I felt for the first time the confidence that I hadn't had growing up, because of my lazy eyelid. An eye patch didn't stop people from asking, but it was such a powerful image.

"I would get letters and for mothers of children who had eye problems. There I was on TV and they felt inspired. I'm just chuffed for all those children out there who needed somebody to represent them."

* Summer Series in Millennium Square will feature Plan B (Friday, July 20), Tony Hadley with guests Gabrielle and Ten Millennia (Saturday, July 21).

Symphonic Sounds of Back to Basics (Friday, July 27), A Classic Summer's Evening, with soloist Rafael Rojas (Saturday, July 28), Brassed Off Live

with Grimethorpe Colliery Band and The Orchestra of Opera North (Sunday, July 29), The Pretenders and special guests The Lightning Seeds (Friday, August 3), Bananarama (Saturday, August 4), Brutus Gold’s Love Train - Summer Disco Party (Friday, August 10), Simple Minds with guest KT Tunstall (Sat, August 11), The Vamps (Sunday, August 12), outdoor screenings of Dirty Dancing (Friday, Aug 17), The Greatest Showman (Aug 18) and The Italian Job (Sunday, Aug 19).

For full details and to guarantee your tickets visit www.millsqleeds.com** Gabrielle will also perform a series of intimate gigs to promote the forthcoming album playing Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow and Bristol, before a release date gig at London's Jazz Cafe.

She will also play an 18-date autumn tour with Rick Astley including Leeds First Direct Arena on Friday, November 16. Full details on her web site at www.gabrielle.co.ukArtist Links:

Gabrielle

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