LAURA IZIBOR, R&B singer-songwriter talks about growing up black in Dublin
You've been based in New York for the past few years, but you still have your Dublin accent.(Laughs). Well, apparently, my accent goes back and forth. I don't hear it myself, but my friends tell me it does. I've been based in New York on and off since I was 16. So obviously, I've changed in certain ways. Coming from Dublin, where I would have been practically the only black chick, with all the insecurities that come with that . . . to arrive in a place where, not only did I not stand out, but I actually looked completely average, it was obviously really different.
Had you been unhappy in Ireland? Not unhappy, just . . . well, imagine if you grew up in Africa – you spoke like a local, you acted like a local, but you were always a white guy with red hair and freckles. Wouldn't it be nice to go somewhere where you looked the same as other people? It was nice to explore that other part and have that kind of connection with people.
Is New York home now? Not really, but I'm there a good bit. I stay a lot in the same hotels. When the staff see me they're like "Hey Laura!"
The Irish media has been tipping you as the next big thing for about five years now. Is it actually going to happen this time?I was always aware that when people were giving me these great write-ups, it might have been a little bit premature. But at the end of the day, it's all about the music. If the work stands up on its own, it doesn't matter what people write.
How has your debut album, 'Let the Truth Be Told', been received? It's been amazing. It's nice because, when something has been in the can that long, you pray that it still feels "now", that it sounds as good as it did when it was recorded. The delay in releasing it has been frustrating. At times, I've wanted to change certain things. I've wanted to use different songs. But in the end I realised that what made it special was that it was made when it was made. The age I was when it was recorded, the texture in my voice, the vulnerability . . . I've learned to be proud of it for what it is and I wouldn't change a thing.
Tell us about supporting Aretha Franklin. That was just an amazing experience. We're on the same label, Atlantic. So they suggested me as a possible support and her management gave it the thumbs-up. But she still had to have the final say. It was pretty nerve- racking waiting to hear her verdict. If she'd said no, I would have been just heartbroken.
She didn't wear that hat she wore to the Obama inauguration, did she? (Laughs).No, she was actually wearing a sailor's hat. It was a reception in Times Square to welcome home US troops who'd served in Iraq. I was a little sceptical about it at first. I mean, I'm not even American. But when I got there, and I saw the families, I could imagine how I'd feel if my brother was over there in harm's way. And I thought, "Screw it, I'm a human being. I can relate to that."
What's been the most exciting thing that's happened since your career took off? I think it was probably meeting Stevie Wonder. I was on his radio show last week and sang for him, and hung out with him for a couple of hours afterwards. When I walked into the studio, he started singing my song From My Heart to Yours. Then he held my hand and didn't let go for about five minutes. It was beyond amazing.
Is it hard then when you come home for your friends to even relate to a story like that? To be honest, I only have two or three close friends left here. When I got into the music business, a lot of girls couldn't handle what I was doing. There was a lot of bitching and backstabbing. The friends I have don't really give a crap. I could say, I've just met Stevie Wonder and their reaction would be "Oh right, is that yer man who did Superstition? I do be dancing to that in McGowans . . ." I love that. Nothing I do could possibly impress them, unless I meet Justin Timberlake of course!
Laura Izibor starts a short nationwide tour from May 28th. Let the Truth Be Toldis on release.
See www.lauraizibor.com for more details