Denise van Outen has by no means been one to face nonetheless. From dazzling audiences in musicals Chicago, Inform Me On A Sunday, and Some Lady I Used To Know, to lighting up tv screens and radio airwaves, she’s constructed a profession on reinvention — all the time delivering together with her signature sparkle, and confident allure. Now, she’s moving into a brand new highlight with the discharge of her debut album, ‘A Little bit of Me’ — a heartfelt assortment that brings her love of storytelling, nostalgia, and authenticity to the forefront.
Mixing exemplary vocals with a contact of theatrical aptitude, the emotionally charged report serves as an extension of the Legally Blonde stars 2022 autobiography of the identical title, and displays the highs, lows, and life classes which have formed her each on and off the stage. It’s private, playful, and unmistakably Denise: equal components glamour and grit, confidence and vulnerability.
As we sit down with Denise, she opens up about rediscovering her voice, discovering pleasure within the artistic course of, and why this album actually captures — because the title guarantees — a little bit of who she actually is.
Denise, ‘A Little bit of Me’ is out TODAY! How does it really feel to be lastly releasing your debut album?
Are you aware what, I’m truly feeling actually excited! You’d suppose I’d be a bag of nerves contemplating that is one thing I’ve by no means actually completed earlier than, however I’m truly not, I’m simply joyful that it’s out and I can’t wait for everybody to listen to it. Clearly I’ve launched musical theatre soundtracks and a few standalone singles previously, so I’ve gone by means of the entire promo / launch week cycle earlier than and (due to this fact) know what to anticipate, however I’ve by no means put out an album that’s simply me being me, so I suppose that feels slightly nerve-wracking. I’m assured that my viewers will know nearly all of the songs on the report although, so perhaps that takes the stress off slightly bit… I don’t know, I’m not overthinking it (laughs). I’m simply actually pleased with what I’ve created, and I’m having fun with the second.
You’ve loved nice success in nearly each sector of the leisure trade, however music appears to be the factor that all the time attracts you again. Deep down, was making an album one thing you all the time knew you’d do someday?
Yeah, I feel so. Part of me needs I’d experimented and recorded extra music after I was youthful, however on the time when these sorts of gives have been introduced to me, it by no means felt proper to just accept them. Why? Primarily as a result of I didn’t ever actually need to be a popstar (laughs). Don’t get me fallacious, I completely love pop music, however I all the time felt… nicely, truly I knew, that my voice was higher suited to extra classical kinds of music, moderately than pop or dance. However I don’t suppose anyone was fairly prepared to just accept me in that world again then; I used to be the enjoyable, bubbly woman on the TV, and other people didn’t see me as being something apart from that — which is okay, I get it. There was additionally a interval within the 90s when it appeared like everybody on TV was bringing out a report, and I didn’t need to be seen as leaping on the bandwagon or copying what my friends have been doing. It felt a bit predictable, and anticipated, and again then I didn’t like that, I wished to go towards the grain slightly and never play it protected.
Was there a particular second or expertise that made you need to make this report now?
Are you aware what’s attention-grabbing? So I did the very first collection of The Masked Singer and — I’m undecided if anyone is aware of this — however behind the scenes, the contestants participating within the present are put into two classes, singers, and non-singers, and I used to be put within the non-singers class. I bear in mind form of smiling to myself about it, pondering, that’s bizarre as a result of I’ve completed exhibits within the West Finish and on Broadway, I’ve launched singles, I’ve completed duets with individuals like Andy Williams and Russell Watson, and I’ve labored with Andrew Lloyd Webber on a one girl present that was ALL singing… however I’m nonetheless not seen as a singer by some individuals. So perhaps doing this album now could be my approach of exhibiting individuals what I can do (laughs). No I’m joking, I’m not doing this to show something to anybody. I’m not anticipating to promote one million data, or rating a significant chart place — I imply, that will be good, however I take a look at this challenge as extra of a continuation of my guide, and a strategy to launch the tour I’m doing subsequent 12 months.
Earlier than going into the studio, did you might have an thought or a set imaginative and prescient for the model of music you wished to make?
As a result of my coaching and background is musical theatre, I knew I wished the music to have a theatrical really feel to it. I’ve all the time been into my ballads, and songs that lyrically have some form of emotional, melancholy attachment to them, and I really like taking traditional pops songs, stripping them again and turning them into one thing fully completely different. So let’s discuss ‘The More durable I Attempt’, which an actual 80’s traditional by Brother Past. The unique is absolutely upbeat, melodic and joyful sounding, however while you take heed to the lyrics, they’re truly fairly unhappy. So we determined strip again the manufacturing, add some piano, and strings and lovely harmonies, and switch it right into a little bit of a torched love track — and I adore it!
There are 9 million great songs on this world! How on earth did you go about attempting to resolve which tracks to report?
For me it was all about discovering, and recording songs that outlined particular moments in my life. I bear in mind at the beginning of this complete course of, sitting down to jot down an inventory of potential tracks to cowl, and fascinated about it now, they’ve truly all ended up on the album! So for instance, after I was doing Chicago on Broadway and dwelling in an condo overlooking Central Park, I used to play the Barbra Streisand model of ‘New York State of Thoughts’ on a regular basis. Each time I hear that track now, I’m transported again to that actual second, and I can bear in mind precisely how I used to be feeling, and what I used to be going by means of. A track like ‘Promise Me’ by Beverley Craven jogs my memory of being younger, and beginning speak to boys for the primary time (laughs). Again then we didn’t have sensible telephones or social media, so in case you made plans to go on a date with somebody, you’d have to rearrange a time and place to fulfill, after which simply hope he’d flip up! It wasn’t like you can textual content him or test his Instagram story to ensure he was on his approach, you actually simply needed to wait. And I don’t thoughts telling you, there have been quite a few instances I used to be stood up, and I by no means discovered why! So ‘Promise Me’ was a track I’d play after I was feeling a bit heartbroken and rejected (laughs).
That sounds brutal…
I do know! However are you aware what, in a humorous approach, it was truly simpler courting again then, as a result of every thing was a bit extra clear lower. When you’d been stood up, chances are high you’d most likely by no means see that individual once more, so it was simpler to recover from the frustration and transfer on. However with social media now, there are such a lot of other ways to maintain tabs on individuals, so it may well really feel like there’s no escaping somebody who’s damaged your coronary heart.
Denise van Outen — Promise Me
Has it been good to sing these songs as you, and never a personality?
Yeah, it has truly. At first it was a bit bizarre, as a result of as you’ve form of mentioned, more often than not after I sing, I’m singing as another person. It’s humorous, at any time when I hear again to the ‘Inform Me On A Sunday’ album, I can hear sure inflections and textures of my voice that I wouldn’t essentially use if I used to be singing as me, however I made these vocal decisions as a result of that’s what was required to assist carry that individual character to life. So yeah, it’s been liberating actually, and fairly good to simply be me — it’s made a pleasant change.
How would you describe your relationship with songwriting?
I’ve actually fallen in love with songwriting during the last couple of years. It’s so cathartic, and an effective way for me to specific myself… it’s a bit like a free type of remedy (laughs). I co-wrote one track on the album and I’m actually, actually pleased with the way it turned out.
Sure, the title observe ‘A Little bit of Me’. Denise, it’s beautiful…
Ah thanks, I’m actually glad you prefer it — I wrote that track from the center, I actually did. It’s scary to be so open and trustworthy in a track, since you’re mainly baring your soul to the world, and letting everybody know precisely the way you’re feeling — that may carry quite a lot of judgement and scrutiny to your door. However I used to be at a degree in my life the place I used to be struggling… I actually wasn’t in an ideal place, and I wanted to discover a strategy to make sense of every thing that was occurring to me. I’ll be completely trustworthy with you, I used to be having remedy on the time, and the therapist I used to be working with steered I’ve a go at writing a track as a strategy to launch all of my ideas and feelings. And so I went into the studio, put pen to paper, and it actually, actually helped me. As soon as the track was completed and mastered, I truly despatched it to her and she or he was like: “oh wow Denise, I wasn’t anticipating that!”
What feeling or message do you need to depart listeners with once they hear the track?
That it’s regular to undergo hardships in life and relationships. Anytime you’re in love, or falling out of affection, you’ll really feel weak and that’s okay. Even in case you’re in essentially the most loving and dedicated relationship ever, there’ll all the time be these moments the place you’re feeling uneasy and out of kinds — however don’t battle it, simply go along with it, and be hopeful that issues will get higher, as a result of they may! On the finish of the day, I imagine all of us need the identical factor in life, and that’s to like and to be cherished… and I feel that’s the general message of ‘A Little bit of Me’. Once I take heed to it now, I really feel fully in another way to how I did after I wrote it, which is good as a result of it’s a form of reminder of how far I’ve come, and that I’ve discovered happiness inside myself once more.
Denise van Outen — A Little bit of Me (Official Music Video)
You’re heading out on tour subsequent 12 months, together with your brand-new solo present, ‘An Night with Denise Van Outen: Songs, Tales & All That Jazz’ — what can we anticipate to see?
Okay, I’m actually enthusiastic about this! To me, the present comes as form of a bundle, a trilogy, in case you like. So I did my autobiography in 2022, then there’s the album of songs that make up the soundtrack of my life, and the present can be a becoming a member of collectively of the 2. I’m actually trying ahead to it! It’s going to be me, onstage, speaking about my life and my profession, sharing tales and anecdotes in regards to the work I’ve completed, the individuals I’ve met, the individuals I’ve labored with, my private relationships, household life… every thing actually! I’ll even be singing songs that helped form all of these moments. I promise everybody who comes alongside can be entertained! I’m thrilled to be getting again on stage, I simply love singing and performing a lot — it’s what I need to do extra of shifting ahead.
You’re going to be out on the street for a month! How do you suppose you’ll really feel being away from house and your loved ones?
Effectively, my daughter’s 15 now, so she’s at that age the place she’d moderately be together with her pals than with me (laughs) so I truly really feel a bit extra relaxed about going out to work, and being away from her… simply so long as I’m not away for too lengthy! I’ve successfully raised Betsy as a single father or mother, so for some time now I’ve probably not been in a position to do quite a lot of the identical jobs I did earlier than I grew to become a Mum. Touring or taking over a West Finish present is a big dedication, you’re continuously on the go, you’re doing eight exhibits per week, you’re both out and in of London otherwise you’re travelling up and down the nation — it’s lots, however… I adore it and I’ve missed it. So like I mentioned, now Betsy’s older, and I’ve slightly bit extra freedom, I’m trying ahead to seeing what alternatives are on the market for me. In a humorous approach it feels prefer it’s my time once more…
You’ve reinvented your self so many instances over time — do you see the ‘A Little bit of Me’ period as the beginning of a brand new chapter?
I do within the sense that I’m actually centered and severe about getting again on the market, and doing extra singing, stage work and dwell performances. I’m feeling compelled for the time being to return to my roots, and do all the issues I cherished after I was a child. We sadly misplaced Silvia Younger earlier this 12 months, who was extra than simply my instructor and principal, she was an actual mentor to me. My household and I cherished her! We all the time saved in contact, and she or he was all the time so supportive. I didn’t simply go to her college, after which depart after I was 16, she stayed in my life and she or he grew to become a pricey household buddy. Being at her funeral and amongst all of my college pals stroke a chord in my memory of all of the desires we had as children. We labored, and educated so arduous, with the hope that someday that tough work would repay and we’d “make it”. So I really feel like I would like to hold on, I don’t need to get sidetracked by different issues anymore (laughs). Singing and performing fuels me — it’s what provides me most satisfaction and pleasure, personally and professionally. So yeah, doing this album has felt like one other slightly reinvention for me, and I’m going to get pleasure from this subsequent chapter for so long as it lasts.
Denise Van Outen’s album ‘A Little bit of Me’ is launched at this time (Friday, October tenth) whereas tickets for her nationwide tour can be found at denisevanouten.co.uk
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