Busy superstar mum Sharleen Spiteri is taking a laidback approach to a hectic spell as she gears up for a serious case of multi-tasking this year.
As frontwoman of Scottish rockers Texas, Sharleen had sold more than 12 million albums worldwide. She released two solo albums following the band’s eighth record ‘Red Book’ in 2005. But although back in the studio with the boys this year, the mother of one has much more on her plate. The 42-year-old is set to appear as a judge in a TV talent show in the UK, and has also turned her hand to acting. Sharleen is set to start filming alongside Dominic West, who shot to fame playing Jimmy McNulty in American hit TV series ‘The Wire’, in new movie ‘I Feel Fine’ next month.
But although clearly a woman of many talents, she can’t hide her love of music, and the thrill of playing live. She explains: “You start off and you’re staying in the worst places on the planet and then you get to the point where you’re in the most beautiful hotels in the world, going to the most amazing restaurants, playing festivals with bands you’ve loved all throughout your life and you’re thinking, ‘I’m part of this’. “When you do festivals you don’t even get a sound check, you walk on and you do it. Even if the sound’s really bad and you can’t hear a thing, you need to do the show, that’s it.
“It’s up to you, not anyone else. It’s your band, your music, you have to decide how it’s done.
“You can make as many excuses as you want, but you’re in charge so you’ve got to work really hard because there’s always someone else coming up behind you, ready to take your place.”
Sharleen opted for a break from Texas shortly after splitting from partner, and daughter Misty’s dad, Ashley Heath in 2004. She’s since released two well-received solo albums, ‘Melody’ in 2008 and this year’s ‘The Movie Songbook’, a collection of cover versions from the world of cinema.
She’s now got a new man in her life, chef Bryn Williams, and she’s back in the studio with Texas again. It’s a long time since she shot to fame with ‘I Don’t Want A Lover’ back in 1989. And she’s not sure how the band will fare after their break.
She says: “I don’t know whether that’s going to be a success but I’m willing to take the chance. I’m willing to take the rejection as well but that’s what you’ve got to do - it takes a lot of bottle because you’re putting yourself out there to be judged.”
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