Claire Richards interview: ‘The door closed on me being cool years ago!’

Steps star Claire Richards has burst back into the public consciousness of late with gorgeous acoustic versions of Steps classics Deeper Shade Of Blue and One For Sorrow, available now on iTunes.

We caught up with Claire to chat new music, Eurovision, how Totally Scott Lee reunited she and estranged bandmate Lisa Scott-Lee and much more.

We’re loving your new versions of Deeper Shade Of Blue and One For Sorrow – is this what your album is going to be like? Can we expect an acoustic version of 5, 6, 7, 8?

No, I think 5, 6, 7, 8 is probably at it’s best the way it is! I’ve been completely overwhelmed by the positive response to the new versions of DSOB and OFS. When Steve [Anderson] and I were in the studio we wanted to do a Steps song that would fit with my new sound so we did OFS, which came so naturally and fits perfectly as a ballad with the slight country vibe. But then we started messing around with DSOB, Steve just played and I sang it, what you hear is one take so I’m pretty proud of it. But in terms of the rest of the album, it’s not all Steps covers, promise!

Where are you with your album?

We’re about halfway through at the moment, and so far it is a bit of a mix: there are some new songs in there, a couple of fab covers that people won’t necessarily know and I’m undecided as to whether we include the Steps reworkings yet. I think it depends on the rest of the material. I just want to make sure it’s great and something I’m proud of.

You’re working with Steve Anderson, who’s worked with Kylie – what’s he like to work with?

Steve is great, so laid back and calm, which is exactly what I need as I have a tendency to panic and doubt myself. He’s very good at putting my mind at rest. Obviously, musically there’s nothing he doesn’t know so I trust him completely. I’m very lucky that he wanted to work with me and be involved in something I’ve wanted to do for over 20 years!!

What kind of market are you aiming at?

Obviously the fans that I have out there already, I want to create something they will love and support as they’ve been with me for so long and never lost faith in me or the belief that I’m capable of doing this on my own. Also it would be great to attract a new audience, people like me that just love music and want to listen to great songs that perhaps aren’t the coolest of dance tracks but they move you. My idol is Karen Carpenter and I love the quality she had that made you believe every single word she sang: it’s heartbreaking, uplifting and comforting all at the same time.  I’d love to emulate that.

Where do you think you’d be without the gay audience?

Wow, what a question! I’m pretty sure that Steps would not have been the success it was without them, we have a lot to be grateful to the LGBT community for and we will never forget it. Some of the best shows we’ve ever done were at GAY or Pride. The loyalty they’ve shown us over the years is astounding so all I can hope for is that I do you all proud with this new material. I think I’m most worried about impressing ‘the gays’, ha!

Because people will always associate you with Steps, have you ever thought of relaunching overseas to establish yourself as a cool vocalist like Adele / Emeli Sande-type singer and then coming back to the UK and kicking some chart ass?

I think the door closed on me being any kind of cool years ago, and I’m fine with that. Steps aren’t cool and I embrace it. I’m far more Celine Dion and Barbara Streisand than Adele or Emeli Sande anyway. It’s so hard to be a new artist these days and everyone needs some kind of platform, whether that be YouTube or X Factor or BGT. Whether intended or not, Steps is my platform, it’s my legacy and hopefully it’s the reason people will want to hear more of my voice and my music. I remember saying to my Mum all those years ago when faced with the decision of a solo management deal and Steps that I would be better in a group to start with, so it could give me a foot on the ladder towards a solo career like Robbie Williams or Louise Nurding. Cut to 20 years later and……….. ha!

Is it harder to break as a solo artist these days?

Definitely I would absolutely hate to be starting out now; it’s not enough to just have a great voice anymore.

People have suggested you represent the UK at Eurovision – would you?

Do you know what, I never say never to anything anymore. If I had I wouldn’t have done some of the amazing things I’ve done over the last few years or had some of the fantastic experiences I’ve had. Popstar to Operastar, Big Brother, learning to eat fire. All these things have led me to this moment and everything happens for a reason I believe so who knows! I’ve not been asked so I honestly don’t know. H and I were asked the year Gemini came last, so thank god we said no then! I think someone who is passionate about the competition needs to take charge of it though. Someone that will put the effort in and source a great song to actually compete and invest in great production. It’s become a bit of a joke so we’ve just stopped trying. I know there is a bit of politics that goes on but if we entered an amazing song with a great singer/act then it can’t be ignored.

 

Fun pop is seriously lacking in the charts – which stars do you think are overrated?

There is a lack of fun pop, you are right. The industry has changed so much since our day and it moves so quickly now. I’m not sure who is overrated but there are quite a few that just take themselves so seriously. It would be nice to have a bit of lighthearted music again.

Your old bandmate Lisa’s Totally Scott-Lee show has gained a bit of a cult following over the years – what did you make of it at the time? It was pretty cruel, right down to the theme tune…

Ooooh I can’t remember what the theme tune was? All I can say about Totally Scott-Lee was that it was because of that show Lisa and I started talking again after H and I left the band, so selfishly I can thank MTV for being a bit cruel because if they hadn’t perhaps Lisa and I would have been estranged for a lot longer and the Steps reunion may never have happened!

You were in Celebrity Big Brother – if Farrah was your daughter what would you do to her?

Well what a little madam she is, eh? I would sit her down and give her a really good talking-to, although if she was my daughter I would like to think I would have raised her better in the first place and she wouldn’t be so vile! She behaves like a teenager and argues like a teenager, it’s very weird!

And what do you make of James and Austin’s relationship?

I think it’s really nice to see how close they’ve gotten. The age-old argument came up in the beginning didn’t it – brought up by Jarrah, of course – that just because Austin isgGay and they are both good-looking guys, there was more to it, Austin must fancy James and he’s trying it on! It’s so singleminded and blinkered. Women aren’t accused of being attracted to every guy they meet or strike up a friendship with, so why does a gay man? Heaven forbid a straight man and a gay man be friends! I think it’s great they get on so well, although I think the amount of time they’ve been in there now is starting to get to them. We saw little arguments didn’t we; tempers are starting to fray. Only time will tell if it’s a real friendship or not.

info: Visit Claire’s website and download her solo version of A Deeper Shade of Blue on iTunes now.