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We’re excited to be speaking today with acclaimed music artist Philippa Healey; greetings and salutations Philippa and welcome to Vents Magazine! Before we meander down the musical Q&A pathway, how would you describe your indelible musical stylings to a new fan just discovering you and your music? Listening to you, we can hear the sweet refrains of both jazz and funk, but would you consider yourself a jazz or funk artist per se? Oooh, that’s a good question! Clearly, I am a devoted jazz and funk creator (it’s been my secret obsession since I was a kid!) However, I’m also thankful to have my classical music and West End career alongside my love for jazz and funk. My classical training has shaped me – as a musician – since my childhood, and continues to provide me with so many incredible performance opportunities. Musicians often lead double lives, and I am no exception(!)
Major congratulations on one of the best new singles of 2024, I Used to Be Fun! Can you talk about what inspired this gem of a funk ditty? It’s definitely a case of art imitating life. I know that the concept of “I Used To Be Fun” is a VERY relatable struggle for many people out there… probably even more so, after having kids! Firstly, it’s meant to be a sexy song, hence the slow, blues-y groove. As for the lyrics: it’s a flirtatious (and also painfully honest!) love letter to my long-term partner. The message is: “I’m sorry that I’m not the raging sex kitten I was in the early days… but she’s still in there somewhere, so let’s try and go for it!”
Can you introduce our ever-inquisitive readers to the talented musicians who contributed their own musical alchemy to I Used to Be Fun? Initially, I decided to ask Jamiroquai members Paul Turner (bass) and Derrick McKenzie (drums) if they wanted to join me on this track, and I’m still pinching myself that I got to record with them. After all, Jamiroquai has been one of my all-time favourite bands, since they began 30+ years ago! We recorded two tracks back in January: both “I Used To Be Fun” and my previous release “F.M.L.”. Naturally, Paul & Derrick brought a new level of excitement to the tracks that exceeded my wildest expectations, with their incredible funky grooves. Paul suggested also contacting Jamiroquai guitarist Rob Harris, and – sure enough – I was in Rob’s home studio a couple of months later! My original idea was to only have Rob playing on “F.M.L.”, but then he just nailed an additional wah-wah guitar track (on the day) for “I Used To Be Fun”. I would have been an idiot not to have used it! Special mention also needs to go to my long-time friend Liam Dunachie, who just popped into the studio for about ten minutes to crank out that utterly incredible Hammond track you hear on “I Used To Be Fun”. Liam is the sort of musician that is worshipped by other musicians… even my fellow Jamiroquai friends were in awe! If you love a good blues organ, you will adore Liam’s contribution.
In your humble opinion, what differentiates I Used to Be Fun from the Distinguished Competition on the 2024 music scene? First and foremost, this is a song with a distinctly vintage/retro sound. I love the old school-style blues and funk records, and so it’s undeniable that that sound shapes so much of my music-making. My lyrics are also original by definition, in that they are 100% unique to me, and my most honest experiences of life. Someone who was a master of that was Amy Winehouse, and she’s always inspired me to dig deep, and be true to myself when writing lyrics, as opposed to writing something more generic/impersonal.
Who did the producing honors on I Used to Be Fun and what did the collaboration between artist and producer look like in the studio while fashioning and shaping the new tune? I guess I’m still at the early stage where my projects are ultimately self-produced! As for life in the recording studio, I’ve usually already sent full demos of my songs to the sound engineer ahead of time, in which I’ve charted all the chord progressions/arrangements, and recorded all of the vocals and instruments myself. For “I Used To Be Fun” and “F.M.L.” I was introduced to Rob through my connections with Jamiroquai. Rob really knows his stuff as an engineer; he’s is also a musician, and a big-time jazz lover, so he understood my ambitions for the end result instinctively.
Who are you inspired by, musically-speaking? As a young kid, I listened to a lot of Level 42! I think Level 42 are still underrated; some of their early albums in particular have absolutely incredible playing, and jazz harmonies in abundance. As a rebellious teenager, I loved Prince’s outstanding musicianship, AND his naughty lyrics! (If I was in the mood for something a little less explicit, I’d hammer out some Earth, Wind, And Fire.) But the biggest influence of all has to be Stevie Wonder … there’s a reason SO many musicians are loyal Stevie devotees! I first heard “Inner Visions” at a party, back when I was 18 years old, and I remember immediately going to ask the party host what record was being played. That jazzy descending chord progression over his initial vocal entry in the beginning of “Too High” had me immediately hooked, and I’ve been addicted to his music ever since. That was around the time that Jamiroquai came on the scene, and I fell in love with them, too… right from their first album. Then, in later years, I stumbled across the back catalogue of Steely Dan, and Donald Fagen – I love that uber-cool, L.A. sound combined with luscious harmonies, and sardonic lyrics.
In the wake of the June 21 release of I Used to Be Fun, can fans look forward to a possible EP or LP release from you in 2024? I think the short-term plan right now is to release a few more songs individually, but I have very big plans for 2025, so stay tuned!
What does your touring/performing dance card look like in the coming weeks and months? The main event I want to mention is my 50th birthday party gig, which takes place in London on Tuesday January 7th 2025. I’ll be performing my original songs, plus a few surprises! I’ve got some very exciting musician friends joining me onstage, too. It’s a secret famous jazz venue in London, you’ll have to follow along on my socials to find out!
When working on new material such as I Used to Be Fun, what does your creative process generally tend to look like? Is there method to the creative madness, or is it a bit more freeform than all of that? For me, the song has to start with a narrative. I have to know what the song will be about, before I can start thinking about the groove, and the melody/ harmony, etc. Quite often, I have to record little voice notes to myself singing a tune while I’m putting laundry away, or I have to play a quick chord progression into my phone, while my kids watch TV. Then, I just clear space in my diary to start to experimenting with different ideas, and find the ones that excite me the most. I love Louis Cole at the moment, and I’m quite envious that he gets to stay up all night in his home studio making new music… as a parent running around two young kids, I definitely don’t have that option!
At the end of the day, what do you hope listeners walk away with after giving many-a-spin to your new single I Used to Be Fun? I hope they want to grab their partners, and show them what they’ve been missing! And if they can relate to the idea of “I Used To Be Fun”, I hope they can take some comfort from knowing they are not alone (!)
Social Media Handles: @PhilippaMusician
www.instagram.com/PhilippaMusician
www.facebook.com/PhilippaMusician
www.youtube.com/@PhilippaMusician
Website:
www.philippahealey.com
