About Me
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Some dreams take longer to realise than others. Then again, things this good are definitely worth waiting for
David Steele, the musical brain behind the phenomenal Fried, has spent the past 12 years bringing this one to the table. The trail began in London after Fine Young Cannibals called it a day and their bass player and principal songwriter, Steele, embarked on his search for a new vocalist.
A brief spell working with the American gospel legend Al Green on his 1992 album, Dont Look Back, had persuaded Steele that there was more to rnb than the Cannibals cutely stylised pop take on the soul greats. I knew there was another level I could go to, and I also knew it had to be with somebody who wasnt famous because working with legends youre too respectful.
Basically, Steele wanted to find the new Aretha Franklin, no more, no less. It was a bit insane, like saying Im not going to play football unless I can play with Pele, but thats how I felt. I was looking for the sort of old soul voice that todays hip-hop people would sample.
As the 21st century rolled around, Steele was still looking. Then in 2001 a lengthy stay in New Orleans brought him into contact with a young gospel singer, Jonte Short. One of the stars of the local Ebenezer Baptist Church choir, Jonte also sang for pop audiences in nightclubs to pay the rent. Gospel music brings out an extra emotion in me, but I never wanted a career in it, Jonte says.
Like many great gospel voices in America, hers was part of a family inheritance. Jonte started singing aged 2 with her brothers and sisters in a group run by her mother, Pamela Landrum, one of the ladies who pioneered the crossover from the gospel scene when she sang back-up in Boz Scaggs touring band in the 1970s.
In the home studio in Steeles house in the French Quarter, the musical chemistry between him and Jonte was instant. The pair began work on songs that Steele had stockpiled, and wrote some new ones together, no problem. But it still took 5 years to get the album right. The first A&R executive sent over to New Orleans ratify Steeles choice of vocalist in early 2002 was startled to discover a heavily pregnant Jonte who sang so hard she started getting contractions and had to be rushed to hospital.
With the baby safely delivered the projects birthing problems re-focused initially on an ailing, rudderless record company, and then on a hurricane called Katrina which rendered Jonte homeless along with most of the other inhabitants of New Orleans in the summer of 2005. That which didnt kill her has, she thinks, made her stronger. My vocals have much more emotion in them now because of all the experiences of the past year. I look at things completely differently now.
