Music: Nadine Shah
Jeff Hemmings talks to Nadine Shah ahead of her gig at The Hope
Amidst the mountain of tepid outpourings that pours out of World Indie, there are, thankfully, exceptions. Nadine Shah being one of those, an artist who, with the help of producer Ben Hillier, fashioned one of the albums of the year so far, Love Your Dum And Mad. Yep, you read that right.
“It’s a painting by a friend of mine [the album’s artwork and name, both derived from artist Matthew Stephens-Scott] who died a few years ago,” says Nadine. “Some of the songs are about him, and others are about mental health issues.” The somewhat risqué/disturbing artwork delights Nadine though. “I’ve been seeing it on massive billboards where I live. That’s amazing!”
Fusing the foreboding atmospherics of Massive Attack with the incessantly pounding chords of Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds; sprinkle over some seriously heavy PiL type bass; and layer with the almost operatic voice of Nadine Shah (who as her name vaguely suggests is of Norwegian and Pakistani ancestry, but is born and bred in the sunny climes of South Tyneside) and you might be close.
But the truth is, words can do little justice to this most surprising of records, a work born of good fortune. “It was nerve wracking initially,” says Shah, talking about Ben Hillier, “working with someone who had made many of the albums [including several of Blur’s best] I loved and adored growing up. But we got on immediately and began writing together.
I consider what we have made together to be a completely collaborative project. I would bring in these shoddy garageband recordings into the studio, just my vocal and a simple piano line and Ben would add touches that gave the songs completely new characters.”
With varied influences, from Nina Simone to Mariah Carey, allied to a a thirst for poetry, literature and fine art, and a willingness to tackle difficult subjects such as mental health head-on, Shah has already carved herself out as a distinct and meaningful voice within the often fickle and superficial world of ‘pop’.
In person though, despite all this apparent seriousness, she is funny, and seemingly down to earth. Her first ever gig was at a packed industry event: “I hadn’t even played in front of my parents! I bought the keyboard that I used on the day, because I had forgotten to bring mine… How ridiculous! And after me was Ed Sheeran and the room was dead quiet for him. I remember patronising him by saying, ‘Oh, don’t worry love, I’m sure one day you’ll be selling out arenas!’”
Nadine Shah, The Hope, Saturday 12 October, 8pm, £6.50
