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She's Gonna Rock This Town Words with On The Town's Amber Jolene If you're Amber Jolene, you're accustomed to being all over the place, both geographically and professionally. Live on stage in Spain with Wilson Pickett at a tender age, live on stage at the Hackney Empire with Madness more recently. Pumping her amber intonations to a house beat, laying down the beat as a disco groove DJ. It'd be a challenge trying label this lass as this or that, so let's just go with the cop out and tag her cliche-like as "multifaceted." Or we can go with something closer to the bone as Madness fans: How about enigma? With so many artists and musicians who would climb over their mother to take to the stage and studio with Madness, out of nowhere comes sweet songbird Amber Jolene, a mere 29 years old, meaning our world wasn't yet graced with her birth when Madness first released their debut "The Prince" in 1979. Where did she come from? What is she about? And just who is she? Let's attempt to put some of those questions to rest. Let's get to know Amber Jolene a smidgen better, the singer who is known to the Madness community as "The Girl on On The Town." Interview by Steve Bringe |
 The Multitalented Amber Jolene |
Madness Central: Let’s start with the obvious one: How did you end up singing with Madness on “On the Town” and on the Norton Folgate album?
Amber: I was asked to sing A guide vocal for ‘On The Town’ back in 2007 just for a demo. Then I got a phone call last year from their management asking if I was free to record that track for the album and asking if I could perform it at the Hackney Empire 3 days later!
MC: I’d imagine working with Madness is a high point in your career, but where does your singing career begin? Is it with your single “Tell Me”, or does it go back further than this?
Amber: That was my first ever single release. It was also the first imprint on a label called Sounds Like Soul. I really like that track, but it was recorded in a bedroom studio and my voice sounds nothing like it does on this track. Still I was really proud of it. I knew I wanted to sing when I got the opportunity to sing with Wilson Pickett live on stage in Spain in 1999 in front of 5,000 people - completely impromtu too! I guess my career started from then on!
MC: Cruising the InterWeb for “Amber Jolene” brings up your name time and again as an in-demand DJ. How did you get your start spinning vinyl?
Amber: I just started djing on friend's boat parties and it was just a bit of fun at first. I was always trying to control the music at parties, and it used to drive my friends nuts (and still does according to some of my crowd!) So it seemed that a natural outlet for this behavior would be to do some DJ work. I took to it like a duck to water.
MC: It’s been said of Amber the DJ that you are: “Never one to shy away from the obscure, Amber prides herself on her ability to pull out the most random record to fit each and every moment to great effect.” Care to expand on that?
Amber: Does it say that?! I didn’t write it! I guess what whoever wrote it was trying to say that, yes, I do play completely random records at times, but it’s always funny and apt for the moment I think.
I do like to play obscure records though. I used to work for Warner Jazz so I did get exposed to some fabulous music by my boss.
When you’re DJing for 4 hours plus, you have to amuse yourself. My way is to create links with the music back and forth through genres and decades and look around to see if anyone picks up on it.
But I’m not trying to re-educate anyone or anything! I just want everyone to have a really good time! Makes my job a lot easier. Just a matter of finding the perfect track for the moment.
MC: What makes an awesome mix? It’s got to be more than just matching bpm.
Amber: I wish I knew! I just like to play good music and pick up on the mood of the crowd. I play music from so many different styles so isn’t about matching bpm. I don’t DJ house or anything. Broadly, disco soul and rock n roll and loads of stuff in between, I like to try to get catch the music that falls through the gaps.
MC: You must have a ton of vinyl and acetate (I’m cheating on this one, as you already told me you collect audio). Were you a fan of Madness already? Did you collect their pressings?
Amber: Yeah I’m a fan but not a diehard! I’ve only got one Madness album on vinyl.
I do have tons of vinyl. Luckily I have an understanding partner and we have just about enough room for it. I’ve collected vinyl for about 10 years now.
MC: You took the stage with Madness at the Hackney Empire last summer. How was that experience for you?
Amber: It was lovely to be asked to perform with Madness a real honour and even more so that it was at the Hackney Empire. It has so much history and it’s such a gorgeous building. I’ve always wanted to perform there and I did with the Madness boys! Not bad work at all!
MC: Once again cruising the InterWeb, I’ve come across the Latin-laced house thumper “Summer of Love” which you do the vox on for DJ Hal and Sin-Sei. Is this more in the groove with your style of music?
Amber: Erm that song is ok I guess. I mean I’m known for house music but that track is a bit hard for me. I like soulful music if it’s house. I actually write more bluesy music with just me and the acoustic. Just give me a slow disco beat and I'm there!
MC: You’ve pointed me to the song “Sun in My Eyes” that you performed with Myomi. There’s an unquestionably strong Motown/R&B funk in your vocals. Do you draw your inspiration from these genres, or are your influences more widely diverse than this?
Amber: I grew up listening to Roy Orbison, Elvis, The Carpenters etc, but Motown is certainly one genre that I love too. But my voice is my voice, I’m not sure where it comes from, I just sing from the heart… Having access and an interest in so much different music just opens yourself up to different ways of singing. I guess what I’m trying to say is that I’m not sure where my sound comes from. Does anyone??
MC: Going back to our lads quickly, just how was it working with Madness and their producers Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley?
Amber: Brief but sweet. I love working in the studio. That’s where I feel most at home so I could have stayed all day!
MC: Word around town is that “On the Town” is making the cut for a single off the Norton Folgate album. How cool is that?
Amber: That would be amazing and make me a very happy girl indeed.
MC: Final question: If you could marry any one of the boys in Madness, and assuming they're all unhitched, who would be the lucky boy?
Amber: My fiance is the only ‘lucky boy’ for me!
27 March 2009
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