Lisa Stansfield’s first album in 10 years, ‘Seven’ is heading into UK top 10

Lisa Stansfield at the Feel Good Cafe in Rochdale

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Lisa Stansfield’s new album ‘Seven’, her first in 10 years, looks set to enter the UK top 10 this Sunday. As announced by the Official Charts Company today, ‘Seven’ is currently sitting at #8 in the official midweek album chart.

Speaking about the news the Rochdale born singer said: “I'm absolutely thrilled about the chart position and delighted with everyone's support, all I've ever wanted to do is make music that I love and hope that other people love it too.” The album, which was released on Monday, has received rave reviews and delighted her fans, showing that Lisa’s signature soul-pop is as much in demand as ever. ‘Carry On’, the new single taken from the album is released on February 24th and is currently on the Radio 2 playlist.

Performed live on Jools Holland’s Hootenanny 2013 on BBC Two, ‘Carry On’ is the new single from Lisa Stansfield’s imminent album ‘Seven’. Written by Lisa and Ian Devaney the song is an homage to classic Northern Soul and a story of the end of a relationship and emotional survival – a common theme on Lisa’s new album. “She is really saying to him ‘I will carry on and you’re not going to affect my life. I’m not going to fall to pieces because you’re not there’”.

Twenty five years after topping the charts, globally, with the single ‘All Around The World’, and ten years after the release of her last album, Britain’s iconic soul singer Lisa Stansfield releases her seventh studio album ‘Seven’.

The Grammy nominated, multi BRIT, Ivor Novello and Silver Clef Award winner, who can boast sales of nearly 20 million records and a string of international top 10 hits, returned to the studio to record with long-time songwriting partner Ian Devaney, whose credits include The Bodyguard and Indecent Proposal soundtracks.

Produced and written by Lisa and Ian, ‘Seven’ is a return to the soul and R&B that she is known for. “It is a soul record and while it is eclectic there is a thread running through it. It was basically me and Ian doing everything…but we also had a team of amazing musicians in the studio with us.” That team included John "JR" Robinson, known as the most recorded drummer, and Grammy award winning orchestrator Jerry Hey who have both worked with Lisa for over two decades.

Seven’ marks Lisa’s return to the international stage and confirms her status as one of the UK’s premier recording artists. ‘Can’t Dance’, the first track on the album, was playlisted on Radio 2 this autumn and sets the tone for the record and its theme of love and relationships. “A lot of the album is about the trap that a woman has got herself into - an unrequited, doomed or mismatched love - and how to get herself out of it…if she can.” The songs are strong reminders of Lisa’s ability to tell stories and create identifiable characters within her lyrics - “I think we all suffer the same pain, all feel the same happiness, and we all have the same emotions within us. My life isn’t very racy or exciting so I make things up, tell stories. I like telling stories.”

Why has it been so long since her last album? “I felt I didn’t fit in anywhere. I didn’t want to alter what I do to fit in to a current trend but things run in cycles and now it feels as though the time is right to get my foot in the door again.” Having sold out a European tour earlier this year, this autumn Lisa embarked on her second UK tour of the year and has announced a European tour for May 2014.

Adding a further string to her bow, and with Lisa’s ongoing contribution to British Soul being undeniable, she will be starring in an independent film about the genre due out in 2014. Charting the soul phenomenon that rose out of Northern England, ‘Northern Soul’ will see Lisa team up with a renowned cast of UK actors including Steve Coogan and Ricky Tomlinson paying homage to the musical genre that has influenced her own style.

Seven is released on Monkeynatra. Catalogue number MONKYNTCD1