Beverley Knight is the queen of the British soul. This summer, she is right on Kew. Jane McGowan gets in tune...
Beverley Knight was born to sing. Moreover, she says, “at the risk of sounding obnoxious,” she has always known she could do it.
“I have always been aware that my voice could do things others couldn’t,” confesses the 51-year-old vocalist and musical theatre star. “It’s a gift that fell into my lap at birth, and I will be forever grateful. It has given me the most unbelievable life.”
It was back in 1995 that Beverley burst onto the showbiz scene with her debut album The B-Funk. Inspired by many of her favourite performers, the songs gave listeners an early glimpse of what was in store, setting the young Wolverhampton artist on the path to future success.
And the hits were not long in coming. Greatest Day, Shoulda Woulda Coulda and Come as You Are all made the upper echelons of the UK chart, and there were sell-out tours, awards and nominations. Then, in 2013, Beverley took to the stage as Rachel Marron in the musical theatre version of The Bodyguard – a part played by Whitney Houston in the original 1992 film.
A host of further stage roles followed, including Felicia in Memphis and Grizabella in Cats, culminating in an Olivier Award for her standout performance as suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst in the musical Sylvia last year. This summer she has been back in the habit, reprising a previous role as Doloris in Sister Act the Musical, which has been packing them in at London’s Dominion Theatre since March.
“It’s a great show, lots of fun,” she says. “It’s very energetic, as that is how I chose to play my Doloris. And joyous – truly beautiful. That message of just being here to spread the love around is a wonderful thing to give out.”
Now, the nun run firmly behind her, Beverley is back on the road for a series of open-air concerts and festivals, including Kew the Music at the Royal Botanic Gardens this month.
“I love outdoor performances,” she reveals. “Kew is a wonderful setting. I have performed at Glastonbury and the Isle of Wight, which was amazing, but single-artist concerts like Kew are really nice because people have come to see me. So it’s a crowd that I already know will be welcoming and ready to share some pure, unadulterated joy.”
Nor will the weather be allowed to dampen spirits.
“If it’s raining, who cares? We will bring the sunshine,” laughs Beverley. “What the audience can count on is an energetic, heartfelt musical rollercoaster. It will give them the ‘feels’, as they say.”
Faced with a permanently packed performance schedule, Beverley maintains a rigorous fitness regime. When we speak, she has just returned from her daily run. Having her body in tip-top condition, she says, is vital for maintaining not just her voice, but also her energy levels.
“I am really conscious of getting sleep and keeping hydrated. Taking on as much water as possible and sitting out in the sunshine is really good. I go for runs to make sure I am up to it physically, but a lot of it is technique – I am conscious of not pushing my voice.
“When I am in a musical, I try not to do other vocal performances, as eight shows a week is extraordinarily demanding. Actually, it’s when you do the speaking stuff on stage that there is a tendency to overdo it.”
The second of three children, Beverley was born in March 1973 into a family with “generations of musicians”. Her mum Dolores led the choir at the local Pentecostal church and Beverley knew from a young age that performance, in some form, would be a big part of her own future too.
“I have done theatre all my life,” she explains. “It’s in my body. Yes, I am a musician – very much so – but I started doing theatre when I was about five. So, returning to it as an adult was full circle for me. I was part of Wolverhampton Youth Theatre and I acted at university, so having the chance to perform on a West End stage was, well, just wonderful.”
Her family, she says, have always supported her, aware from the beginning that she would not be deterred from her performance path.
“It was obvious that this was my calling, if you like. And they backed me all the way.”
And yet, despite her unwavering commitment to her craft, Beverley never let her studies slip.
“Basically because I was a complete nerd! I still am. I love being a nerd,” she laughs. “I was just as happy to work on my books as my performances. And as long as that situation persisted, my parents were happy.”
So, determined to complete her education, off she went to study theology and philosophy at what is now the University of Gloucestershire, alongside a minor in performance arts.
“Yep, it was the ‘big five’ world religions, along with the work of great dramatists like Bertolt Brecht. Then, because I loved to study, I would also be in my room breaking down the music and musicality of Prince – note by note, phrase by phrase. Or analysing Whitney Houston’s vocal range and timbre. If I love a subject and I’m into it, I’m in all the way. Like I said, I’m a nerd.
“But in the midst of all this, I found my sound, my voice. Those legendary singers didn’t know they were mentoring me, but they were.”
In 2007, Beverley supported Prince during his residency at the O2 and made such an impression that, the following year, the Minnesotan megastar flew her over to his home in Los Angeles specially to sing for guests at his post-Oscars party. He even performed alongside her.
“It was glorious; the stuff of dreams. Prince was my idol – he still is. He is all over this house. My poor husband has just had to put up with this other man,” she laughs.
“When something like that happens, there is no greater accolade or affirmation of what you do. Your hero thinks enough of you to fly you out to his house to entertain his guests. So you get to sing in front of his AAA-star mates in his home.
“Even if I went to the Grammys, the BAFTAs, the Oscars, whatever, I don’t think anything could ever beat being on stage with my idol. It’s surreal. How can this have happened? I’m from Wolverhampton!”
Beverley Knight is at Kew the Music on July 13. To book, or for details of the whole festival, visit: kewthemusic.org
