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Corinne Bailey Rae
  Corinne Bailey Rae  
Biography
Corinne Bailey Rae


Corinne was born and raised in my birth town of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, to a Yorkshire Mother and a West Indian Father, being the eldest of their 3 daughters. Corinne married a sax player 4 years ago at the age of 22 and likes bands such as Magic Numbers and Bloc Party. This enchanting 26-year old is due to release her debut album on EMI Records on 27th February 2006. From the moment my brother-in-law demo’d up the original version of “Like A Star” in his Leeds studio some years ago, I knew Corrine, with her beautifully moving voice, would one day be a star. So, it gives me great pleasure in getting the opportunity to do this biography. Corinne started singing harmonies to traditional hymns at church on Sunday. Her youth leader saw her potential and offered to buy her an electric guitar, which she gracefully accepted. Studying classical violin whilst still at school, Corinne listened to indie influences such as Veruca Salt and L7 and during her teens, her favourite band was Led Zeppelin, a group that she says inspired her to make her own music. This she did and Corinne started her own indie band called “Helen” at the age of 15 and began attracting fans locally in and around her hometown of Leeds. The band came to an abrupt end when the bassist fell pregnant.

Biography

So, Corrine took herself off to Leeds University. Whilst studying for her English Lit. Degree, on an evening she started working in a local jazz club. Working there inspired her to start writing more soulful songs, combining her love of Jazz, sometimes getting the opportunity to sing there herself. After doing some session work for Charlotte Church in the past and working with Mark Hill (Artful Dodger & Craig David Producer), Corinne appeared on Jools Holland twice in 2005 (the second time being on New Year’s Eve) and gained new friends such as the likes of Burt Bacharach (not a bad man to impress!). Her first appearance mesmerised me. When you look at Corinne, it’s almost like looking at someone who has been transported from another era – with her distinct way of dressing and hairstyle (50’s) combined with her delicate voice. Of course a modern day Billy Holliday does spring to mind, but Corinne has her own unpretentious, almost fragile, laid-back style. Her single “Like A Star” was released in November 2005 and featured as Record Of The Week on Radio 1 and was also championed by Radio 2, Capital Radio and 1 Xtra and her fan base began to rapidly increase. More recently, in January 2006, UK critics and broadcasters named Corinne the best new artist in the BBC News Website’s Sound Of 2006 poll, which for a Soul artist, is quite something. My prediction of a huge Soul revival in 2006, may well be on course. Signed to EMI records in the spring of last year, Corinne says the songs which she has written for her debut album were inspired by people such as Jill Scott, Billy Holliday, Erykah Badu and are unusually intimate, short and to the point, hoping to leave the listener wanting more. I wish Corinne every success and am sure it will be a busy year ahead for her. The definition of Corinne’s middle name is ‘outermost wall or court of castle’. This I am sure, will help ‘protect’ her on her musical journey in 2006 and beyond. Prepare for your heart to be softened with her Yorkshire warmth and child-like charm and you will be truly smitten. I look forward to hearing her forthcoming album and believe she is a very special, unique artist, who is well worth listening to.

 

Tracey Cope [Just Soul]

Discography
Corinne Bailey Rae (2006) [EMI]

  1. Like A Star
  2. Enchantment
  3. Put Your Records On
  4. Till It Happens To You
  5. Trouble Sleeping
  6. Call Me When You Get This
  7. Choux Pastry Heart
  8. Breathless
  9. I'd Like To
  10. Butterfly
  11. Seasons Change
Corinne Bailey Rae
Corinne Bailey Rae
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