Nadine Coyle talks new music, being a Girls Aloud fangirl and calling her fans her Passports…

She’s back, bitches.

Nadine Coyle stormed into New Music Friday this week by telling everyone to Go To Work over a thumping club beat and infectious pop chorus, teaming back up with Xenomania who she worked with on most of Girls Aloud’s biggest hits.

“It’s terrifying to release songs,” she told Gay Times when we sat down with her at the office of her new record label, Virgin EMI.

The singer likened the experience to running and running and running through lovely scenery and then jumping off a cliff and hoping you land somewhere.

But Go To Work feels like the proper launch of a solo Nadine Coyle, hearing her distinctive vocal lead a pop production she’s been accustomed to for 15 years now. But in true Xenomania style, there were plenty of different version before this one.

“When I recorded the chorus, it was so laid back and soulful almost,” she told us. “The track was completely different when I first sang over that wee bit.

“Then we did more parts, and more parts, and more parts, and then there were three versions. We didn’t know which one was going to be the lead single.

“The other two have different verse parts on it are now going out as part of a package, but at one point they were both contenders to be the actual single.”

Nadine has been busy in the studio with Xenomania for quite some time now, having recorded over a hundred songs with the hit-making team.

“We’ve got four singles back-to-back. It was really hard to get to that, because what style do you go with?” she said.

Surely that means there’s an album on the horizon then?

“I don’t even know, to be honest, if it’s going to be a classic singles then album type of situation. Everything is so different now. We’ll just go with it and see, but it would be great.”

Nadine seems cautious about committing to her fans about a full album at this point possibly because of how Insatiable played out seven years ago.

Many consider the collection an underrated pop gem, but because of a unique distribution deal with Tesco back in 2010 where it would only sold in their stores, it stalled at No.47 on the UK chart.

“At the time it was about trying something new,” she told us. “It seemed like it was all written out perfectly. But there was such a move to things being online and it just wasn’t available online anywhere, so you basically had to be in select stores or you just couldn’t get it.

“This time it’s a lot less on me. The last time I did this it was just a lot of pressure on me in terms of having to be the infrastructure. I had to basically be this building. It was impossible and I wouldn’t want to do it that way again.”

But through the ups and the downs, Nadine’s very passionate (and largely gay) fan base have stuck with her, essentially turning some of her iconic moments into fabulous memes.

In a revealing interview, Nadine blows the lid on Girls Aloud tensions, their eventual break up and Sarah Harding’s recent Big Brother stint. Plus she also discusses details of her new music, her growing family, and her relationship with Louis Walsh.

Listen below or from the other podcast websites linked below

iTunes
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/nadine-coyle/id1231619938?i=1000391967503&mt=2

Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/episode/7nreWOhX2PhXGczdic0W0K

Stitcher
http://www.stitcher.com/s?eid=51403428

See 7 HQ pictures from the interview in the gallery linked below:

Photoshoots > 2017 > Louis Wood [The Sun]

Girls Aloud’s impressive body of work has long been part of the pop canon, still dominating the playlists of millennials across the UK in 2017 (we’ve all been under the DJ booth screaming for “Love Machine”, right?). Their debut single, 2002’s banger “Sound of the Underground” continues to be considered a brit-pop game changer, and despite the group splitting four years ago, the gals are still very much in demand (I mean, Sarah just won CBB!)

Thankfully, Nadine Coyle is on hand to serve up some new tunes to fill our aural Girls Aloud fix, teaming up with Brian Higgins (who was basically responsible for all your fave GA jams) on her upcoming single, “Go To Work.” For the past two years she’s been writing new material, exploring her new found “soulful” voice.

Ahead tomorrow’s drop (the single lands 8 September), we caught up with Nadine to discuss the evolution of her sound, her relationship with her Girls Aloud bandmates, and the power of the potato… (yes seriously!)

How has your summer been? What have you been up to?

I went to Spain a few times. I love Spain! And being in London you hop on a plane to Europe and you’re there! There’s this beautiful part, my parents actually took us there when we were kids and I was searching the world for this beach and it was in my mind and I thought it must have just been in my memory, but it turns out, it exists and it’s in Spain and I love it!

Nice. So you’ve just signed with Virgin EMI, how does that feel?

Surreal, completely surreal! I’ve got the chance to do it before and I’ve got the chance to do it again. It brings a tear to my eye, everybody is so good and so amazing that I just feel really really really fortunate.

You’ve had a bit of time away from music, how does it feel coming back to it?

To be a singer you can just walk around the house and sing, you don’t have to be in a studio or on a stage. [It’s] something I’ve always loved to do. [I’m] working with Brian Higgins again, who did all of the Girls Aloud stuff.

You must have a great working relationship with him!

I met Brian when I was 17, we’ve done every Girls Aloud song ever really, all of our singles have all been Brian, he knows how to push me and we just have a great way of working together. I love the challenge with different tunes.

Considering your time away, do you feel nervous or excited about coming back?

I feel excited because it’s one of those really odd things where it’s so out there, like oh my god, you shoot a video, you do photo shoots, you do all these things, it’s such an exciting job that I’m really really happy to be back and I’m really happy to be here and I’m really happy to have all the people here and have these opportunities.

What can we expect to hear? What’s the sound that you’re going for?

The sound is definitely pop. I’m all about the pop! My voice has changed a bit since before, so it’s a bit more soulful, soulful melodies, but just fun, the whole thing! What you can expect is to get up and be dancing and be able to put it on and hopefully feel energised and in a better mood, that’s the hope, that’s what we’re really going for, fun times!

How many pairs of spectacles and sunglasses do you own?

I am relatively new to glasses and currently just have two pairs. One pair is more of a daytime frame that goes with any look, and the other is a fancier pair that were a little bit more expensive.

When it comes to sunglasses, I lost count about 10 years ago of how many pairs I own – I find them everywhere. I am wearing a pair right now and as I look around I can see at least another two pairs in the car around me.

Do you have a favourite pair?
I don’t have a favourite pair, but I really can’t get enough of sunglasses. I have one or two pricey pairs and the rest I’ve just picked up on my travels and on the High Street. While I have a lot of pairs, I also tend to lose them quite easily, leaving them in places or finding them in bags years later.

Who would you pick as your style icon and why?
That’s a difficult question as there are so many potential icons when it comes to clothing and eyewear. However, someone I really love in terms of how she carries herself as a person is Salma Hayek, as well as Penelope Cruz – they exude a very glamorous persona, but are also very fun.

Do you wear contact lenses?
No, I don’t. I’ve tried colour contact lenses in the past, but not since I was prescribed glasses. But who knows, I’ll let you know if and when I do try them out.

How long have you worn spectacles for and what prompted you to go for your first eye test?
I’ve worn spectacles for just over a year now. I was starting to lose my confidence driving and I didn’t really know why – I just didn’t feel comfortable behind the wheel and I was tired. Initially I put it down to being a new mum. However, my mum encouraged me to go for an eye test and when I did I was told that, yes, I needed glasses.

Following the eye test, I picked a pair of glasses and since then I have felt so much better and more comfortable on the road.

How has wearing spectacles changed your outlook on eye care?
I have always had a lot of friends who wear glasses, and my mum wears glasses, so I’ve always been around glasses and felt they were a great way to create a new and exciting look without having to do much – now I’m part of that club and I’m very pleased about it.

While I haven’t taken my daughter for her first eye test yet, it will definitely become part of her healthcare routine going forward. I understand how important it is for children to have their sight tested – it can be a huge disadvantage on their learning and education when kids can’t see properly.

Why did you become the official ambassador of Specsavers’ Spectacle Wear of the Year (SWOTY) Awards?
I love the fact that it’s such a positive initiative and has a big focus on children and anti-bullying. There is money going towards a charity that has been set up to make sure that kids are looked after and to limit bullying as much as possible, and I think that’s great.

Is the charity element of the awards important to you?
Yes, that is the most important part of it for me, especially as a mother too. I am very happy to be part of SWOTY.

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Nadine Coyle first hit our screens as a young hopeful on the television talent show Popstars: The Rivals, where she won a place in Girls Aloud – the multi-platinum, multi-award-winning girl group with hits including Sound of the Underground and Something Kinda Oooh.

This year sees Nadine celebrate her 15th anniversary in the industry. She is currently in the studio with new music due to be released later this year. Nadine is also marking 2017 with an impassioned commitment as our new Spectacle Wearer of the Year ambassador. We stole the Derry-born beauty away for a quick chat during a fabulous photoshoot to promote the annual charity competition.

How long have you worn glasses? About a year. I started getting headaches while I was driving, and both my mum and my partner Jason (former American footballer and father to their daughter Anaiya, three) said that I should have my eyes tested.

How have you adapted to wearing glasses? I love it. I have always loved wearing sunglasses. so it feels very natural.

How do glasses fit with your lifestyle? Really easily. I like to have neutral tone glasses that can go with anything. Now when I leave the house, it’s keys, phone, purse, lip balm and glasses!

How would you describe your style? My style is classic but depending on what I am up to, I will add a touch of glamour for a night out. When I go through my wardrobe, I can see how much my style has changed and evolved over the years. I am now more aware of things that suit me rather than falling for the hottest new trend.

What are your top style tips? Wear what you feel comfortable in and what brings out your personal style. That way you will feel more confident.

How important is the charity element for you? It is so important! Kidscape is a fantastic charity and the fact that it receives £1 for each entry is just tremendous. Kidscape works tirelessly to help prevent bullying and I believe that all children should be able to grow up without fearing bullies or abuse.

How do you feel about being this year’s Specsavers Spectacle Wearer of the Year ambassador? It’s such an honour, I am so proud! I attended last year’s event and received an award for Best Newcomer. It’s a great feel-good campaign and the awards evening is a spec-tacular, fun event!

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