Claire Richards has shared two bumper digital deluxe editions of her second solo album, ‘Euphoria’.
The latest collection from the Steps star sees Claire celebrate the female artists that shaped her as a singer and performer, including classics from Whitney Houston, Donna Summer and Barbra Streisand, along with the singles, I Surrender and Summer Night City (feat. Andy Bell).
As the LP heads towards the Top 10 of the UK charts, Claire has unveiled a pair of extended editions of the record featuring a host of remixes from across the album, courtesy of Steve Anderson, 7th Heaven, Le Flex, Gareth Shortland, and many others.
The ‘You & I’ and ‘End Of Time’ editions of ‘Euphoria’ are available from Claire’s Official Store.
Speaking to RETROPOP’s September issue about the follow-up to her 2019 debut, ‘My Wildest Dreams’, Claire revealed she was keen to “explore the voices that I grew up listening to” while making the album.
“I didn’t want to do an album of ballads, especially after ‘My Wildest Dreams’, because I’ve enjoyed performing all the old Steps stuff,” she smiled. “I felt like I wanted to carry that on and have a load of bangers that everyone can stick on and be like, ‘Oh my God, this is the best playlist anybody has ever put together!’.”
There’s an irony that, 25 years into her career, the performer – who, in the past, has had no reservations in sharing her longing for a day when Steps finally tone down their high-energy performances – is out here, on her own terms, with one of the most energised projects of her career so far.
It’s symbolic of a new mindset, partly from age and also the recent recognition of the group’s legacy, that sees her embracing life to the full and living in the moment. “With age there’s a bit more of a ‘fuck it’ kind of attitude,” she says, “not wanting to swear” but with a notable twinkle in her eyes.
“We’re here to have fun and to entertain people – and if we look like we’re having fun, I think that really translates to the audience. It just makes everybody feel so much better, because what’s the point if you’re not enjoying it?”
