SIobhan Fahey has revealed how Shakespears Sister evolved during the writing and recording of their second album ‘Hormonally Yours’.
Having entered the UK Top 10 with their debut ‘Sacred Heart’, featuring the hit single You’re History, the pair set about working on its follow-up.
Celebrating 30 years of their seminal sophomore effort, the singer-songwriter tells Retro Pop’s September 2022 issue the process was significantly different.
“I didn’t really want to be a solo artist; it was just where I found myself at that point in my life,” she muses. “[Richard Feldman, producer] very quickly introduced me to Marcy – but she was more like part of the team on the first record.
“I found it so easy to work with her and write with her, and her voice worked so well with mine that I suggested [that we formed a duo].
“Especially after You’re History – that set up an audience and an interest in the next record, and I invited her to be part of that again, and she said, ‘I want to be an equal member,’ and I said, ‘Fine.’ So we became a duo.”
Having multi-instrumentalist Marcella in tow opened up new realms of possibilities for the pair. “I said, ‘Well, if we’re a duo, we can pretty much do everything ourselves…’,” adds Siobhan.
“I was very excited by the fact that two women – an all-female duo – could do it between us. That was a big shift in approach for the second record.”
Although lead track Goodbye Cruel World stalled outside the UK Top 40, follow-up Stay topped the charts for eight consecutive weeks and ‘Hormonally Yours’ became one of the best-selling LPs of the year.
In 2018, Siobhan and Marcella reunited for their ‘Singles Party’ greatest hits and the following year released the ‘Ride Again’ EP, featuring five new tracks. However, they’ve yet to begin work on a follow-up.
“I don’t imagine that’s imminent,” Siobhan says of more duo material. “I haven’t seen Marcy for a couple of years; it’s not like we’ve been in each other’s lives or getting together to write.
“I think she threw herself into churning out songs and making a record, and I spent a lot of the time in remote places and travelling. So it’s just different ways of dealing with a very weird situation on planet Earth.”
However, that doesn’t rule out more solo Shakespears Sister material. “I can’t say I’ve got exciting new plans in the works yet,” she adds. “When I stop being a rolling stone and get a really strong idea, because I work very much from like…
“I’ve got to see, I’ve got to get the whole feeling and musical direction and get excited about that – and then I’ll start rolling.
“I don’t really see a division between myself and Shakespears Sister.”
Read the full interview in the September 2022 edition of Retro Pop, out now. Order yours or subscribe via our Online Store or use our Store Finder to locate your nearest stockist.
