Singer Roisin Murphy on being ‘difficult’, avoiding fame and Sing it Back
Roisin Murphy discusses her “difficult” reputation, surviving 25 years with or without the music industry’s help and why you probably won’t hear Moloko’s Sing It Back at her solo shows in Australia.
Entertainment
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Ieish singer/songwriter Roisin Murphy is occasionally recognised — and she’s OK with it.
It’s usually for the hits by her former band Moloko — Sing It Back and The Time Is Now — although her solo career has made her a global cult act, well respected for pushing the boundaries of dance music for over 25 years now.
“My kids sometimes say to me ‘Mum are you famous?’ because someone has told them I’m a singer,” Murphy says.
“And I will say ‘No, I’m not famous, I’m just very well thought of.’
“I love to be able to say that to them. Seriously. I can’t imagine having to be able to explain some kind of weird fame where people come up to you when you’re walking down the street. If people come up to me it’s because they love what I do and they’ve engaged with what I do. It’s not because I’m famous.”
Since her accidental success in 1999 with a remix of Sing it Back, Murphy has kept the mainstream at a healthy distance, while still managing to forge a successful career.
“I’ve proved it’s also possible to prove to the music industry that you’re not going anywhere. With or without them.”
In her solo shows, she either truncates Sing It Back as an interlude as part of her solo favorite Exploitation, or often doesn’t play it at all.
“It might pop up in the set in different versions, in different ways. Sometimes it doesn’t pop up. You know, you can’t always give it away. You’ve got to tease them!”
Her solo staples You Know Me Better and Overpowered are a live fixture, while after 2016’s album Take Her Up to Monto Murphy has concentrated on releasing a string of singles instead of long players.
There were eight new singles last year (over four 12 inch singles) and this year has seen the disco stormer Incapable, with a “dark disco” new track due for release.
“You have to be practical and pragmatic these days. There’s not one agenda with a big long plan, it’s about doing something creative and finding a place for it.”
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She’s also found a new passion — directing videos — both for herself and now other artists.
“I was very nervous about doing the first one, which was Exploitation. I’d asked other people to write treatments, I was on a really small budget. I got people willing to do it for little or no money. But the treatments that came back couldn’t be done in one day’s shoot, which is all the time we had. I realised I had more practical experience from doing videos for so many years, so I thought f--- it, I’ll do it myself. And I absolutely loved it.”
As well as making her solo music, Murphy is also reissuing Moloko’s albums on vinyl.
“I’m pretty nostalgic. I’m very proud of all the albums I’ve done. Anybody who thinks Moloko is just Sing It Back or The Time is Now, it’s nice to put that into perspective and put out the albums as pieces of work. It’d be nice to see people re-evaluate them and listen to them because they’re good, you know?”
However anyone expecting a reunion (with ex partner Mark Brydon) is dreaming.
“Jesus, I’m turning down solo offers like there’s no tomorrow. There’s no need for the hassle!”
Last year Murphy had a “moment” on Twitter when she called out Swedish artist Robyn for seemingly copying one of her videos (“next question” she laughs when asked about it) and then posted about how she felt creatively unappreciated.
She admits she’s since surrounded herself with a strong team and is in a better place.
“It’s all good now, thank god. That’s one moment in a career of 25 years where I’ve really done whatever the f--- I want to do. How could you complain about that? I’ve had a joyful career, really. I’ve met all these incredible people.
“For however difficult my reputation may be, this is exactly what I’ve wanted to do. I’m exactly where I want to be.”
Roisin Murphy, Meredith Music Festival, The Forum, December 15. Enmore Theatre Sydney December 17.
