You may recognize Helen Desbois’ voice from the breakfast show on Mix FM, however, it was back in 2002 that the star dominated the charts with her smash hit ‘Anything’. However, after watching Madonna live earlier this year, she was inspired to get back into the studio and is back with her new single ‘Like I Need You’. This week, Helen opens up about her new single, Mix FM and the future.
You’re back with a brand new single after all these years. Why now?
I have been busy with other stuff for a few years, including raising my son, Oliver, not to mention loving my radio career. I felt it was the right time now and finding the right song with the help of Benjy Mudie made up my mind to go ahead and do it.
You recently said that watching Madonna live made a huge impact on your life. How exactly did her concert change your life?
I have been dying to see her live for so long now and a friend and I decided to just go ahead and book to see her in Prague last year, what a good movie! She is the queen of reinvention and that is something that I live in my life too. If she can do it, so can I!
Your single ‘Anything’ was a huge hit back in 2002. Was there any pressure to release a single just as good?
I guess after having such massive hit it is important to try and match that. It has been a while, so the pressure isn’t as much I guess, but I am lucky to have the same songwriter by my side again, the brilliant Pam Sheyne, who also wrote my latest single “Like I Need You”.
Tell us a bit more about your new single ‘Like I Need You’.
The song is all about balance and is a bit of a story of a push and pull relationship where it is said that without pain, there is not happiness and even though there may be problems, she still wants him.
What attracted you to release this song?
The song is brilliant! A good solid song and I just love singing it.
You’re a radio DJ on MixFM. How has being on radio helped you understand the local music scene better?
Definitely, I love music so much, it gets in my soul! I am lucky I get to live and breathe it every day. There are some amazing new artists on the scene and the SA music industry icon fire right now.
Mix FM is growing stronger by the day. Why do you think the station is growing it’s listenership so rapidly?
People want to listen to good music and I think that MixFM offers that, there is something for everyone and we have a diverse cross section of listeners from all ages and cultures.
What do the next few months have in store for you?
I am out and about promoting my new single and definitely going back into the studio to record again. I have an idea of a collaboration that will be super exciting. The recording bug has bitten me and I am back!
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