NENEH CHERRY - TOUCH MAGAZIN

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SEPTEMBER 1996. by Mia Mauge

The trick may lie in her chameleon like ability to change the face according to the place. Many have pondered over the real Ms. Cherry. A post-hippy chick? New age feminist or Uber b-girl? Neneh can, at one time or the other, have claimed to be all three. In 1988, she strode peacock fashion onto Top of the Pops to perform "Buffalo Stance", Aididas high tops stomping, arms punching the air fly girl-style, and a tight pink dress that showed her to be eight months pregnant. It wasa shocking dsplay of self-assurance and proudness. And different.
1988. A time of upheaval. Club culture has started to mushroom. Street music was leavng its home and taking up residence in suburbia. Trainermania had reache fever point. And Soul II Soul and Loose Ends were leading the British soul invasion Stateside. Neneh came along smackbang in the middle of the new wave, borrowing bits from all the nouveau movements and patenting them as her own. But for all the column inches devoted to the evolution of he dance scene, Neneh's name, and the sense of panache she brought, is thin of the ground. 'Buffalo Stance' was a records which tipped its hat to Malcolm McLaren's early 80's jam Buffalo Girls, was one of he first records to fuse street soul and hip-hop sensibilities. It sold 250,000 copied here in the UK, giving her an almost honorary British status, whilst shooting into the top ten stateside. 'Raw Like Sushi' the accompanying LP, went multi-platnum, making Neneh an international star, unbeknwonst to many at the time, that makes Neneh's story worth a listen.

Enter the late Don Cherry, jazz trumpeter, stepfather and guiding light for Neneh. Much of her childhood was spent flitting between New York and Sweden ( homeand of her mother). As young as four Neneh was spending time in the compant of Miles Davis, and going to concerts with her dad. Her mother was an artist, her natural father was a percussionist. With such a champion pedigree Neneh, it seems, was destined to carve a career in music. Rip, Rig & Panic, an avant garde punk outfit, was one of those first groups set ups that mosy artist cringe at later in life. You know - dodgy hair styles, high-brow concepts, embarrassing press photos. They faded after three albums, despite making an impression on the more arty end of the punk scene.

The Raw Like Sushi LP, in particular the Manchild single, with its epic orchestrations, introduced Neneh as a girl for the girls more than a girl for the guys. Her brand of post feminism, was not as raunchy as Madonna's, more accessible than Tracey Chapman's. 'Homebrew', the second LP, was, well ... like many second LP's. A few saleable singles but nothing to write home about. But then, Neneh began to hit the right notes again. In 1994, the slow, ambience heavy, ani-racism track 'Seven Seconds' withSenegalese star Youssou N'Dour was a global hit, peaking here at number two and topping the French charts for 17 weeks. That equals 3 million copies.

The word global is mportant. Like Benneton ads and Coca Cola, Neneh touches all crees, all nationalities. She speaks in a weird concoction of American, London and Swedish accents. Sometimes she dresses downtown Brooklyn style, at others, her attire borders on traveller chic. And when Neneh dyed her hair blond a few years back, the Benneon image became even stronger.

Neneh now lives in the warm climate of Southern Spain with her husband and producer Cameron McVey and theri three kids. At the age of 2, and wrinkle free in both body and soul, Neneh still retains her earthy beauty although her two jobs - full time mum, almost full time pop icon - are obviously taking their strain.

Touch finally caught up with Neneh at the 12th hour after a fractic series of attempts to link up with her at various points across Europe as she travelled to her stepfather's memorial service in Sweden. Despite the traumatic time, Neneh made the time to sit down and talk through a bout of bronchitis and tiredness due to the lateness (1 am)of the hour.

MM. We finally get to talk. How are you? Cameron said that you had a bout of bronchitis?

NC. Oh a bit better. I kinda had it like the whole time I was growing up and stuff and I kinda get rid of it through my gorgeous homeopath - the new stuff in my life. (laughs)

MM. When you released your last album in 1992 you were living in Sweden. I understand you now live in Spain. What made you want to leave Sweden?

NC. I grew up in Sweden and being there is a bit like being under a microscope. And it drives me nuts. Swedenis like a nation of Trainspotters basically, and there is an air of sort ... snobbery. The press refer to me as Marianne Carlson...

MM. Who?

NC. Exactly. My middle name is Marianne and my mothers maiden name is Carlton, but I'e always been known as Neneh Cherry, even at school. Sweden is a nice place to visit but it really bugs me.

MM. So what was it like growing up there?

NC. Um ... Swedish (laughs) Pickeled Herring country (laughs again). No it was a good place to grow in. We had a real sense of freedom, we could run around playing in the woods and just disappear and be into whatever it was we were into. That was special although it wasn't always easy. There were no other black kids where we lived. Culturally my family really stood out I think was very conscious of that. But because of what we were taught at home by our parents, I never felt lost. My mother is Swedish but she was very conscious of who I was and what I was facing and wanted me to have an awareness of my African background and for me to feel proud of that ... And also Don, my stepfather, was a man of the world. Whenever we spent time in New York I would always absorb myself in black culture. That was naturally kinda what I was drawn to. Coming to Sweden and being able to be part of a sea of people was a relief.

MM. Have you ever thought of taking your family to live in the States?

NC. I could live there if I had to but what I don't like about America is that I constantly feel like I'm gonna die out there.

MM. Because of the gun culture?

NC. Yeah gun culture and the air on intensity that exists. You fell like you've gotta watch your back all the time. Up until like a year ago I've always been really lucky and nothing had ever happened to me. When I was about 15 my mum would give me money for a taxi but I would catch the subway at six in the morning so that I could keep the money and nothing ever happened. And then lke a year and a half ago I got held up on the street with my husband by these two guys at gunpoint. It was mad because we had just been in the car arguing about living in New York and he was saying that he felt like he was really out at sea there - like it was imposible for him to protect us. I was saying well that's just bullshit because if you walk aroun with a freaked out attitude, then something really is gona happen to you. Five minutes later we were being held up.

MM So did they recognize you? What happened?

NC. I think so. We just shut upand went with it. They were like super professionals and very, very slick. They knew exactly what they were doing and they were tripping off the power they had and making a point of letting us know that they were the top dogs. It was real. But I didn't come out of it feeling bitter. I know and understand the situation these guys were in.

MM. Were they black?

NC. Two young black kids. But America is so angry and I completely understand because alot of people were blindfolded by the concept of the American Dream for such a long time and then all of sudden in the last 15 years people have begun to feel incredibly ripped off, neglected and deprived. People don't have anywhere to channel their frustration so it ends up being personal against anyone you inflict hatred on.And for us it was kinda scary because my husband is white and I kinda realise that we might be up against, and sensed the fact that they could just pop us and be gone.

MM. So you won't e setting up home there in a hurry?

NC. No but I miss it.

MM. Your biological father, who is from Sierra Leone, took you to his homeland when you were 15 for 6 months. In the past you have described that trip as both frightening and enlightenning. Have you been back?

NC. I went again in 1985 but I haven't beenback since. I would like to but it isn't safe right now. There's alot of unrest; there's a civil war goingon.

MM. So you come to London a couple of years after your first trip to Sierra Leone, joined Rip Rig and Panic, and became pregnant when you were 18. Describe your lifestyle at that time.

NC. I suppose it was quite wild, but quite together actually. When I look back I do think I can pat myself on the shoulder and say 'Yeah you did alright'.

MM. During the Buffalo Stance era many people saw you as a fly girl representing hip hop's attitude in the pop charts;a strong black woman who managed to balance credibility with pop appeal. The image of the fly girl put you under the spotlight in the hip hop community. People judged you and forced their expectations upon you. I remeber X-Clan's Lumumba Carson's remarkss that by having children with a white fther you were "contributing to the extinction of the black race" How did that make you feel?

NC. I understood what he was saying and we came to anagreement about that.

MM. So you confronted him about it?

NC. He made that remark directly to me. We met at Ton Loc's launch party in New York and we were sitting down talking about Marcus Garvey and the Black Star Liner amongst other things and I happened to menion that my child's father was white. And he was like "Wow you're kidding" I told him that while there was a time that I wanted black children, I happened to fall in love with a man who happened to be white. It felt right and I went with my feeling.

MM. Sade and Mariah Carey, both of whom are mixed race, have come under fire for being vague about their ethnicity. hey have been quoted as claiming to be neither black or whie, but simply people. Is that how ou feel?

NC. No. I see myself as a person of colour and in our society, that's a black person.

MM. About your new album Man. If you were a market trader trying to convince someone to buy it, what would you pitch be? How would you sell it?

NC. (laughs) It's too late at night to think of anything witty. Buy it or else. Buy IT!

MM. To many people you appear to be a woman with it all. Do you think that's fair to say

NC. No. I have got somethings but I ain't got it all.

MM. With a successful career, successful marriage, kids, money, etc...Can you see why people would think that?

NC.I know that I've got a lot of good things in my life, touch wood. But as long as you're alive it's a never ending story and nothing is safe and secure. I kinda feel like I live for the present, and I'm aware of what I've got, but there's always more things to achieve in life.

MM. Like what? And please don't say the movies?

NC. (laughs) Going to the movies, yeah. I'd like to actually find time to go to the movies. Ill tell ya, I haven't seen anything for bloody ages!

MM. So there have been sacrifices?

NC. I think that you make choices, so you can'y have eerything. One of the things I look forward to is juts having more time to just potter about and do stuff. But that's for later, right now I'm pacy and restless.

END.