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NO-GO URBAN AREA

Feature interview by Jon-Andre Holley.

You get the feeling that if anyone in this country of ours is gonna 'do a Tina Turner' in contemporary times, it's gonna be Dina Carroll.  Whilst not wishing to put years on the still vital, youthful Dina, one cannot help but suspect that this highly individualistic, deeply intelligent, engaging personality has still not enjoyed her greatest successes.

Not to say that Dina Carroll's career has been hitherto a failure.  Not by any means.  Her A&M Records début album "So Close" sold 1.5 million – spawning five hit singles, and her forthcoming greatest hits package "The Very Best Of Dina Carroll" (I've always had problems in separating a "Best Of" from a "Very Best Of") bears testament to her achievements.  However, one cannot help but feel that Dina has another 'best of...' collection – maybe even two – in her locker.

Since her fledgeling days in the business, the Cambridge-raised, mid-Atlantic lady has given the world a purposeful mix of schmaltzy ballroom soul 'chanteuse' and urban dance diva.  Songs like "Don't Be A Stranger" and "So Close" or Andrew Lloyd Webber's "The Perfect Year" juxtaposed the four-to-the-floor leanings of "Ain't No Man" and her grand entrance into the pop arena with the version of Carole King's "It's Too Late" with dance producers Quartz.

However, whilst other successful solo artists from her field have managed to embrace the prevalent urban culture, Dina has steered clear.  As a result, her most recent outings under the watchful eyes of producer Rhett Lawrence may have suffered commercially by comparison resulting in an album project that was eventually shelved.

"That whole urban thing is not for me..." openly declares Ms Carroll.  "It's just all too cool.  I've nothing against Puffy, Wyclef, Lauryn Hill et al, they are all talented people who have done very well for themselves within the urban umbrella and good luck to them.  But, frankly, they are just too cool for my liking.  Y'know, they never smile!  I like people that smile!" she laughs in semi-serious style.

"I love R'n'B.  It's in my blood," says the mixed-race singer whose mother in Scottish and father a black American serviceman.  "When I say I love R'n'B, I mean traditional rhythm and blues and not necessarily the modern translation of R'n'B which is an altogether different proposition.  I love music with soul, which is why I was delighted to cover the Dusty Springfield song and now the Van Morrison tune.  Those are songs with heart and soul.  Songs with passion."

Herein lies a pointer to the lady's future musical direction.  Her rendition of Dusty Springfield's country/gospel classic "Son Of A Preacher Man" displayed as much of an earthy spirited edge as her previous ballads revealed her MOR inclinations.

"There are some people out there who accuse me of trying to be more R'n'B now but what they fail to understand is that R'n'B music is my roots.  I'm half black American and I do not wish to segregate my audience on race grounds.  To me, as long as they appreciate the feeling I put into my music that's all that counts."  Once more with feeling.  Dina has ably proven her point with her gutsy reading of Van Morrison's "Someone Like You" from the Bridget Jones soundtrack – a film ostensibly about a middle-English single-white female...

"I loved the movie.  And I loved the diary.  It really depicts what so many women in this country go through," says an earnest Dina.  "All the contradictions and insecurities.  We've all been there.  I guess Nick Hornby's novels are a male counterpart."

"I've been through the mill with relationships and with my career – the success, the ups and downs, the ear infection problem and dealing with record companies.  Now I feel I'm in the prime of my life.  I've done all the popstar bit.  All the parties and stuff.  It was fun... most of the time!  And I have no regrets.  Now I am comfortable with myself and ready to be me."