Exclusive Speech Debelle Interview

How did you come up with your name and what does it mean?

I came up with Speech quite a long time ago, I can’t really remember how to be honest. Speech was what I wanted. And Debelle is my gran’s surname.

What was the best advice you were ever given?

Be quiet. And make sure you have a good team of people around you.

Who told you that?

Be quiet I’ve been hearing all of my life, but I’ve never realised how important it is to be quiet sometimes and listen.

Having a good team is something that I’ve learned from other artists who’ve given me advice.

When did you start writing and rapping?

I started rapping when I was thirteen and I started writing poetry when I was about nine.

How do you relax when you are not recording?

I don’t really do much relaxing, I’m not going to lie! But, I guess I like to watch movies when I’m not working if I get a chance to. But I prefer to be working, it’s what I enjoy doing.

What’s your favourite movie?

Movie? That’s difficult, there’s a few. There’s a film called Love and Basketball which I really like. I like a film called City of God. I like drama and thrillers. I like films that you have to work out who the bad guy is, stuff like that.

Who inspires you?

I think Michael Jackson was the biggest inspiration musically.

Why?

Because Michael Jackson was the first artist that I heard in music that gave me a feeling of happiness, so I’ve always associated music with happiness – because of him.

Have you started work on your new album yet?

I have yeah. I’ve just got back from Australia and have been working on some songs. It’s called The Art of Speech.

And when is it coming out?

Hopefully this year. It’ll be good to come out in time for the summer. That’ll be nice.

We've heard that you were homeless for a while. How difficult was that?

I spent some time in hostels. It was half out of choice and half because I needed to but I wanted to have my own place and go out into the world by myself. After a while I realised that it was not a life that I liked or enjoyed and it wasn’t good for me. I went back to my mum and I started working and things started happening for me.

What was the hardest point in your life?

Sometime in my teens. They were difficult for me. When I was 17 or 18 was a difficult time.

Why?

Because it’s a time when you try and figure out who you are and you have got to start taking responsibility for your actions, which is difficult to do. You have relationships with people and you might get your heart broken. 18 is when you start to have a lot of life experiences and when you get them for the first time it’s very difficult.

Did you finally figure out who you are?

I think so. I think a lot of what my album was about was figuring out who I was. Now, I’m just trying to figure out like everybody else.

You returned back into your mum’s life when you were 23. What impact did that have on you?

Going back to my mum’s house made me realise how comfortable it is. I lived by myself in a hostel and I realised what a good life you can have when you are at home. You don’t have to worry about your electricity, your gas and putting food in the fridge. It’s better to stay at your parents house if you can, for as long as you need to. There’s no rush to leave home if you don’t need to.

Would you have changed anything in your past life?

In my past life? I’m not sure what I was doing in my past life, although I have questioned that a few times. This life? No, I don’t think so. I don’t think that would be a good way of looking at things. You have got to be positive about the decisions you’ve made in life.

You wrote Daddy’s Little Girl (song) which was about your father. Do you think that your father heard it?

I know he definitely has heard it. I think a song like that is a positive thing because it gets people talking. I’ve spoken to grown men, who because they’ve heard that song – they’ve wanted to come and talk to me. Either to try and somehow redeem themselves or just to let me know they understand where I’m coming from.

When you told your mum of your success with Big Dada records, how did she react?

She was really happy. She keeps all of the magazines that I’m in. She’s got my award (Mercury). She always watches all of the T.V programmes that I’m on, she’s really really happy.

At what point did you realise music was going to be your career, and how did you plan to make it happen?

I think I realised when I was pretty young. Maybe even before my teenage years I realised that this is what I want to be, I just wasn’t sure how I was going to do it. I planned to be not only and artist but a businesswoman. It wasn’t only about writing the songs, it was about who was going to listen, and how to construct the songs. And then to think about when would the best time to release the music as well. There’s a lot of things you have to think about. It’s a business.

And when did you start planning?

Maybe when I was about 23 I decided that I was going to get serious with music. That’s when I started to put the album together in my mind. I started picking songs that I wanted to use, and I had the title.

Did any friends or family disagree about getting into the music business?

No, they could see that I had a talent for it. So there was none of that.

What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt from the music business?

Get a lawyer.

Why?

Because lawyers protect you. Lawyers make sure you don’t sign contracts that are bad or make sure you don’t give away your rights to your songs when you shouldn’t. And they get you the best deals.

How did your lawyer help you?

Mainly by telling the best deals I could get. The best record label to go with and the best way to sell my music so that I get ownership of it.

Thanks Speech!