That Gaby Roslin Podcast: Reasons To Be Joyful - Louise

Episode Date: April 15, 2025

Louise - yes the one and only - joins Gaby for a chat about her new music, her career and what brings her joy! Having been an entertainer since the mid-90s, Louise has many stories to tell and quite a unique view on the music industry too. Gaby chats to her about her singing career, going back in the studio, Strictly, the West End - and what she wants to do next. They also look back on the 90s, when they first met, and how those years have shaped who they are now. Remember, you watch all our episodes in full on our YouTube channel - which is also where you'll find our Friday bonus episode! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Louise, whose name is only Louise, would you like to wear headphones or no headphones? Over to you, Louise. Do you know what? I'll go with the flow. Like, should we do headphones? Well, go whatever you want. I feel like I'm in the studio if I go headphones. You might start singing. Maybe.

So it's really lovely to see you again. We know each other in the real world, but also I've known each other. I've interviewed you probably as long as you've been doing this. Pretty much. Oh my word. Yes. So when did it all start? So Stay, which was Eternal's big first hit, was about 30 years ago.

Okay. So I was doing Saturday morning, Kistelli. You were definitely there. No, no, no, big breakfast. Big breakfast. Yeah. So you would definitely, you definitely came on the big breakfast. Oh, many times.

I remember you interviewing us, me really pretty much throughout the whole of my career. Like I can't remember a time you haven't. been there. But you also have not changed at all. And don't say yes, I have. Because you absolutely haven't, Lou. Do you know, I mean, it's very kind if you'd say so. I don't feel like I haven't.

But do you know what? I think, just got to roll with it, haven't we? Just got to roll with it. And also you still have that same attitude, which I absolutely love. Confessions. Okay, wow. This really feels like you. Yeah, do you know what?

This album is like I've wrote many albums over the years or co-wrote many albums over the years. Dipped my toe in, said a few things, worried about what I said, pulled it back a little bit, made it a little bit more generic. That's always you. You know, paid it safe.

Always worry. I am a worry. I'm a worry, worrier, so to speak. I'm worried about what other people think. I worry if I'm doing the right thing. I worry if I'm going to offend somebody. And actually on this album, I didn't worry. And I think not only have I made an album that feels contemporary and modern,

I was lucky enough to work with amazing producers, songwriters on this, like real pinch myself moments, I think it just worked because they become my friends. And I ended up, you know, not holding back on anything. So it's not about anyone particular. It's not like a self-hatred, self, you know, it's all just positive. These are things that have kind of made me what I am today. And it's kind of quite sassy.

Do you know what? It's really funny. You just said that you are worried and you do worry what people think and you've got to throw that away. Yeah. Okay, you've just got to throw it. I know it's easier said than done. But also that everyone is looking into every word.

So Louise walked down the street and she wasn't smiling at that moment. Was she thinking about dot dot? Oh, I mean, I've had all of that. You had that for 30 years. Yes. And obviously, recently as well, the press have gone, they've jumped on you. They want to know every thought, as if you're, you know.

Does that not drive you insane? Do you know what? Yes, it drives me insane. And also, you end up, I'm an overthinker anyway. I just overthink even more when that's all going on because sometimes you just talk from the heart, or you're honest, or you're open, or you're on your phone or whatever, there is no underlying reason to any of it

other than you're just either going about your business or you're doing an interview and you answer a question as authentically and honestly as you can. But you've always been very honest. You know, there's just, you just do your best to reciprocate, you know, what someone's asking you and kind of give a really good perspective on your life and what you're doing. And then it gets pulled from bits and pieces.

And I always say, actually, if you listen to it, I've said very little. But when you kind of like just honing on bits and pieces, there's like bang. But yeah, as of walking down the street and, oh, Louise isn't smiling, is something wrong? I'm like, no, I'm just not smiling at that moment. I've just not smiling. I've just got the hump today. Simple. And you are allowed.

But you've had this since you were so little, really, really young. And I know you trained, you were Talia Conti, weren't you? So you were trained to perform and that's what you wanted to do. But you don't get training for coping with all of the stuff. No, I mean, it's the outside noise, isn't it? I've been well documented to say that I genuinely am in this industry because of what I love to do. You love it. Music is everything to me.

I went to stage school from the age of 10. I was in a girl band. I went on to make... TV, look, you what TV presenter as well? You know, it's kind of just what I know. what I love as the same as you. It's just our world. And actually music and being in the studio is completely my safe space.

I love music most probably more than anyone would ever give me credit for. So I do what I do because of that. The other stuff is just side noise. But you don't get trained. That's what I mean. You were so young and you were training and you were dancing and singing and acting, all the stuff. and that's great and you knew that's what you love, love, love, love to do.

But all the rest of it doesn't, nobody trains you for it and you've actually ridden it so well because you haven't been out of the press whether it's you're doing strictly or whatever, whatever, all the different things when you were presenting the clothes show. I remember seeing you, I'm just slightly going off at tangent, you were presenting the close show, we bumped into each other and you said, oh, I really love this presenting thing.

I said, you're really good. And then you got tears in your eyes and I got tears in my eyes. It was the weirdest moment. And it was at a train station. And I remembered that today, walking here to talk to you. You're just, so you've done all of these things. And yet the rest of it, the crappy stuff, you don't get trained for. You just have to get on with it.

And you have. You really have. You do have to just get on with it. And do you know, it is part and parcel of what we do. And I think the old school mentality going back to when I started was like grin and bear it. It's hard. If you're going to be successful, people are going to be interested in your personal life. I do think as time has gone on and where we sit today,

I think there is a much bigger empathy on where human beings and life is just normal. I feel like there's always going to be your haters and the people. You can't please them more. But I do think that the general human being out there actually, just wants to see people succeed and be happy and kind of get on with their lives. And I think that there isn't such a big expectation on people expecting to know the ins and outs of everything you're doing. And I think now with social media, it's so hard because so many people control their own narrative, you know, they post what they have in for dinner, where they're going. So it kind of

takes so much away from that whole noise anyway that you can control it. I'm just really useless on social media and don't put a huge amount of personal stuff on there. But that's good though, isn't it? You want to keep the personal, I mean, your boys and whatever you do in your private life, is your private life? Trying to get the boys to be on my social media is, I mean, it is not easy. They do not. Yes, but then they're older now.

Yeah, and now and again, I'll be just one picture. Just be nice memories, you know. I mean, if I get two or three pictures a year, that's a lot. That is a lot. How are they? How are the boys? They're good. They're really good. Bo is doing so much football. He's at Brentford and loving it.

It's like really all going well for him. And Chaz has been at Union America. So he's doing his rugby, having lovely life experiences over there. They're both happy. Both super happy. And you know what? That's what you want. It really works.

Yeah, the boys are happy. They spend great time with me. They spend great time with their dad. They spend great time with their friends. It's, it's, yeah. Look at the smile on your face. I know, I'm very proud of my boys. Like, I'm really proud of them.

They are my, the loves of my life. But they're also always our babies. They are. Oh, yeah. They don't like my, you know, they're similar ages our kids. And honestly, I'll say something, the other day, I said something about my baby girl. She's like, Mom, I'm 18. I went, you're still my baby.

It's still my baby. Yeah, my babies are always being my babies. Yeah, totally. So when you started out, And all of the excitement around you girls and all the TV shows that you did. How, I remember, you were everywhere, as you said, we always met along the way.

You must have been exhausted. Now I can ask you looking back on it. How did you, you were, I mean, sort of, you went from children in need to doing a breakfast thing in somewhere and you then get on an airplane and you go somewhere else. Yeah. And there's been so much, you know, all the documentaries is about, obviously, about the boy bands

and the one about Ronan and the boys that... I suddenly forgot what is... Boys Ane. Oh, Boys Zone. Oh, I was like, West Life. So, for all of them and it was very exposing that, you know, boy bands forever.

Were you exhausted too? You must have been. It was exhausting and I think we were very young, as so many of the boys were, but I think we were also so hungry for it and it was like for all four of us it wasn't ever about

the exposure and the fame even back then as a group we were even then about the music about the music and about the experience you always said that always I think that we looked at it and we came at it slightly different in the sense that we were kind of taking opportunities and running with them times obviously did get a bit harder and I left and that was I think just pure I needed to go home again

I've said it before. I reached a stage where I just needed to get home and the sort of schedule and the living by so many other. It was mad, wasn't it? Other people's plans and times. You just have no control at all. But, I mean, they were incredible years and incredible experiences and world tour.

And, yeah, I mean, they were things that I look back on. I think, wow, Louise, you have experienced some of the most incredible countries, places, but doing something you love. I mean, so for all the moaning we can do as artists and stuff like that, it doesn't ever go, it doesn't ever pass me by that they were incredible opportunities to have experienced. So you, with confessions and with the first thing you said when I saw you before we started recording was this is all about positive and now and living in the moment.

And you've, but you've, I would say that you've always been quite positive. Yes, people please are, yes, you worry. But very positive about things, very positive about life. Were you like that as a child? Yeah, I think as a child, I knew nothing better. I mean, I didn't come from a privileged background or anything like that. And I was a single parent with my mom and, you know, I saw her fight and work hard for everything we ever had. but there was a positive energy around me

what I loved to do I was lucky I got a scholarship to go to a stage school and then from the stage school got to be in one of the biggest girl bands in the UK so there was a lot to be positive about and I mean believe you me I'm not always blooming positive now sometimes I'm a right oh God it's that moment when you walk down the street with the face

with the face panic you know but on a whole I try and put my bed at my bed and best foot forward. And it's taken a lot, but I do try and think, right, I've been, I'm so lucky. I'm still making music. I'm making music with producers that are winning Grammys. And then things don't happen just easily, you know, that you've got to be in the right place at the right time and a bit of luck on your side. So I try and focus on how lucky I am that that could so not have worked out like that. That I'm there. I'm, you know,

I'm the age I am and I'm still making music and I'm still sat here talking to you. The age thing is driving. I know, we touched on the age thing. The age thing. So never say I'm the age I am making music. You just say, I'm me doing music. I'm going to take that back.

You're so right. You're kind of almost, you know, you feel like you've almost got to apologize for it. But you're so right. It's so wrong. And we should just be so proud because without the experience of I've had in my life, I wouldn't have just written the bloody good album I've written. It would be boring most probably because I'd have nothing to say.

If I'm really honest, you know, it would be slightly airy-fairy without much guts to it. But actually, when you've lived a full life, I've got a few more things to say now. Oh, you've got loads. I've got a few more things to get up a chest. But also, so obviously the music at the moment and the album, and that's your first love, as you said.

But are you going to do any more presenting? and acting and all of those sort of things. I'd love to, so I love the West End. I loved being in the West End. It was really good for me. Just to have that kind of set plan and I knew where I had to be on what day. You know in our jobs, every day's different.

Every day. Some weeks are insanely quiet and you panic because you're like, oh my God, I'm never going to work again. Some weeks are crazy busy where you think I'm never going to have a day off again. You know, it's all about waiting for the phone to ring, you know, what opportunities are going to come you away. And there's something about being in the West End

of just every day walking into that same dressing room, performing, doing what I love to do. There's a lovely applause at the end of it. There's a camaraderie amongst everybody you're working with. West End was really great. I mean, I wouldn't want to do it for more than three, six months at a time because I'd like to spend as much time as possible with my kids. But it was a real privilege to have done a bit of West End, yeah.

No more then? No, I would like to. Good. Just waiting for the right things. Okay, so let's cast you. Yeah, what can I be? No, what show? So, right, let's put it out there.

Any shows that are out there at the moment, or to come back, what would be the show? I mean, I don't know, because right now there's not loads out there, but... But no, if you could, if there's a show. If there's a show. Or if I could just do any show. Any show? Any show?

Oh, God. I mean, listen, it would have been wicked, but I mean, that's kind of gone. I would have liked to have been the bad. witch but that's kind of gone. The green witch. Yeah, I know, but I'm not quite sure that that's the right part for me anymore. To know, just something gutsy. Okay. Something that's a big sing.

Something that requires, like, what was great with 9 to 5? It was a big sing, it was a big show. It was like I had to... And you loved it. I did. I had to kind of hold that show from start to finish. I think Chicago. Have you haven't done Chicago? I haven't, no. There we go.

There we go. Chicago. Yeah, Roxy. Oh, you'd be so good as Roxy. I mean, it's a great show. That's, no, isn't it? I did do cabaret. Yes, yeah, yeah.

That's why they're quite similar. Caboury. Actually, I think I got to play my most probably, if I could pick one role, it would be Sally Bowles. And I did get to play her with Will Young. So, yeah, I think I most probably peeped a bit early, yeah. Lovely Will.

I mean, talent beyond talent. I used to sit outside a stage every night. Just watching him sing at... Yeah, but you too, sorry, both of you together. Yeah, I just... I learned a lot from him and he's a good, good human. Yeah, he really is. And you realise when you've been in this business a long time,

good humans are so important. Just good people. So now you, back out there, Louise, right? So Madonna. Yep. Cher. Louise. Kylie.

Kylie. Kylie. I love Kylie. I know you do. I love Kylie. But that just the name, that's just so, I don't know why I just find that fabulous. Do you know, I think it was back in the day. It was trying to differentiate the music from everything else.

So we just said, oh, Louise. And obviously I'm still just Louise. because there's nothing else I can go to. So, yeah, I'm just sticking with Louise and keeping it all crossed. So what's happening, presenting-wise? You're going to do some more TV-presenting? Yeah, again, I'd love to.

If the right thing comes along. I think for me, it's always about the right thing, the right time, if it feels right, if it feels kind of authentic to what I should be doing. But you're very authentic person. So, you know, all the shows that you presented, you were absolutely the same you that's on-screen that's off-screen. Oh, yeah.

So you've got to do more of that. Yeah, I'd like to. Given the opportunity, I absolutely would. And you did radio as well. You've done everything. A little bit of radio. I found radio a lot tougher than TV. I remember going in, actually,

and speaking to a certain radio station about doing some stuff. And the guy was chatting to me and he's like, are you really up for this? I said, I've got to be honest, proofs. I'm not sure. I don't know if I'm very made for radio. Like, I don't know, just being in that room on my own. But also, you love me.

music though. But yeah, but then they're pre-recorded. You know, they put the music in after and you just do the links. So the live radio I loved because I was there and I could enjoy the music, but the pre-stuff. But actually, I started doing a bit more and I stood in for a few people and yeah, I had lovely old time by the end of it. So this is how you should be from now on. I think you need to embrace, you know, just doing fingers up to somebody when they talk about your age. and when somebody said... Actually, what you know in the old days you used to have to write

what you did in your passport. Yes. Now, you don't have to. No. But yours would be entertainer. Please say it would say... Yes! Yeah, it would be entertainer.

That's exactly. And people used to be all negative about it and things. I think it was Jason Manford recently. He was... I was chatting... We were doing morning live together. And he said, I'm an entertainer. And I just thought, yes, embrace that word again.

I think I do. write that. You ever say occupation. I say in entertainment. Like, just, I don't, singer, dancer, imagine listing them all. You are like, oh my God. Can we just talk about you on Strictly? Oh God, that was, it feels like a million miles away now. When was it? 16? 2016? 17. I don't, yeah, 16, 17. No, maybe it was 16. It just feels a long, long time ago. It feels like another lifetime. Nine years ago you did that. No, it can't be that long. About six years, seven years. Do you know what the weird thing is, though, that the COVID years?

We lost COVID. We lost those years. Anyway, but when you did it, you just, you floated on that dance floor. I forgot how much I like to dance. I still love to dance, actually. That was one of the nice things about doing musicals. And actually, I played Mighty Hoopler in the summer. And for a little while, it was a little bit naft to dance, you know,

when you had music out, you had... Why? I don't know. You have to be very serious. You have to be... Well, you know, it's about having a band and always singing live and just making sure everyone knew that you could actually like do your craft. And then, Mighty Hoopla, I was like, just sod this.

I'm just going to get some hot mouth dancers in, put some thigh-high boots and a pair of knickers back on and have a good old dance around to some of these new songs. Oh, my God. And, yeah, I thought, oh, this feels right. I feel back in my spot, you know? I feel back where I should be. So I've always loved to dance. But actually, on this album, it's a dance record.

So it's really not going to work with a full-on serious band. No, standing there still. It's not going to work. You can't stand still. Not, no. And especially not on this album. So are you going to go and talk what's happening, all the live shows? Yes, so summer shows, you know, that everyone does.

So lots of summer festivals. And then, you know, God permitting, some shows at the end of the year with the album. You're going to do that. I'd like to. Yeah, I think this album deserves a proper run out. Up and down the UK? Yeah. Or abroad as well, everywhere. Maybe a couple of broad, but mainly in the UK.

Oh, so it's not announced yet? No, no, not announced anything yet. But that's kind of like the plan for the year. So get the album out, some summer shows and then some of my own shows. I'm going to be there at the front dancing and shouting. And we have mutual friends who, Colette, says to her, I'm going to be with her. we're going to dance around. Yes, I would love that.

I would absolutely love that. Bless you. Thank you, lovely.