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THE KENT MESSENGER (23rd March 2007)
Interview with Anna Stephens
With a piano teacher for a mum, a bagpipe-playing father, a sister in a rock band and another who plays African drums, Fiona Wight says her musical lifestyle was ‘inescapable’.
The 28 year old, from Maidstone, has lived and breathed music since she was a young girl. She is reaping the rewards with the release of her debut solo album, The Last Rose.
She describes her music as traditional folk with a contemporary edge and a strong Irish influence, the result of having lived in Dublin for the past 7 years.
She said: “The album is very uplifting, with great world sounds and a Celtic energy. I sang choir music when I was younger but my heart was always in folk music.”
Her love of music does not end with singing. She confessed to being a nightmare on the dance floor as well. And having toured for the past two years as the lead singer in Riverdance, it has been hard to top her feet from tapping.
She said: “I do get to dance a bit in the show and I stand at the side tapping my feet and wanting to join in. I’ve got them to teach me all the steps.”
This isn’t Fiona’s first taste of the big time. The former Invicta Grammar School student recorded her first album Hear My Prayer after winning the BBC’s UK Choirgirl of the Year competition when she was 14. Recorded with the UK Choirboy of the Year, the album was received to national acclaim and was a top 10 classical chart release.
She said: “I got to do lots of TV and radio but I was so shy and very young I was quite embarrassed by it all. Looking back I realise how lucky I was.”
The singer is now back in her home town looking forward to catching up with friends and family before starting the UK tour of Riverdance in April, after which she will embark on a solo tour to promote her new album.