Celebrating over four decades in music, Toyah this week releases a new studio reworking of her 2008 album In The Court Of The Crimson Queen.
Written and arranged by Toyah Willcox and Simon Darlow, In The Court Of The Crimson Queen has been newly recorded and mastered with the added bonus of extra tracks. The album’s 15 tracks explore life, love, empowerment and wonderment.
In 1977, whilst playing the part of Emma in Tales From The Vienna Woods at The National Theatre, 18-year old Willcox formed a band. After several line-up changes, they spent a brief period under the name Ninth Illusion, without recording any music. The following year, the band – comprising of Joel Bogen (lead guitar), Pete Bush (keyboards), Dave Robin (drums), and Windy Miller (bass) – decided on naming the group Toyah.
With TV, film and theatre performances to her credit, Toyah and her band built a strong following and started to get noticed. To this day, Toyah herself continues to play her very early material when touring.
Sheep Farming In Barnet and The Blue Meaning are such important albums. They’re so original, they’re so quirky, and they still sound fresh. They really deserve their place with the younger generations. The beauty of YouTube, and performing to such young people, is that they’re yet to discover this music, and I think they’re going to really like it – Toyah Willcox
For 42 years, Toyah has successfully juggled a career in music, television, film, and theatre. She has won numerous awards and nominations from singing to writing to acting. In 2001 she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Central England in Birmingham. In 2018 Paul McCartney awarded Toyah a LIPA Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts Companionship for Outstanding Achievement in music, drama, performance and media. Toyah has also been awarded a star on the Kings Heath Walk of Fame and a star on Birmingham’s Broad Street Walk of Stars recognising her achievements.
Several of the album’s songs on In The Court Of The Crimson Queen have been previewed live in recent Toyah concert tours or featured on (now deleted) fan-only releases. Toyah and Simon Darlow have been developing new songs and perfecting this body of work which is now reimagined as a double album.
Opener ‘Dance In The Hurricane’ is an epic ode to defiantly walking your own path through life. Lead single ‘Sensational’ encourages shining a light on the beauty and courage in others, reminding our children and loved ones to unlock their invincibility and strength. ‘Telepathic Lover’ reaches out like a snaking, siren’s call to both listener and the lyric’s physically absent lover in a groove-laden command to “come alive”.
‘Our Hearts Still Beat’ (written for the horror film In Extremis) and ‘Legacy’ chart the intense journeys love can take across generations and dimensions. ‘Latex Messiah’ and ‘Come’ invite everyone’s inner rebel and unashamed self-expression to be unleashed.
‘Who Let The Beast Out’ was premiered at London Scoop’s 2016 outdoor musical Crime and Punishment which featured thirteen of Toyah & Darlow’s songs.
There are songs here that deal with the darkness in life, but turning it into a positive, bringing a new energy to reworking the tracks.
Early songs such as ‘Neon Womb’ and ‘Race Through Space’ were about grief before the grief was there in the world. It’s also a common theme on my new album, concentrating on how grief makes us better people. It makes us stronger; it makes our love stronger. Grief makes our hearts stronger because you have to reach out further to find those that you love.
Toyah Willcox and Simon Darlow (who co-wrote ‘Slave To The Rhythm’ for Grace Jones in 1985) established a song writing partnership as far back as 1978 and went on to have hits with the top 20 Toyah single releases ‘Rebel Run’ and ‘Don’t Fall In Love’.
Darlow produced and played all instruments on In The Court Of The Crimson Queen.
Toyah will perform material from the new album live on tour throughout 2019 with over 50 confirmed dates including a Scottish tour in April, summer festivals including stops in Dublin, Bali and Belgium, and an autumn/winter tour of major UK cities. Simon will be joining Toyah on stage at some of these events.
Watch the exclusive 23-minute ‘Marriott Meets: Toyah’ interview video below.
Stay updated on the latest entertainment news, reviews and interviews by subscribing to Phil Marriott on YouTube.
In The Court Of The Crimson Queen is released on April 12 | Buy the album on CD | More about Toyah
The post Toyah: “There’s a common theme on my new album: how grief makes us better people. It makes our hearts stronger.” appeared first on philmarriott.net.