JACKIE B.
The elusive vocal powerhouse returns...
The latest superstar to join the Eurodance Vibes label is none other than powerhouse vocalist and songwriter Jackie Bodimead, vocalist of well known 80’s rock bands She and Girlschool and the session singer behind dozens of famous 90’s Italodance projects including T.H. Express, Radiorama, DJ Miko, Wienna, A.Kay B.J, Alisha and Housecream.
Jackie is best known for her vocals on SAIFAM hits A.Kay B.J. ‘Love Reaction’, Alisha ‘Papa Don’t Preach’, DJ Miko ‘Sky High’, ‘Superboy’ and ‘My Sharona’, Radiorama ‘Little Bird’, ‘Let Me Be’, ‘Cause The Night’, ‘Beautiful Man’, ‘Give Me The Night’, ‘Danger’, ‘Di-Da-Di’, ‘Like An Angel’ and ‘Ninna Ninna Oh’, T.H. Express ‘Love 4 Liberty’, ‘Missing in the Rain’ and ‘I’ll Be Your Number One’, Wienna ‘In The Name of Love’, ’Looking For Love’, ‘Future’, ‘Little Angela’, ‘Fire On The Moon,’ and ‘I Can Hear Your Heartbeat’.
Jackie grew up in North London, England, and started enjoying music from an early age when she began singing in her school choir and playing the recorder aged just six years old. By the age of eight she was having guitar lessons and at 12 years old she formed a band with her brother, Tony, called Canis Major. Having always enjoyed writing stories, she started writing poetry as well as song lyrics and at age 13 recorded her first single, ‘WhiteLady’ followed by an album ‘Butterfly Queen’ with the band on the Gem Records label before turning professional. This paved the way for singing and writing in the music industry for more than 25 years!
THE BEGINNING
Did you always want to be a singer or was there a significant event in your childhood that influenced your career path?
From a young age, my siblings and I listened to the music our parents played - The Beatles, Pink Floyd (my Dad loved this band), Mike Oldfield, Vangelis, Elvis Presley, Ennio Morricone, Simon & Garfunkel (‘Bridge over Troubled Water’ is still a favourite of mine) - a real mix of genres and styles. I got into bands from about the age of 10 years and I had my crushes! The Osmonds and Bay City Rollers! After this, music became my life. At age 11, I became interested in classical music, and heard Benjamin Britten, ‘Adagio for Strings’ for the first time… it blew me away.
In the 80’s you were a member of girl rock bands, She and Girlschool - what did you enjoy most about working in the music industry during this time in your life?
After coming from a progressive rock background (Canis Major) I wanted to try something different. I saw an ad in a music paper for an all-girl band looking for a lead vocalist. That was She, and I got the job. This was with Tracey Lamb, who had been the bass player in Rock Goddess previously. It was an exciting time for all-female bands in the early 80s, and I was asked to join Girlschool in early 1984. I really enjoyed the touring, recording and meeting so many people during that time. It was a great experience.
What kind of music did you release under your own name following your time with Girlschool?
My own album, ‘Don’t Believe in Love’, was co-written with Lea Hart and Terry Thomas (Foreigner). It was basically AOR. The band that I had been in from 1988 to 1991 was called If Only and were also AOR. We released an album called ‘Destiny’.
THE SAIFAM YEARS
After being involved with rock music for so long, how did you make the transition to dance music and become a session vocalist for the SAIFAM label in Italy?
In 1994 I was looking for something different to be involved with. I became a session vocalist and worked a lot in studios in London. I had recently finished touring with Denny Lane. I saw an ad in The Stage music industry paper, of SAIFAM asking for studio vocalists. I sent them my demos and a year later I was contacted to work in Verona.
When you worked with SAIFAM in the 90’s, approximately how many songs did you record during this time, and how many years did you work with Mauro Farina and the label?
I really have no idea how many songs I recorded for SAIFAM! Probably around 50 but it could be more. I worked for them from 1995 to 2001.
What did you enjoy most about working with SAIFAM, and what was the recording process like?
Fabio Serra and Johnny Di Martino were so great to work with. I met Mauro a couple of times, but I mostly worked with Fabio and Johnny. Very professional, polite and courteous. They made the recording process very easy and they looked after me well. Each song was mainly sung in sections, and then they worked on the SAIFAM magic putting the whole song together after I had gone home to UK.
My favourite songs featuring your vocals are Radiorama’s ‘Little Bird’ and T.H. Express ‘Missing In The Rain’. What are your personal favourites from those you recorded for SAIFAM?
I love ‘Looking for Love’ and ‘Ninna Ninna Oh’, but there are quite a few that I really like, including your choices!
THE MUSIC INDUSTRY
How much input and involvement did you have with the production of your records back in the 80’s and 90’s compared to now?
I have always been heavily involved in any production of music that I have written or co-written, particularly the vocals. I am a perfectionist and am also very interested in the recording process. These days, I have my own digital recording set up at home. I use FL Studio Producer edition DAW, Novation FL Key 49 midi controller, iLoud reference monitors and various VSTs, including Spitfire Audio, which has some amazing cinematic sounds. I have an Acer Aspire 5 laptop with a 32 GB memory.
What is your best piece of advice for someone who wishes to become a singer or songwriter in the music industry today?
Be original as much as you can. Don’t be swayed by others and believe in your own talents and individuality. Too many people sound the same these days so you need to think outside the box and do what makes you happy. If success and recognition in the music industry is what you want, you need to be original.
What has been the greatest accomplishment in your music career to date?
For me it’s writing songs that make me happy and those who listen and love it. I absolutely love singing and performing and each performance is its own accomplishment.
If you could go back in time to the 80’s or 90’s, what advice would you give to your younger self?
Do your best and enjoy it. Have the confidence to know that as an artist, you have a talent which people want to hear.
What is the most valuable lesson you have learned in your music career?
Self-preservation is very important. Take care of yourself.
THE ELUSIVE DECADES
What did you do during the decades you were away from the music industry, and what made you want to become part of the eurodance scene again?
I did many things! After SAIFAM I trained for 2 years at the Royal Veterinary College and became a veterinary nurse for 17 years. I then decided to go to university and gained a First-Class Honours degree in Ecology & Conservation. I then became an ecologist. After this, I was employed at my university as a senior environmental biology technician. I then gained a Post Graduate Teaching qualification in Higher Education.
Unbeknown to me, certain people had been looking for me for many years since the SAIFAM days. Ana Paula at Aninhahy Dance had contacted my brother almost 10 years ago to find out who the voice was on certain SAIFAM tracks. She wishes me happy birthday every year too! At the time I did not get in touch, because my life was very different. In March 2023, I started to think about singing and writing again, but I had no idea how to get involved.
I kept thinking about previous work I had done, and people were talking online about the rock music I had co-written years before. Then this year, in March 2024, I received an email from Miguel Santos. He was taking a chance in getting in touch, he said, to see if I was interested in coming back to Eurodance music! He told me about Eurodance Vibes and how people were trying to find me. This all tied in with Ana Paula too. Something fell into place in my head, and it all felt right to pursue this next path.
A NEW CHAPTER
How did your collaboration with Eurodance Vibes come about?
Mark got in touch after the email from Miguel. I was not sure how it would work as many years had gone by and I was older. Mark was so great in explaining that the industry didn’t focus on such things and put my mind at rest. Then I heard from Ed and Annerley, and it was as if we were meant to cross paths, it felt totally right to do this. Now we are friends as if we have always been friends and it feels wonderful to know them, they are all amazing and lovely people.
You are currently working on a three-track EP for Eurodance Vibes - can you tell me more about this project?
I can’t say too much, but two tracks are almost finished, one with Samus Jay and the other with Mykotank. They are both incredibly talented and I am over the moon with the songs we have written together. The third track, from Eldar, is about to have vocals added.
Which is your favourite part of creating a new song - writing the lyrics, recording the vocals or performing the song live?
All of it - every creative part is very important to me! The lyrics are very personal, as are the vocal melodies. Recording them then translates all your emotions onto the track. Performing live is an absolute joy and there is no other elation quite like it!
You recently performed for the first time in decades at the Villademonio Club in Madrid singing a selection of your most famous Italodance hits of the 90’s. Tell me what this experience was like for you.
It was absolutely amazing - I sang as if I had sung only yesterday! Performing live is your artistic outlet and to make people happy doing that is incredible. The audience were all there to hear and sing along to SAIFAM tracks, they all knew the lyrics…I was in my element and after 30 odd years since last performing, the magical feeling of elation really hit me. I cannot wait to sing live again!
Which musical artist would you most like to collaborate with on a future project?
There are many talented artists out there. If something feels right, no matter what it is, then I would do it. I don’t have anyone particular in mind.
What kind of music do you listen to these days?
Many artists and genres - Johann Johansson, Max Richter, Olafur Arnalds, Enrico Einaudi… Ambient, love the Prodigy… any music which stirs my soul.
What is your favourite dance record at the moment, and why?
I love ‘Know That I Remember’ by Annerley, Dhany and Sandy, a beautiful song with heartfelt lyrics.
What musical goals do you want to achieve in 2025?
After the release of my EP, I would love to tour in Brazil and other countries. I have been asked by a lot of people about going to South America to perform at some festivals and bigger clubs. I hope 2025 will be a big performing live year! And then work on new material for future recordings. It’s so great to be back!!