'Proms in the North East has the power to inspire'
Nadine Shah will realise a life’s ambition when she delivers a career-spanning set alongside the Royal Northern Sinfonia at this month’s BBC Proms in the North East
Nadine Shah will realise a life’s ambition when she delivers a career-spanning set alongside the Royal Northern Sinfonia at this month’s BBC Proms in the North East. Simon Rushworth finds out more.
Like buses, it seems you wait an entire career for the chance to bring your songs to life alongside classically trained musicians only for two incredible opportunities to come along at once.
“Last month I was part of the It Sounds Like Courage event at the Southbank Centre,” explains Nadine Shah, the Mercury Prize-nominated singer songwriter who hails from South Tyneside. “It was curated by Anoushka Shankar and I performed two of my songs with the London Contemporary Orchestra.
“That was my first experience working with classical musicians and it taught me an invaluable lesson — it’s incredibly tough emotionally to perform your songs in that environment and to hold it together.
“Everything sounded so wonderful that I couldn’t stop crying and it’s impossible to sing and cry at the same time! I was in floods of tears during the rehearsals. But I managed to get through the performance and it means I’m far better prepared for next time. I hope.”
And what a next time.
Later this month Nadine will be challenged to keep her emotions in check for a full set as a career-spanning collection of songs is reimagined by the Royal Northern Sinfonia. A unique show is one of the centrepieces of this year’s BBC Proms in the North East programme — the three-day celebration returns to our region for a fifth time with events in Gateshead, Sunderland and Middlesbrough.
“A lot of people think they don’t like classical music but that’s often because they don’t really know where to start. Well, there’s no better place than Proms in the North East. It’s a fantastic entry-level event for people who are intrigued and who want to find out more. Proms in the North East has the power to inspire.”
Nadine Shah
“It’s a huge show for me and a real ticky box thing,” adds Nadine. “Playing the Proms at The Glasshouse has been an ambition of mine for some time and so to have this opportunity is incredibly special.
“Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to play the Royal Albert Hall one day but there’s something quite beautiful about being able to do this on my doorstep.”
So how are things shaping up for Nadine’s latest — and potentially greatest — career-defining gig?
“Well, because orchestras are so vast and so expensive, there’s limited rehearsal time for the Proms gig,” smiles the Whitburn-born artist, who burst onto the scene with critically acclaimed debut Love Your Dum And Mad in 2013. “Fortunately, the Royal Northern Sinfonia guys are consummate professionals so I’m quite relaxed about the whole thing.
“If there’s anyone — in any area of the music industry — who you can rely on to do their homework it’s a classical musician who’s a member of an orchestra. I trust them implicitly. Luckily, they’re my songs so I should be ready to do my bit! We’re going to be fine.”
Nadine’s confidence is due, in part, to her timely collaboration with new-found friend and classically trained musician Anna Phoebe. The virtuoso violinist and composer has been trusted with interpreting an alt rock-flavoured back catalogue for its orchestral debut and it seems there’s no better person for the job.
“Anna’s been arranging all the songs for the last few weeks and she’s one of the most talented people I’ve ever met,” admits Nadine. “It’s a real honour to work with her. We met at a concert celebrating the music of Marianne Faithfull — I was singing and she was playing violin.
“Anna is an amazing Greek woman who truly inspires me. We’ve become good friends and we’re working on a number of new projects together but right now The Proms is the priority.”
Nadine might be missing out on making her Hall One debut — The Glasshouse’s signature space is benefitting from a refurbishment this summer — but she’s excited to take over the concourse at a venue that continues to inspire.
“It’s like the jewel in the crown of North East music, isn’t it,” suggests Nadine. “You know what I mean? I love showing off my part of the world to people from outside the region and everybody is in awe of The Glasshouse when they cross the Tyne on the train for the first time.
“It’s so beautiful and I always treasure the walk there, whether I’m performing or watching someone else. I love the walk down to the Quayside, across the Millennium Bridge and up to The Glasshouse. And I’ll always do that walk, for as long as I live.
“I’ve seen so many brilliant gigs there and it’s become such a cornerstone of the North East’s creative community. I can’t wait to see how BBC Proms In The North East brings the whole place alive.”
Nadine’s hotly anticipated show is one of several eye-catching events across a typically packed and diverse programme. Highlights include folk royalty The Unthanks kicking things off alongside the Royal Northern Sinfonia at Middlesbrough Town Hall on July 23, BBC Introducing Live At The Proms on the same night at The Glasshouse and a first performance at the Proms of Mendelssohn’s Concerto for Violin, Piano and Strings in D minor at The Fire Station in Sunderland (July 25).
Nadine believes the Proms’ regionwide approach, coupled with a range of artists delivering cross-genre collaborations, has huge potential to engage with audiences new to classical music.
At the same time, she recognises the unique opportunity to perform in front of people who may never have heard of her UK Top 30 albums Kitchen Sink and Filthy Underneath.
“It works both ways,” agrees Nadine. “There will be classical music fans at The Glasshouse who have no clue who I am but I want those same people to leave the concert thinking about my music and wondering about checking it out.
“Similarly, I’d urge my fans to give this show a shot. A lot of people think they don’t like classical music but that’s often because they don’t really know where to start. Well, there’s no better place than Proms in the North East. It’s a fantastic entry-level event for people who are intrigued and who want to find out more. Proms in the North East has the power to inspire.”
On the subject of inspiration, Nadine admits that much of today’s new music leaves her cold. Not so the innovative sounds and compelling narratives of Geordie jazz disruptors Knats — the band hand-picked to open up her Glasshouse show.
“I know it sounds super cynical on my part but there is so much new music out there right now and, maybe it’s just me, but it feels like so much of it isn’t really that good,” adds Nadine. “But when I do hear something brilliant and proper quality I get so excited and it inspires me to raise the bar with my own music.
“Knats fall into that category. The music’s so clever and the lyrics are so witty. I was lucky enough to hear their new album A Great Day In Newcastle before it was released in May. I had it on repeat and I’ll be amazed if it’s not nominated for a Mercury Prize this year. It’s perfect that they’re setting the scene at The Glasshouse and we might even do something together on the night. Watch this space!”
Nadine Shah and the Royal Northern Sinfonia, supported by Knats, play BBC Proms in the North East on July 24. The full programme of events is here