Sylvia Love

Sylvia Love had two club hits in 1979... "Instant Love" and "Extraterrestrial Lover". Her cosmic Disco moved dancefloors on both sides of the Atlantic, even though her records were only available on import in the US. In 2008 she returned with "Cosmic Carousel", followed up with "Ultralife" in 2012. Reach for the stars because... The Queen of Cosmic is back... Sylvia Love !

Chantal Pierre was born in Paddington, London, United Kingdom in 1956, but we know her under her stage name - Sylvia Love. She is of French/Mauritian descent and she got her stage name because RCA already had an artist called Chantal somewhere else. The label suggested a name change why Chantal and the people around her fired up some names and Sylvia Love was born. The young Chantal grew up with music around her in the family and she started singing already as a little girl. As she says herself; "My mother and grandmother would play the piano and I can remember us all gathering around and singing along. After a few drinks my father would always ask one of us to play a recital - my elder sister played the cello and piano, my other sister played violin and piano, my brother violo and oboe and I played the violin - especially if a guest came over for dinner. Then my Father would top it off by singing sad/funny songs and we would laugh until the tears would run down our faces. He was extremely funny and had a brilliant sense of humour. I guess music was living with me since a very young age... I think I liked the idea of singing as it was a good way of communicating with people!"
I [Discoguy] got this opportunity to interview Sylvia for Disco-Disco.com and my first question was; How come you started with music? "My parents sent us kids to music lessons once a week at 'The School of Music' on Monmouth Road just off Westbourne Grove run by an eccentric brother and sister, name of Gerald and Margaret Galsworthy. I was told that they were related to the writer John Galsworthy. [English novelist and playwright, born in the 19th Century who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1932.] Gerald asked my parents if they would send us to a boarding school which he was going to open just for us in Chepstow Villas, Notting Hill Gate, sure you have heard of that lol! He thought we children were very talented and I guess he wanted to help us out. Well, obviously they said yes. It was agreed that we could go home at week-ends. My mother and father were not financially well off and worked hard at their jobs during the week. We had academic tutors, music tutors and we attended The Barbara Speake School for tap and ballet lessons. Found out years later that Barbara’s business partner was June Collins, Phil Collins' mum, we think that Phil was tapping alongside us, but we don’t remember him, probably because he was a bit younger. We were structured around classical music, but when we returned home at week-ends we would gather round our little black and white TV set and scream with adulation when The Beatles, The Stones, etc., would appear on screen. I I remember my father poking a distorted wire hanger in the aerial receiver as in those days the hanger worked far better than an indoor aerial, I have to laugh when I think back, especially now that we are so advanced in technology. Exciting times, but I was still too young to be involved in the swinging sixties!" So, was music something you always wanted to do, or did it more or less just "happen"? "At the time that it started to happen, I recall having a strong urge to be a singer. I was dating a hairdresser named Matthew and he called me one day and said that a client of his, Trevor Vallis, was on the look-out for a female vocalist, for a Disco project he was producing. Well, Matthew arranged for me to meet Trevor, I auditioned and got the gig. Then the recording contract with RCA Records followed as a result of the 'Instant Love' demo. You could have knocked me down with a feather! Talk about being in the right place at the right time!" Yes, that's really fascinating how the right time and place can make such a different turn in one's life, so was this the time you started WORKING with music? "Yes, In 1979 with 'Instant Love'!" What would you say characterize your voice? "People always seem to say that my voice is recognizable, and that they like the vibe I put out..." That's for sure. To me your voice is very "spacey" and special on your Disco hits, was that kind of your trademark or was that created in the studio? "I sang the way I usually do! Trevor really helped to get the best performance out of me." How come there was never an album released? "When 'Extraterrestrial Lover' was released, suddenly record companies seemed to give up on Disco and then Punk took over. Otherwise there probably would have been an album. Still, in life everything is for a reason. I hope that I will have an album’s worth of new material in the not too distant future." Exciting. I look forward to that! You put your career on hiatus after your two Disco singles, what have you done since then? I know you have been traveling and raising a family, but have you ever had some traditional jobs, or have music always been your life? "I raised my family, and, as any parent knows, you really do not have time to do anything else! Okay, some people are always doing things, but, then they have the financial security to live a certain way, not knocking that, good luck to them! My children have got a few many years between them, so they kept me busy, then my grandchildren came along and before you know it you are looking back on 30 odd years, you see there is a reason! I always wanted to have children, and am so grateful that I did. I Love them all so much and I'm really proud of them, they are good kids. I always wanted to get back into music and I did do a couple of backing vocals for some friends of mine. So music was always around through the years. I used to know quite a few musicians and attended gigs now and then." What made you want to return to the recording business? "Well I kept getting reports from some members of my family that they had come across the 'Instant Love' video on the Net, so I decided to see what all the hype was about. I was absolutely amazed to see not only the videos of my two original songs, but also DJ playlists featuring my records all around the world. Up until then I didn’t think that so many people knew about my records! I made contact with Glenn Rivera who had put my two songs up on YouTube. He told me that they had been club hits in the States for a number of years! I was shocked as Glenn lives in the States and the records were not released over there. Consequently, he arranged an interview for an internet radio chat with Peter Godbold. Glenn was extremely generous with his time for me and helped me in a number of ways. Also, Rick of Discoimperium had put the original footage of 'Instant Love' on YouTube and he has also helped me over these past few years. You know I believe I have been extremely lucky to have come across genuine people on my internet travels. I recently did an interview for DJ Chucks on Old Skool Sessions - and he has been really kind towards me too." Sylvia's Disco hits; "Instant Love" and "Extraterrestrial Lover", were both written by Mike Brayn and Steve Coe. They were arranged by US born composer, musician, arranger and producer - Craig Pruess, and produced by Trevor Vallis. Now this dream team is back working together with Sylvia again for her new material, all except for Trevor. After producing Sylvia back in the late 70's, Trevor Vallis produced songs for New Wave acts like Europeans as well as some top Hi-NRG acts like Hazell Dean, Bucks Fizz and Sinitta throughout the 80's. Craig, who produced Sylvia's latest release "Ultralife", has been living and working in the UK since 1973 and has since then been working with artists like Sir Cliff Richard, Sarah Brightman, Massive Attack and Def Leppard (just to mention a few) along with writing music for films like 'Bend It Like Beckham' and writing music to over 300 commercials. Steve was part of the early 80's group Monsoon along with the young Sheila Chandra. The group mixed traditional Indian music with British rock and had a hit with "Ever So Lonely" in 1982. The song was written by Steve and it saw new life and became a huge hit again in 2001 when Dave Lee aka Joey Negro recorded it again as "So Lonely" under his Jakatta alter ego. Steve Coe continued working with Sheila Chandra throughout her whole recording carrer and he also wrote tracks recorded by Laura Branigan and Ellie Warren among others. But now they're back together to create new Cosmic 'Sylvia Love' music. How come you managed to get the same team of writers and arranger together for your new releases? "Quite by chance... Mike Brayn who wrote my original songs with Steve Coe, had heard the same thing on the internet and he was actually listening in to the Peter Godbold interview. Mike tracked me down and we met at a Cafe Rouge Restaurant, it was totally surreal - also I recognized him immediately as he hadn’t changed much! After a good chat we bridged the gap. He asked if I would be interested in recording again and I felt it was a good time to do just that. Soon afterwards, 'Cosmic Carousel' was born inspired by the title of a book Mike’s Father had written. Strange world isn’t it? Or should I say magical..." Do you prefer working with Mike, Steve & Craig? If so - Why? How does your collaboration proceed/progress? Mike, Steve, Craig & yours? "Well for instance with 'Ultralife' which Mike had written with Steve, when I heard the demo, I really wanted to record it. Also, Craig Pruess, said that he would love to produce it. He had arranged and played synths on my original records and I was over the moon that he made the time to record it - not only Ultralife in 2011 but also the remixed version earlier this year, as Craig is really busy with his band The Ganda Boys - check them out on YouTube! I think they are great and they do all sorts of good for the Ugandan community in Africa." Have you been writing or producing as well? "I co-produced 'Cosmic Carousel' and really enjoyed the experience. I am also writing at the moment..." As you mentioned earlier, you released "Ultralife" in 2011, with a remix in 2012, will we get to hear more from you soon? "I am working on new ideas and hope to be recording again soon - when we come up with the right song. I believe in quality not quantity! I would also like to have my records featured on films and TV or a major remix (any DJs reading this)?" What kind of music can we expect to hear from you? Music in the same vein as "Cosmic Carousel" and "Ultralife"? "We are working on a new track right now, which is going to be an up tempo. Really excited to be working on another club track now. When it is finished you will be one of the first to hear it!" OH, Thanks for that! Can't wait to hear it... Does it exist any recorded material from your "Instant Love" / "E.T. Lover" sessions which never was released? "No, there is nothing in the vaults!" Too bad, but which was the first song you ever recorded? "'Instant Love' - not bad for the first one! Ha-ha..." Nope, I would actually call that a kick start. Have you been singing lead or backup vocals on any other Disco tracks? "As I mentioned, I did do some backing vocals for some musician friends but then I decided to concentrate on my own material." Can you name which is your favorite song of the ones you've recorded? "I have enjoyed recording them all in different ways! The first two songs were back in the day and the whole artist experience was new to me. Now with the latest two I have more artistic control over my tracks!" Your old hits are to be classified as Disco, so what about Disco music - did you like Disco music during that era, or was it just like a job? "I really liked Disco as well as many other genres. Having the opportunity to make the records was a lot of fun and a great experience for me - it was enjoyable work - never a job!" What kind of music do you personally prefer? "All kinds of music... Disco, soul, Blues, some Jazz, Classical, Country Western, Reggae. I Loved Bob Marley as soon as I heard him - he touched me with his songs. Same thing really, some make me cry and some make me laugh. Used to listen a lot to Desmond Dekker when I was younger, you know; 'Hey Grandma', 'Rudy Got Soul' and 'The Israelites'... Think most people would have heard of that one!!! Loved Elvis, The Beatles, The Stones, Santana, the list is endless..." Since my page is mainly Disco oriented - have you got any favorite Disco songs, except for your own work? "There are so many I like, here are a few... Donna Summer - 'Hot Stuff' Gloria Gaynor - 'I will survive' Giorgio Moroder - 'From here to Eternity' Tantra - 'The Hills of Katmandu' Amanda Lear - 'Blood and Honey' Are there any other Disco songs recorded by other artists you would have loved to have released or recorded yourself? "There are so many great songs out there, and if I had been offered to do one who knows..." As already told, we know you are in contact with your old "Disco team", but have you still got contact with any other "Disco people"? "I met the lovely Mr. Pinks who re-released my original records on the widely acclaimed Disco Discharge Series, all of which are listed on my website SylviaLove.com. What’s so cool is that both sides of both my records are on there. Sony had the original master tapes, which had to be baked in an oven to make sure they were playable and, the result is that they were brought back to how they left the studio originally!" Just as Sylvia mentions above, we can now find all four sides of her two Disco 12" singles featured in four of the Disco Discharge releases. The vocal version of "Instant Love" is to be found on the Disco Ladies CD, while the 12"s flip side Dub version - "Instant Dub" debuted on CD in the European Connection release. "Extraterrestrial Lover" gets the Space party starting in the Euro Disco CD set, and its instrumental version gets its well-deserved place on the Disco Exotica CD. With the revival and rebirth of your classic recordings and your new music, what has that meant for your current career? "It means I can enjoy being creative, produce the records I want on my own terms, like so many indie artists today. I have my record label Sylvia Love Records and own my own recording, which do not include 'Instant Love' or 'Extraterrestrial Lover'. Though I am thinking of re-recording 'Instant Love'..." I would look forward to that. Do you still play gigs from time to time? "I am not currently doing any gigs - just concentrating on writing and recording."		CLICK to hear some Sylvia Love songs... Instant Love Instant Dub Extraterrestrial Lover Cosmic Carousel Cosmic Carousel Cosmic Carousel (Chris Eccles Remix) Ultralife Download the FREE basic RealPlayer... CLICK to hear some related songs... Hot stuff Donna Summer I will survive Gloria Gaynor Chase Giorgio Moroder Click to buy from Disc 1: Who's Who - Dancin' Machine The Chaplin Band - Madman's Discotheque Pussyfoot - Lay Your Love On The Line Disco Circus - In A Gadda Da Vida/Garden Of Eden Liquid Gold - Substitute Patrick Hernandez - Born To Be Alive HOT RS - The House Of The Rising Sun Sylvia Love - Extraterrestrial Lover Klein & MBO - Dirty Talk Toni Basil - You Gotta Problem Disc 2: Voggue - Dancin' The Night Away Bette Midler - Hurricane Jeanette - Don't Say Goodnight To A Lady Of Spain Gino Soccio - Dance To Dance Azoto - Soft Emotion Passengers - I'll Be Standing Beside You Patrick Juvet - Swiss Kiss Boney M - My Cherie Amour The Chaplin Band - Il Veleiro Theo Vaness - Sentimentally It's You Click to buy from Disc 1: Fern Kinney – Groove Me Andrea True Connection – More More More Sister Sledge – You Fooled Around Kim Hart – Love At First Night Gloria Jones – Bring On The Love "Why Can't We Be Friends Again" Stacey Lattisaw – Jump To The Beat A Taste Of Honey – Boogie Oogie Oogie Lucy Hawkins – Gotta Get Outta Here Suzy Q – Get On Up And Do It Again Cheryl Lynn – Shake It Up Tonight Vicky D – The Beat Is Mine Nona Hendryx – Keep It Confidential Disc 2: Silver Convention – Get On Up And Boogie "That's Right" Amanda Lear – Blood And Honey Poussez – Come On And Do It Sheila & B. Devotion – Spacer Janis Ian – Fly To High Suzy Lane – Harmony Sylvia Love – Instant Love Melba Moore – Pick Me Up, I'll Dance The Ritchie Family – Give Me A Break Phyllis Nelson – I Like You Click to buy from Disc 1: Don Ray – Garden Of Love Change – Angel In My Pocket Silver Convention – Love In A Sleeper Beautiful Bend – That's The Meaning/Boogie Motion Massara – Margharita Space – Magic Fly Giorgio Moroder – From Here To Eternity Sylvia Love – Extraterrestrial Lover Sparks – The Number One Song In Heaven Easy Going – Fear Vivien Vee – Give Me A Break Disc 2: Gaz Nevada – I.C. Love Affair Advance – Take Me To The Top Change – Change Of Heart Kano – I'm Ready Laura Branigan – Self Control Eighth Wonder – I'm Not Scared Propaganda – P Machinery Mike Mareen – Dancing In The Dark Fun Fun – Happy Station Time Bandits – Live It Up Yvonne Kay – Rise Up "For My Love" Click to buy from Disc 1: Space - Carry On, Turn Me On Voyage - From East To West Caress - Love Spell The Gibson Brothers - Ooh! What A Life Don Ray - Midnight Madness Giorgio Moroder - If You Weren't Afraid Sylvia Love - Instant Dub Les Models - Don't Ever La Bionda - Sandstorm Tantra - The Hills Of Katmandu Disc 2: Gaz Nevada - Special Agent Man Funny Twins - You And Me Hot Cold - I Can Hear Your Voice Taffy - I Love My Radio Vivien Vee - Americano Hypnosis - Droid Gino Soccio - Remember Peter Richard - Walking In The Neon Dilemma - In Spirit Alba - Only Music Survives
Out of the talented people you've met during the years... Any special ones you wanna mention? Any "mentors" or similar? "It has to be Giorgio Moroder and Donna Summer, both friends with my sister who lived in Munich at the time. I was actually in the studio with Giorgio when he was putting a track down to Midnight Express! He was a very pleasant guy and we got along well." What's your best memory during your years in the business? "One of my best memories was getting the RCA contract! Also, doing PAs I had such a warm reception wherever I went. Can recall singing in a gay nightclub and the guys going absolutely crazy cheering, it was a packed house and they all seemed to want my autograph. I had a taste of fame that night I can tell you and am still recovering - Hahaha! Also, when I was in this club doing my thing, the people there had decided to put out a smoke screen on the stage... they forgot to tell me, because I had taken a lot of medicine that night as I had the flu, but the show must go on, blah, blah... It didn’t bother me at all... I always thought someone was trying to get me to jump off the stage for a laugh... I probably would have had I not been so ill." Anything else you can think of that you wanna tell me about? Any information is very welcome, some fun happenings or anything you think I've missed? "Think you more or less covered everything. Just want to say a big Thank you for giving me this interview. Disco-on Discoguy!" Love, Sylvia XX She still fills our hearts and souls with LOVE, no matter if it's 'Extraterrestrial' or (as in most cases) 'Instant' Love! Now she's back running the 'Cosmic Carousel'... Sylvia Love

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to Sylvia for participating and making this page possible !!!

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