After making a worldwide name with her hit "Changez", Cécile has not stopped in her tracks and has produced some very good tracks, including the recent and memorable combination with Sean Paul. Cécile: producer, composer-performer and much more, a woman who has carved out a big place for herself in the macho world of dancehall. An interview just before she goes into the studio, as a preview ahead of the release of her album "Bad Gal", due this summer.
We've met before, people already know you a little. Can you tell me about your new album?
Cecile Well, it's an album that should come out this summer. On the whole it will contain only new tunes that you haven't heard. You'll find 3 of my tunes on it: "Changez", but in a remixed version, even though it's an older tune, it did launch my career; "Fool"; and also the combination with Sean Paul, which I really care about.
Will there be any features on the album?
Cecile At the moment I don't think so, and if there were to be any, I couldn't reveal them now, because you never really know what might happen.
How many songs will be on the album?
Cecile There will probably be 16 tracks.
Which record company have you signed with?
Cecile At the moment I don't know. I didn't want to sign with a major like Virgin or Emi, so as not to be dictated to about what I had to do and to keep my independence. I just hope I can find good distribution, because without that there's no point making a good album. I'm still preparing my album, nothing is decided at this stage.
You were recently in Europe, in England to be precise...
Cecile Yes, we were in England for Elephant Man's tour, the Log On Tour; it was very good and I enjoyed it a lot.
But you didn't come and say hello to us in Paris!
Cecile We never left London! But a tour is planned as soon as the album comes out.
Since the release of "Changez" and the nasty things Bounty Killer aimed at you... What do you think of him now?
Cecile He's a good guy, he does his job well. He gave me a lot of publicity by using my name in his songs and I thank him for that. I hope he can do it again when my album comes out (laughs!).
You've also done production (Chiney Gal and Double Jeopardy). What are your future projects as a producer?
Cecile I'm planning to release an all-female compilation; this project is close to my heart. Lady Saw has helped me a lot in putting it together, by the way. She will very likely end up on my album too, even though I shouldn't be saying so!