British soul band the Brand New Heavies and its beloved front-woman N’Dea Davenport recently reunited for the release of their critically acclaimed new album ‘Get Used to It.’
“When I stepped away from everything,” Davenport told Black Voices of her abrupt departure, “I needed to really get some perspective because I’m just not that kind of girl where I let business sort of dictate to me how I’m supposed to live my life.”
“It was just getting a little bit out of hand, overall, with everyone involved and everyone pulling in a different direction and jumping from country to country and I needed to kind of step back from that for a while,” she further elaborated on the split.
When the singer/songwriter departed from the renowned acid jazz group after the release of their 1994 album ‘Brother Sister,’ the Brand New Heavies experimented with a trio of female vocalists (Siedah Garrett, Carleen Anderson and Nicole Russo) with lackluster success. Davenport, an Atlanta native who is credited with jump-starting the neo-soul music genre, proved to be a tough act to follow.
“Well I don’t think they wanted me to ever leave,” she reflected. “And that’s the thing; no one thought I would really leave. And I think it was very, very difficult for them when I did leave, you know, but it was one of those things that needed to be done because I couldn’t continue in the capacity of how things were going.”
Amidst collaborating with a bevy of rappers, musicians and songwriters, she released a self-titled solo album in 1998.
“In retrospect, I felt bad about it for the fans and the people who really love our music, but at the same time, I can’t allow my spirit to be drained or taken away. I’ve gotta do something.”
The group still consists of founding members; drummer/keyboard player Jan Kincaid, bassist Andrew Love Levy and guitarist Simon Bartholomew. The Heavies just wrapped a 25 date- tour this week at Brooklyn’s WARSAW at the Polish National Home, which had the multi-culti outfit playing to sold-out crowds in an array of venues, including Houston’s Reliant Park for the Essence Music Festival.
Recorded and produced in New York and London, the 12-track ‘Get Used to It’ skillfully blends the classic live funk and soul sound that’s been their signature since they debuted 15 years ago, unleashing a string of radio-friendly grooves like “Never Stop,” “Brother, Sister,” and “Dream On Dreamer.”
“Since it’s been a long time, time has passed, and a lot of us have matured and certain people that were in the picture aren’t in the picture now, it seems like an appropriate time to take it on back,” Davenport added. “Especially with so many things going on in the country and in the world today, it’s nothing like having some good vibes out there and to try to spread something positive.”
Courtesy: BV
