Estelle takes a swipe at British soul

Last Modified: 28 Mar 2008
Source: ITN

Estelle has hit-out at the lack of black soul singers in the British music industry.

The 28-year-old, from west London, is currently top of the singles chart with American Boy.

But she had to go to the US to find the success she has achieved today.

Of Adele and Duffy, who she knocked off the Number One spot at the weekend, she said: "How the hell is there not a single black person in the press singing soul?

"Adele ain't soul. She sounds like she heard some Aretha records once, and she's got a deeper voice - that don't mean she's soul."

Estelle's breakthrough hit came in 2004 with the autobiographical 1980, but she disappeared from the charts soon afterwards.

She said her record label was not prepared for the success of the single and had no idea what to do next.

She questioned the British music industry's willingness to allow the careers of young black British musicians to end prematurely.

She said: "I went to, like, five record labels here. All the same umms and errs.

"So I went to the States - I wasn't brought up to just sit there and moan - 'Oh they won't give me a chance!' - and they took me to the top man at Atlantic. And immediately, he said: 'Yeah, you're good!"

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