Grooving Solo with a Twist: Andy Bell's Album 'Ten Crowns' and a Tempting Duet with Debbie Harry
Solo Album "It's Nice, Too" Unveiled by Andy Bell of Erasure - Solo Album by Erasure Singer Andy Bell Announced
Andy Bell, the iconic voice behind Erasure and synth-pop anthems like "A Little Respect" and "Sometimes," is making waves again with his new solo album, "Ten Crowns." At 61, he continues to rule the pop realm, not only with Erasure but also with his vibrant solo ventures.
"A Blast Writing Songs with Others"
"It's a blast writing songs with others," Bell shared in a candid chat with the German Press Agency in London. "I love working with Vince. Our partnership has a unique magic. But it's also exhilarating to witness other artists' creativity and collaborate with them."
For "Ten Crowns," Bell teamed up with American producer, remixer, and DJ Dave Audé, with whom he's previously collaborated on several singles. "Dave is boundlessly energetic, much like Vince," spills the singer. "Because he channels out a remix every day, he essentially maintains a mini music bank, devoid of vocals. We experimented quite a bit."
A Duet with Debbie Harry
The fruits of their labor are a kaleidoscope of tracks, brimming with various genre influences. Among the ten tracks, dancefloor and disco tunes like "Breaking Thru The Interstellar," "Dance For Mercy," and "Lies So Deep" take center stage. The latter features Sarah Potenza, a former casting show contestant, who's long worked with Dave Audé, the Grammy winner.
For the melodious ballad "Heart's A Liar," Andy Bell teams up with none other than the legendary Debbie Harry of Blondie. Their collaboration was sparked over 30 years ago in a random studio encounter. "She's simply amazing," he enthuses. "Over the years, we've bumped into each other a handful of times. I couldn't resist the idea of having her on this track."
Prepping for a Solo Tour
With his new tunes, Bell gears up for a solo tour, starting in June, across six German cities. "Performing without Erasure offers a refreshing experience," he explains. "The freedom I have during these shows is unlike anything else. It's like becoming a whole new character on stage."
However, Andy Bell doesn't envision a lifelong solo career. "The fans miss Vince," he acknowledges. "They miss him dearly. When I'm on stage alone, I always make a point to mention him, so nobody gets the wrong idea." The future with Erasure is anticipated to unfold next year.
- Solo Album: Ten Crowns
- London
- Debbie Harry
- DJ: Dave Audé (Unconfirmed involvement)
- German Press Agency
- Tour Commencing in May 2025
"Sadly, I'm not going to be able to be a part of the solo tour scheduled to start in June, as I'll be on tour with Erasure instead.""The studio encounter with Debbie Harry, which happened over 30 years ago, led to the collaboration on the melodious ballad 'Heart's A Liar' from Andy Bell's solo album 'Ten Crowns'.""When Andy Bell works with artists like Debbie Harry or Dave Audé, he says it's like a blast writing songs with others, because it exposes him to a different kind of creativity that he wouldn't encounter when working alone.""In the process of creating 'Ten Crowns,' Andy Bell and Dave Audé experimented quite a bit, resulting in a unique collection of tracks void of vocals, much like the remixes Dave Audé churns out on a daily basis."
