Q&A: Texas

The multi-platinum, Ivor Novello winning Scottish pop-rockers are celebrating 25 years with their album Texas 25. As they gear up to play a string of live dates including Salford’s Lowry, 20 April and Hull City Hall, 28 April, frontwoman Sharleen Spiteri tells The Big Issue in the North how the band has always been her priority.

What made you decide to combine old and new work for this anniversary album?
We decided it had to be a celebration of 25 years of Texas so therefore it had to combine where we had been, where we had got to and where we’re going.

How is the new material different from what you’ve done before?
It is hard for me to say exactly where the difference lies – whoever is listening to the record probably has a better opinion of the differences than me. I think I’m probably too close to the record to make that call.

Your profile rocketed after Chris Evans invited you to perform on TFI Friday in 1997. Do you ever wonder how differently things might have turned out if you hadn’t had that opportunity?
I can’t say I have ever wondered… I don’t own a crystal ball you see. I tend not to look into the past and think what if – I’m not that kind of person.

Band member Ally McErlaine had a brush with death in 2009 after suffering a brain aneurysm. Was this part of the reason the band reunited in 2011 after a five-year hiatus?
We would have probably been back a lot sooner if it wasn’t for Ally’s brush with death!

You’ve also dabbled in a career as a solo artist. Is that something you’d like to pursue in future?
The solo thing was never a long-term plan. I made it quite clear during the Melody record that I wasn’t pursuing a solo career and that Texas was very much still my priority. The album was very personal for me – I wrote it from a personal place. It had to be done to be able to move on and write the next Texas record.

FEMKE COLBORNE