Secret Smile
from WorldPop, January, 2001

Watch the interview in Real Video :
Part 1 is called "Madonnamania and boys talk"
Part 2 is called "Bedtime secrets and live shows"

Texas are set to have another huge hit with their new single Inner Smile, but as Sharleen reveals, eavesdropping on her bandmates, watching Craig David or Eminem and songwriting in bed are just some of the things that make her grin from ear to ear …

Madge and me …
worldpop: How was it supporting Madonna at Brixton Academy last year?
Sharleen: It was really good. It's quite different from anything we've done before. It was a half-hour set for everyone and we all went on and did our thing.

worldpop: What was the atmosphere like backstage?
Sharleen: It was very relaxed backstage before the show but it was chaos on my phone in the run up to the gig. All of a sudden I had these people I hadn't seen for years calling me up: 'Can you get me on the guest list, please?' That was my nightmare, really.

worldpop: Did you meet Madonna?
Sharleen: I knew Madonna already, so ...

worldpop: And did you manage to get all your mates in?
Sharleen: Yes, most of my really good friends were there and they enjoyed it. They were down the front jumping about. It was a really good night and a really good line-up.

worldpop: You must have been ecstatic when she called up and asked you to appear?
Sharleen: Yeah, of course I was really flattered when she asked up to do it because I think she could have had the pick of anyone. When she called up and asked us it was a definite yes.

Boy Talk …
worldpop: What's it like being the only girl in the band and having to share your tour bus with a group of guys all the time?
Sharleen: Hard as hell! Do you mean do I ever feel left over at any point? No, never, I feel like Queen bee. It's fun. I probably know everything about football there is to know, and also all about guys. The best bit is that sometimes I pretend I'm asleep in my bunk at night and I hear them having very serious discussions about women which I really enjoy. They don't know I'm listening.

worldpop: So do you know all their secrets now?
Sharleen: Secrets wise, we spend so much time together that there aren't really any secrets between us because we're best mates.

worldpop: You worked with Greg Alexander on your new single Inner Smile. How did you get together?
Sharleen: Greg came round to my house ages ago with the biggest food carry out ever and ate for the UK. In fact I think he ate for America. I've never seen anyone consume so much food in my whole life! We just got on really well and decided to write together. So me, Johnny and Greg went off and did our thing and then went into the studio and made the record.

Bedtime secrets …
worldpop: You're off on the road in February. Do you still enjoy touring?
Sharleen: Oh yeah. It's really difficult to explain to someone what it's like to stand on a stage. When you're making a record it's so sort of personal and private. I think people think you're in a studio and there are loads of people around. But it's not like that. Often you're in your bed and loads of ideas come up. It's a really, really private moment.

worldpop: And then you go out on stage ...
Sharleen: ... and you see people mouthing back the songs to you and you know that those songs mean something to them. It's a really special thing and it's really cool!

worldpop: When you're on the road how long does it take you to pack?
Sharleen: Not long. I normally just pack the night before. If I forget something I have the biggest excuse to go and buy something else. You can get some good bargains on the road!

Live shows …
worldpop: Is performing live one of your favourite things about being in the band?
Sharleen: It's funny because when you're performing live you want to go and make a record, and when you're making a record you want to go and perform live. The grass is always greener on the other side.

worldpop: Who do you like seeing live?
Sharleen: I saw Craig David live the other night which was really good. I'd like to go and see Eminem but we're touring at the same time and I don't know if we cross over. I'd like to see what he does as a live set.

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