Natural freak

“It’s very fascinating… I didn’t think I’d get this many questions about that”. The fascinating topic in question is the second album from pop diva Anastacia and, more pertinently its title, Freak Of Nature.

“I actually chose that title because I was often considered more of a freak artist than a popular artist when I was coming out ten years ago,” she explains. “I’d go into a room, they’d listen to my sound and they’d see me and go ‘why do you sound like that, what’s wrong with you, why are you wearing glasses?’. They never accepted my style or the way I sounded, it was a problem. Often at the beginning of my career, trying to figure out who I was, I felt wrong with the things that today are actually the best things about my career. On the second album I figured that it was quite ironic that what I did on the previous record was be everything that they wouldn’t let me be and it obviously worked out.”

One thing that certainly could not be said about Anastacia is that she lacks her own style, her own identity – starting with that incredible voice and permeating through her entire persona. Has it been a battle to hang onto her own identity in a world full of Jennifers, Janets, Mariahs and so forth?

“I tried to fit in the girl groups, I tried to sound little in my voice, I tried to take off my glasses and none of those things were normal for me, they didn’t feel right so even though I tried to fit in with the business it never really worked out for me.”

One word that springs to mind on listening to the album is defiant, from the Millie Jackson fronting Bon Jovi sound of single ‘Paid My Dues’ to the slew of relationship songs that are scattered throughout. The singer ponders the description.

“Interesting… I like that. I definitely think that I’m someone who falls into her own groove and it doesn’t have to be everybody’s groove, it doesn’t have to be a popular thing. I’m very aware of the way that I feel and I’m not shy to talk about it. I think that it’s important for me to speak about what you learn and what you’re going through because you can only get stronger that way. The good thing is that I’m finding a lot of fans who relate to my songs because of their content.”

But despite her powerful voice and up front production, Freak Of Nature also has its share of more tender moments, not least standout track ‘Overdue Goodbye’. “Strength doesn’t mean unbreakable. I’ve got a very big heart and it definitely can be hurt and there are moments in there where I feel a lot of different emotions and I have no problem expressing them because that makes you human. There’s tremendous tender moments because I went through one of the hardest things I’ve had to do so far, break up with someone I didn’t want to break up with.”

As befits her nature however, Anastacia’s outlook remains unshakeably robust. “It’s part of life and, even though it wasn’t exactly the dream I would have had, life goes on.”

Freak Of Nature is available now on BMG records