Sharon Corr’s third solo album will be released on September 24th. In an interview, she reveals whether new music from the sibling band The Corrs will follow soon.
After eight years of waiting, there is reason to be happy for the fans of Sharon Corr (51). With “The Fool & the Scorpion”, the Irish musician’s third solo album will be released on September 24th. One day before its release, it is also on a German stage for the first time in a long time. She presents new and old songs in the Berlin Columbiatheater: For the 51-year-old, who now lives in Madrid, Spain, after a long period of absence from the stage due to Corona, “a new dream that is coming true”.
In an interview with the news agency spot on news, Corr explains the meaning of the title “The Fool & the Scorpion”. She also reveals why she suffered from terrible fears as a young mother eleven years ago. And Corr answers the most burning question that die-hard fans are currently asking: Will there be new music from the sibling band The Corrs (“Breathless”) coming soon?
Her last solo LP “The Same Sun” came out eight years ago. Why is there so much time between this work and “The Fool & the Scorpion”?
Sharon Corr: Well, it takes a lot of time to write an album – especially when you’re the only songwriter. After “The Same Sun” I was on tour for two years and only then did I start writing this new record. I wrote the first song in 2015, the last one in 2019. There is also a wealth of other material, but you have to see what works for the album. And then of course the pandemic intervened. Without them I would have released “The Fool & the Scorpion” in 2019.
Why did you decide right now to release the album and get back on stage?
Corr: I believe in wishful thinking and positive energy. Music radiates this positive energy to everyone and it nourishes the soul. It’s nice for people when they go to a concert and can feel this community spirit – and this bond between artist and audience. It helps you feel understood. So I make plans, even though I know they may need to be changed. However, we take all security measures that are possible. I’ve been vaccinated twice and we just have to be very careful about the way we approach it – and that’s us.
One of her first appearances in a long time is a show on September 23 in Berlin. How excited are you
Corr: I can’t wait. It’s been two years since I haven’t played any concerts. It’s like a novel dream coming true. I’ve played with The Corrs and as a solo artist many times in Berlin, but presenting this new album, as well as my older songs, gives me a lot of enthusiasm.
“The Fool & the Scorpion” is not only the title of your third solo album, but also the first single from it. What is the meaning behind this?
Corr: Personally, I like it most when you get lost in the lyrics – without knowing what the artist means by that. So I can be the heroine or the victim or the object of desire myself. I am hopelessly addicted to Jane Austen. I like her romance, but also her words as such – the way she uses language. Every time I read Pride And Prejudice, I can be Elizabeth Bennet. I don’t want to go into detail about what “The Fool & the Scorpion” is about because it’s not over that quickly.
But?
Corr: But I had some stormy years in my life back then in which I went through very serious changes. There were times when it really wasn’t easy because I had to take a close look at myself: Who am I? What I want? What is my truth and is it understood by others? I started writing the song on a plane that couldn’t take off due to a storm and that was supposed to take me to Geneva. The day before something had happened that had hurt me deeply. My heart was torn and it was a very, very painful experience. It’s not always about a guy or a certain moment, but about an overall situation that had developed and became very painful. I was truly in shock because I had already been through a lot.
How would you then describe the quintessence of the song?
Corr: It’s about female strength and about getting it back from people who are not necessarily good for you or who can even be toxic. It’s about pain and anger, and the song is very feminine. We women are often portrayed as angels, but we are not. You should be good to good people, but at the same time say goodbye to toxic people. Writing the song was cathartic.
You can also find a track called “Freefall” on your LP. In the situation just described, did you feel like you were in free fall?
Corr: The song doesn’t exactly describe that situation, but the same feeling. It was written around three years before “The Fool & the Scorpion” and describes the moment when you realize that life as you know it is falling apart. You feel like you are made of glass, falling and shattering on the floor. You will never be able to put your individual parts together again in the same way. At the same time, the song has a cheerful undertone – similar to the songs of The Corrs.
On your first solo album, eleven years ago, you discussed your struggle with anxiety after the birth of your children. Does the new longplayer deal with such feelings again?
Corr: No. (Back then) I had just given birth to my children and had been home for four years … Then I wrote songs again and got on stage right after I put my children to bed. (…) But I didn’t have enough capacity to do both very well, and that made me anxious. But I think that was only natural for a young mother who is just getting back to work – and alone, without The Corrs. I also don’t know anyone who has never struggled with fear.
Are you still suffering from feelings of fear today?
Corr: No – and that’s great, because life is beautiful and should be enjoyed.
The corona pandemic made many people fearful. Did she influence “The Fool & the Scorpion”?
Corr: No. The album was ready before the pandemic started. But it is still a kind of reflection of the world at the time it was created. Our world has experienced stormy times not only because of the pandemic, but also before that through volcanic political changes. What is happening around the world at the moment is madness. However, I am a very positive person and I always think it has to get worse before it gets better. So it gets better.
You and your siblings last released an album as The Corrs in 2017. Are there any plans for new music?
Corr: Not at the moment, but we never separate because we are family. We love what we do together and it’s magical and special. I hope that we will create something together again next year.
Common question: If you had to choose between working with The Corrs and solo projects, what would your decision be?
Corr: That is a mean question indeed! My God! The Corrs or my solo work? At the moment (the latter) is very important to me and it will remain so until the end of my life. I identify more with my work as a solo artist because it is a complete expression of myself. As The Corrs we put four parts together and none of us express ourselves 100 percent. (…) At the same time, my siblings are a part of me, which is why it is almost as if I have to choose between my children. I cannot make that decision.
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