Interview: Lurine Cato
Singer/songwriter Lurine Cato chats to LTTM about her recent album 'Chosen To Serve', learning from Kylie Minogue, and performing at St James Palace in front of Princes William & Harry!
Tell us a little bit about the album you released last year 'Chosen to Serve'
Well my album is a bit like my story and things that I've been through in my life and how I got over challenges, including some of the dark places I've been followed by coming into the light. These amazing songs that came from heaven really up lift people in these times that we're living in today. So although I've been through so much and being someone that had counselling and went through healing, I now help others, and when you help others it's a form of serving, so I know that I and we all have been "chosen to serve" that's what the album is about. This album I believe has something for everyone.
Which is your favourite track on the album and why?
That's a different question because my favourite track changes from time to time. It all depends on how I'm feeling at that moment of that particular day. But I guess the one I would listen to a lot more maybe at this time is 'Wave It Away'.
You've just been invited to sing at St James Palace, how did that come about?
I'll try and cut a long story short. I met the CEO of the Princess Diana Award, Tessy Ojo, at a few events. We have built up a really nice friendship. She asked me to attend some of their awards ceremonies where they awarded young people who either are going through difficult times or their lives are turned around through the Diana award programs. So they invited me to either sing or speak or give out awards at a few of their events. So through that and I was asked to sing at the main award ceremony that awarded 20 young people around the world at St James Palace, where Prince William the Duke of Cambridge and HRH Prince Harry also attended. It was an emotional and amazing experience.
You've worked with some really big names in the music industry in the past, what were your highlights?
I think going on tour with Kylie Minogue was amazing. I toured with her for two years and it was fun singing and dancing at the same time. I learnt so much on that tour and Kylie really is the girl next door. I learnt a lot from her, and honestly I didn't know I would learn so much from her. She is a really hard worker and she really is a beautiful person.
How would you describe your style of music and what are your influences?
Well I used to be a backing singer and as a backing singer, I was fortunate to sing backing for different popstars in different genres of music, so my album also has that same feel with different genres of music but all tracks giving the same message which is really important to me. My influences are pop, indie, rock and soul, traditional gospel, R&B oh house music and so much more.
How would you define success in your career?
You know people see success as someone being famous worldwide or having lots of money, but for me success is the amazing stories that people inbox me with or send messages to me saying 'when I heard you sing at this event or that venue' then they share how you change their life. There was one girl who said she heard me when I shared my story of being sexually abused at an early age and how I overcame that; she said it changed her life forever because she was also abused, and because of that abuse she wanted to commit suicide, but after hearing my story she wanted to continue living, and now she's really successful. I also sing and speak in prisons which also really uplifts the men in there, and that for me, all of that means success.
What is your favorite album of all time?
This is not fair! I have a few albums, some obvious ones like Michael Jackson "Thriller" but there are some albums that I will continuously always listen to all the way through, those are, Brandy's "Full Moon", Lucie Silvers "Breath In", Karen Clark Sheard "Finally Karen" and Kim Burrell 2nd album. Sorry couldn't choose.
You're stuck on an island, it's hot, you only have enough battery life left to listen to one song on your mp3 player. What track is it?
My song "Wave It Away" !
What does the next year hold for Lurine Cato?
Continuing ministry opportunities & concerts including a special one of mine, if not the end of this year it will be next year. I'm also planning another concert event with a difference called "Mighty Men Experience" with the theme "Aspects of a Man". it's in partnership with The "Damilola Trust". The concert will be about showing men in a good light, as you know in the media there is so much terrible news going out about what men are doing negatively, well we want to show men in a positive light and encourage men too. There's so many conferences and summits, awards etc for women which I'm happy about, but there's not enough for men, so this is going to be a concert like no other, with a all male lineup, a few women but mainly men. I guarantee it's going to be a life changing event. Check out the Mighty Men Experience videos on YouTube.
