I’ll think twice about posting any pictures of Aoife again
Saturdays singer has a rethink on social media and pledges...
It is great when people say my songs are helping them through a hard time
new solo album the 36-year-old feels she has been exercised to tap into the mood generated by the #MeToo campaign.
‘The new single, Never Seen Me Cry, is out now. The Saturdays was a big machine whereas with my solo stuff I am so involved in every aspect of the tour.
‘We worked so hard as the Saturdays but we were the front of the operation. Whereas when you are on your own you are the whole thing. So it is equally daunting if not a bigger work load because you are responsible for the budgets and the tickets and the whole operation.
‘But the creative side is probably what is most exciting and it is a part that I didn’t really get to do when I was with the girls in the Saturdays. With a song like Never See Me Cry it literally could be written of the (times Up) movement and the times we are in.
‘Be it male or female if you have been trampled on by someone in the past and you finally have the courage to walk away from them and say you aren’t going to get any more of my tears, I am stronger than ever because of you. It is empowering for everyone. I tell people put it up good and loud.
‘We all have feelings and you don’t have to have first-hand experience to feel strongly about something. I can delve back into my past as well as current ones and I mix it up and the greatest feeling of all is when people contact me and tell me that my songs are helping them through a tough time or they are making it on their own and they identify with it. Social media is helpful in that respect that it helps you gauge how people receive a track.’
Social media has given the mum of Aoife and Tadgh a window to keep in touch with her fan base as well as her former bandmates. But as of now the girls have no plans to reform. ‘People used to ask at all the gigs about where are the Saturdays songs’, she says. ‘Now I throw a couple in because it would be a shame not to include a couple because it is part of who I am. ‘I still chat with them all regularly and we have a group WhatsApp and that goes on constantly. With social media I can see what they are having for breakfast and I am fully aware of what they are doing.
‘We fully support each other as much as we can but we see each other when we can. There is no pressure to reform which is great.
‘The option is there to reform but it is not on the cards at the minute. We all have our hands full with solo ventures which is great. It is important that we all support each other.’ ÷For the full collection, see www. unahealyoriginal.com