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Great LezBritain: Interview with Jill Jackson

Great LezBritian” is a fortnightly stroll through the very best of British lesbo-centric entertainment and culture. Plus there will be some jolly good interviews with the top ladies who are waving the flag for gay UK.

Forget Helen Stewart, forget Amy Pond and forget Cat MacKenzie, because there’s a new Scottish bird in town and 2011 might very well be owned by her. “We won’t forsake them,” we hear you cry, but you certainly will, because singer-songwriter Jill Jackson is not only Scottish, but she’s a real-live person. And the lady has some skills — new album Back To Zero is a gorgeous whisky-soaked confessional about family, loving ladies, being a rubbish girlfriend — and most importantly Cheryl Cole.

We first saw Jill perform at the end of last year when we booked her to support Heather Peace at a couple of Lip Service gigs, and her combination of talent, nice tattoos and often inappropriate behaviour meant that we all decided we’d like to spend two weeks in a van with her on a UK tour.

We chat to her for the first time on AfterEllen.com about her new album, the Heather Peace tour and being outed by a tabloid newspaper.

AfterEllen.com: When did you first realise you were going to have a career that would be singing for your supperas. Has it always been what you wanted to do?

Jill Jackson: I’ve been playing guitar since I was nine and started singing when I was 11; I started gigging when I was 15 and knew that this was what I wanted to do. I’ve never had any interest in anything else.

AE: A lot of people will recognise you from when you fronted Speedway back in 2002. Do you look back on those days with fond memories?

JJ:I have very fond memories of the Speedway days; we had great times and did so many great tours, Bryan Adams being one of the best. We got to do Top Of The Pops, which was a real highlight for me.

AE: How did you find being a female in the music industry back then and are things the same, or different now?

JJ: I think it’s probably about the same now as it was then, but that will be a different experience for everyone. I just agree with Joni Mitchell: the best singer/songwriters ever … are women!

AE: One of your songs featured on episode 5 of BBC Three’s Lip Service. How was it to have Frankie riding in on a pantomime horse as you were on in the background?

JJ:It was really quite exciting to be a part of the whole Lip Service thing. I would have enjoyed being the horse.

AE: Back in 2004, The Scottish Sun broke the story that you were going out with Fame Academy’s Alex Parks. How did you cope with having your sexuality and relationship splashed over a newspaper’s front page?

JJ: It was a difficult time. The Sun called to say they were running the story so I had no choice but to tell my family. It was such an invasion. I didn’t like it at all but at least it wasn’t written in a negative way. It was really hard at the time and no one should have to come out like that, but things are very different now and you can’t get me to shut up about loving women! I love feeling free to be myself on stage and off.

AE: Did you ever discuss your sexuality beforehand. Were you advised not to?

JJ:No one knew I was gay, except my sisters … and obviously the girls I’d been with. The record company didn’t know.

AE: You once toured the US playing 50 states in 50 days, what were the highs and lows of such an endeavor?

JJ:The 50 states tour was amazing; it was such an adventure and a challenge. It was just me and my friend Kevin [McDermott, singer/songwriter] in a truck. We played a gig in every state, did 22,000 miles and didn’t kill each other! I loved it and made some good friends. The downside was 3 or 4 hours sleep a night. The upside … it was just awesome!

AE: How would you describe the sound of your new album Back to Zero?

JJ:This is quite a special album for me; it has little bits of all my influences in it. Some songs are quite radio friendly but still with a lot of meaning in them. I am happy with the album and very excited about touring it. It’s a little melodic journey!

AE: In Speedway, your musical style was quite indie-rock, but post Speedway your music has a much bigger country edge to it. Is the country more representative of the music you like listening to?

JJ: All of my influences are country artists. I grew up on Dolly Parton and Johnny Cash. Then in my later teens I got into Emmylou Harris and Patty Griffin. I’m a hillbilly at heart.

AE: At your gigs you seem to enjoy a bit of banter on stage, especially your love for Cheryl Cole do you enjoy the interaction with your fans?

JJ: I think the interaction is really important and yes, Cheryl is my dream girl, I feel the need to share that with people.

AE: You are supporting and playing with Heather Peace on her first UK tour in spring. What can people expect from your set?

JJ: When I do acoustic gigs I try to make it as dynamic as possible by doing interesting covers, as well as old and new original material. Although I make jokes in-between songs, I do take the singing part very seriously. I’ll be playing songs from the new album and trying out some brand new stuff.

I’m excited about touring with Heather. We hit it off doing the gigs in Glasgow and she was really keen we go on the road together. We’ve done a few gigs now and we’re getting such a great reaction so I’m really looking forward to the spring.

AE: Since you’ve been playing with Heather your profile as a “lesbian singer” has vastly increased. Are you happy to embrace the new wave of lesbi-love?

JJ: I’m lucky to have had a great fan base my whole career. The people who’ve stayed interested in my music since Speedway and the ones who’ve discovered me as a solo artist. Certainly since coming out more and more lesbians have taken an interest. They’re so loyal to me and supportive- I do love a bit of lesbi-love!

AE: What are your plans for the rest of the year?

JJ:The album’s been getting some great reviews so I’m looking forward to getting stuck in, promoting it and gigging this year. It’s been a pretty busy couple of months so before the Heather tour I’m planning a wee holiday with my girlfriend. After the tour I’ll be touring with my band to promote the new album then hopefully some shows in America. I like to do that every year!

Jill’s album, Back To Zero is out on 23rd February. She will be playing at a special album launch at The Ferry, Anderson Quay, Glasgow. Tickets are available from.ticketsoup.com

To see tour dates and ticket information for Jill’s and Heather’s spring tour visit jilljackson.co.uk

“Great LezBritain” authors Sarah, a Londoner, and Lee, a Glaswegian, met in a gay discotheque one bleak mid winter, eight years ago and have been shacked up together ever since. When not watching Tipping The Velvet, they find time to write, run a PR company, DJ at their own club nights and love a bit of jam on toast. Follow them on Twitter at greatlezbritain.

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