Alison Moyet

Alison Moyet is an English singer-songwriter from Billericay, Essex, who is associated with pop, synthpop, alternative pop, art pop, blue-eyed soul, blues, club and dance music. Born Geneviève Alison Jane Moyet in 1961, she grows up in Basildon, where she attends school, and later works as a shop worker and piano tuner after leaving school at 16.

Early career

Before her mainstream success, Moyet appears in a number of punk rock, pub rock and blues groups in south-east Essex during the late 1970s and early 1980s, including The Vandals, the Screamin' Ab Dabs, The Vicars and The Little Roosters. Her voice becomes known for its bluesy, soulful quality.

Yazoo

In 1982, she forms Yazoo with former Depeche Mode member Vince Clarke. The duo records two albums, Upstairs At Eric's and You And Me Both, and has hits including “Situation”, “Only You” and “Don’t Go”. The group is known for combining Clarke’s electronic sound with Moyet’s warm vocal style. Yazoo disbands in 1983.

Solo work

After Yazoo ends, Moyet signs to CBS and begins a solo career. Her debut album, Alf, appears in 1984 and is named after her punk-era nickname. It includes contributions from Swain and Jolley and the Lamont Dozier-written song “Invisible”. The album reaches number one in the UK and produces the hit singles “Love Resurrection”, “Invisible” and “All Cried Out”. “Invisible” also becomes a US Top 40 hit.

In 1985 she performs at Live Aid with Paul Young. That year she also releases “That Ole Devil Called Love”, a cover of the standard, which reaches number two in the UK singles chart and remains her highest-charting UK single.

She follows with the single “Is This Love?” in 1986 and the album Raindancing in 1987. That record yields further hits including “Weak In The Presence of Beauty”, a cover of Floy Joy, and “Ordinary Girl”. She also scores a cover hit with “Love Letters” in 1987; its video features French & Saunders.

Later albums and collaborations

After a period of reassessment, Moyet releases Hoodoo in 1991. It moves away from the polished pop style of Raindancing and is more personal in tone. The album receives limited label support and promotion, but sells respectably in Britain. The single “It Won’t Be Long” earns a Grammy nomination.

Her 1994 album Essex is also subject to label вмешательство, with tracks re-recorded, re-produced and remixed to create a more commercial release. The single “Whispering Your Name” is accompanied by a video featuring Dawn French. Sony later issues the greatest-hits set Singles, which reaches number one in the UK charts, and a reissued double-CD version later returns it to the top 20.

During the long gap before her next studio album, Moyet records vocals for Tricky, Sylk-130, Ocean Colour Scene, The Lightning Seeds and King Britt, and appears on the British leg of the Lilith Fair tour. A compilation, The Essential Alison Moyet, appears in 2001.

Later releases

In 2002, after leaving her Sony contract, Moyet signs to Sanctuary Records and releases Hometime, an album that had previously been refused release. Produced by the Insects, it leads to a Brit nomination for Best Female Vocal, a Mercury Music Prize nomination, and recognition as one of the top five best-selling female UK artists of 2002.

She releases the cover album Voice in 2004, followed by the companion DVD One Blue Voice in 2006. After signing to W14 Music in late 2006, she issues the all-original The Turn in 2007.

Context

Moyet’s career is closely linked with the use of electronic pop arrangements alongside a strongly soulful vocal approach. She is also part of the Yazoo reunion story through later touring activity, while her solo catalogue spans chart pop, covers and more personal material.