UNA HEALY

UNA

INTERVIEW: GARY CAMPION

BEST KNOWN AS ONE FIFTH OF FIVE-PIECE GIRL GROUP THE SATURDAYS SELLING OVER 8 MILLION RECORDS, NOW A POP COUNTRY SOLO ARTIST, RADIO PRESENTER AND SUCCESSFUL SHOE DESIGNER IN HER OWN RIGHT. UNA TAKES TIME OUT OF HER BUSY SCHEDULE TO TALK TO US ABOUT HER NEW SINGLE, LOCKDOWN, A POTENTIAL SATURDAYS REUNION AND BEING A PARENT DURING LOCKDOWN.

HI UNA IT’S BEEN OVER 3.5 YEARS SINCE WE LAST INTERVIEWED YOU FOR THE MAGAZINE AND WE THEN MET YOU AND REVIEWED YOUR GIG IN LARNE AT THE GOODWILL FESTIVAL (WHICH INCIDENTALLY TURNED INTO ONE OF MY FIRST DATES WITH MY PARTNER OF 3.5YEARS NOW). HOW HAVE YOU BEEN KEEPING?

Wow how time flies! And how times have changed. So good to hear it was the beginning of a blossoming relationship. I am keeping well thank you. I moved back to Ireland last Summer to be close to my parents as I found the first lockdown on my own with the two kids in the UK extremely difficult. So I am really happy to be back home.

I THINK YOU’LL AGREE WITH US WHEN WE SAY THE LAST YEAR HAS BEEN A REAL SH*T SHOW WHAT WITH THE WHOLE COVID-19 VIRUS DESTROYING EVERYTHING NORMAL ABOUT LIFE THAT WE ALL LOVE. HERE IN THE OFFICE WE HAVE ALL BEEN TAKING UP NEW HOBBIES / LEARNING NEW SKILLS TO MAKE THE MOST OF THE TIME. WHAT NEW HOBBY OR SKILL HAVE YOU TAKEN UP DURING LOCKDOWN AND WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO DO THAT? WILL YOU CONTINUE IT ONCE THIS PANDEMIC IS ALL OVER?

Well I stepped my fitness regime up a few notches. I work out most days now whereas before I used to just do 2-3 days a week. I have really gotten into my cooking too and experimenting with new recipes. I listen to audiobooks and try to take time to meditate when I can at least once a day. These are all new ways of de-stressing when it all feels a little overwhelming.

OBVIOUSLY YOU ARE A MUM TO TWO GORGEOUS CHILDREN AOIFE AND

TADHG WHO ARE GROWING UP SO FAST, AND IF YOU DON’T MIND US SAYING AOIFE IS YOUR DOUBLE FROM YOUR POSTS ON INSTAGRAM. YOU HAVE BEEN HOMESCHOOLING LIKE SO MANY OF US HAVE HAD TO DURING LOCKDOWN, HOW HAVE YOU MANAGED TO DO THAT AND STILL DO EVERYTHING ELSE YOU HAVE DONE DURING THIS PAST YEAR? WHAT PROBLEMS, IF ANY HAVE YOU ENCOUNTERED WHILE HOMESCHOOLING? IF YOU HAD TO CHOOSE A SUBJECT TO TEACH AS A CAREER WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY?

Aoife and Tadhg are now going to the school I went to as a child. It’s such a pity they are back homeschooling again and not getting to see their friends or so the activities we all enjoyed as kids. I am happy to homeschool them as both of their teachers set work each day and put videos up so I just have to sit with Tadhg to help him and Aoife who is 8 gets on with her own work and I then go over it to make sure it’s right. The teachers are still doing such a great job so it really isn’t as bad as I first thought it would be. We always do schooling in the morning so I have the afternoon free to do everything else I need to do and they get downtime for themselves. If I am really busy my parents live close by so they come to help out when I need them. I would teach Music as a career as it was always my favourite subject in school and I have a huge passion for it.

LAST YEAR YOU WERE PART OF THE “IRISH WOMEN IN HARMONY” COLLECTIVE THAT RELEASED A STUNNING COVER OF THE CRANBERRIES DREAMS. THE RECORDING WENT VIRAL ALL OVER SOCIAL MEDIA AND WAS IN AID OF A GREAT CAUSE “SAFEIRELAND” THAT DEALS WITH DOMESTIC ABUSE WHICH HAS REPORTEDLY BEEN ON THE RISE DURING COVID. WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY TO ANY OF OUR READERS WHO HAVE MAYBE FOUND THEMSELVES IN ABUSE SITUATIONS DUE TO THIS PANDEMIC?

It is really sad and shocking to hear of anyone going through any form of domestic abuse. It is not acceptable and must be reported. There are lots of amazing charities out there to help so I would encourage anyone who is experiencing this to speak to someone and never suffer in silence.

PRESENTER, TV STAR, SHOE DESIGNER, CHAMPION SWIMMER IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN’T DO OR WANT TO ADD TO YOUR LONG LIST OF TALENTS?

I am very lucky to say I can do what I love for a living but in these uncertain times the entertainment industry has taken a serious knock. I can’t really see myself doing anything else as it’s all I’ve known for so many years. I just can’t wait to get back out performing live again. I miss it so much!

RETROSPECTIVELY KNOWING WHAT YOU KNOW NOW AND HAVE EXPERIENCED OVER THE YEARS, IF YOU HAD TO CHOOSE ONLY ONE OF YOUR MANY CAREER PATHS WHICH WOULD IT BE AND WHY?

I like to keep busy and can never sit down for more than 5 mins and start to feel anxious so that is why I like to keep a few irons in the fire to keep me going. As I said the music industry has taken a serious knock but I will never stop songwriting and recording and releasing music no matter what.

ON THE SAME NOTE ARE THERE ANY OF THE PATHS YOU REGRET OR WOULD DO DIFFERENTLY?

Not at all. I tried so many before I dedicated my time fully to music so I feel I have experienced so much and have no regrets. I went to Uni to study both Nursing and Primary school teaching but I dropped out of both to pursue my music but I am so glad I gave them a try.

SPEAKING OF SHOE DESIGNING, HOW DID THAT COME ABOUT AND WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE UNA HEALY EMPIRE?

I have always had a huge passion for fashion and shoes in particular. I just wanted to do something different and spoke to my Management about seeing up a meeting with the right people to make it happen and lucky it did! We are now in our 5th release (Spring/ Summer 21) and the collection is growing all the time. I am so proud of it and it makes me so happy to see women wear them so well and to hear how much they love them.

OVER THE YEARS YOU’VE MADE NO SECRET OF YOUR PASSION FOR COUNTRY MUSIC AND HAVE BECOME THE HOST OF THE WEEKEND BREAKFAST SHOW ON THE UK’S FIRST NATIONAL COUNTRY MUSIC STATION COUNTRY HITS, HOW DOES PRESENTING ON THE RADIO COMPARE TO BEING INTERVIEWED\ PERFORMING ON RADIO? HOW DID YOU MANAGE TO LEARN WHAT ALL THE KNOBS AND BUTTONS DO OR DO YOU HAVE A PRODUCER THAT DOES THE TECHNICAL SIDE OF THINGS FOR YOU?

I love presenting on radio and it was something I wanted to do even as a child. I used to record pretend radio shows on my tape recorder with my friend who went on to be an actress herself. I have an amazing producer Pete at Country Hits radio who I work really closely with and he has shown me the ropes and trained me in. We have managed to keep the show on the road working from home through the power of modern technology but we are always chatting/planning shows and doing our zooms meetings.

OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS THERE HAVE BEEN MANY MASSIVE BAND REUNIONS SPICE GIRLS, STEPS AND THERE’S TALK OF AN SCLUB7 REUNION…..HAVE YOU BEEN KEEPING IN TOUCH WITH THE OTHER GIRLS DURING COVID AND WILL WE EVER GET A SATURDAYS REUNION?

We have a group chat on whatsapp and we were just chatting on there this morning actually! We all keep in touch and I say “Never say never”.

HAVING BEEN A FAN OF YOURS SINCE YOUR DAYS IN “THE SATURDAYS”, AND NOW AS A SOLO ARTIST IT HAS BEEN GREAT WATCHING YOUR STYLE, SOUND, CONFIDENCE AND PERSONA GROW AND DEVELOP. WHAT HAS BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR CAREER TO DATE AND DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR ANY BUDDING GIRL BAND OR COUNTRY STAR WANNABES?

There have been so many highlights over the years. When I was starting out winning the Glinsk National Song Contest really gave me the inspiration and confidence to follow my dreams. It didn’t come easy at all and I put many years of hard graft in before I found my way into The Saturdays and rest followed. I would say to never give up on your dreams and be prepared for many knocks along the way. Hard work is key.

WE KNOW YOU HAVE LOADS OF NEW MUSIC DUE FOR RELEASE SOON, BUT HERE AT GNI YOUR BEAUTIFUL DEBUT SINGLE “STAY MY LOVE” WITH THE

TALENTED NASHVILLE STAR SAM PALLADIO IS STILL A FIRM FAVOURITE AND WILL DEFINITELY FEATURE ON MY WEDDING DAY SHOULD I EVER GET MARRIED. LOL! AT THE TIME WERE YOU NERVOUS ABOUT MAKING THE CHANGE FROM DANCE/ POP STARLET TO COUNTRY MUSIC?

Aw thank you! It would be an honour if you played it at your wedding! I guess it’s not too far removed from the genre of music I was pursuing as a singer/Songwriter pre Saturdays so it felt very authentic to me. I have a good mix of ballads and uptempo as well.

YOUR NEW SINGLE IS OUT MARCH 5TH, WE HAVE BEEN LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET A SNEAKY LISTEN TO IT AND I PERSONALLY THINK YOU HAVE REALLY KNOCKED IT OUT OF THE PARK. YOUR SOUND HAS DEFINITELY GROWN AND IS NOW EDGING BACK TO THE MAINSTREAM AND IS UP THERE WITH THE LIKES OF SHERYL CROW AND KELLY CLARKSON. TELL US ABOUT THE WRITING PROCESS FOR THE SONG, WHO WAS INVOLVED AND WHAT’S IT ABOUT?

Sheryl Crow is my number one idol so thank you very much for that comparison! Its definitely more rocky than my more recent releases. I have that side of me that I love to bring out every now and again. Get my Rock on! I co wrote this song with a very talented singer/songwriter called Rachel Furner. I had the melody idea in my head but we came up with the lyric and the rest of the melody together. It has a very deep meaning to it and can work for anyone listening to it, either side of a relationship that isn’t really going well… but you want to save it at the same time.

SO WITH A NEW SINGLE DUE OUT CAN WE EXPECT A NEW ALBUM SOON? CAN YOU TELL US ANYTHING ABOUT IT? WILL IT BE A CONTINUATION OF THE NEW UPTEMPO MAINSTREAM POP/COUNTRY SOUND? ANY COLLABORATIONS\DUETS WE NEED TO LOOK FORWARD TO?

I am continuing to write and record so I will be putting out more music later this year. I would love to write a country banger!

ARE THERE ANY PLANS FOR A TOUR TO PROMOTE THE NEW SINGLE\ ALBUM?

Well sadly plans are all on hold but I did hope to tour again so we will just have to hold tight and wait for the green light to make any future plans in that department.

FINALLY WITH THIS BEING THE FIRST ISSUE OF THE MAGAZINE FOR 2021 WHAT ARE YOUR WISHES AND DREAMS FOR 2021?

Firstly, I wish for the brighter days ahead and end to the pandemic… but most importantly for everyone to keep safe and healthy and work together to get through it the best we can x