Celebrating 45 years of recording and touring 80s pop icon Mari Wilson – the Neasden Queen of Soul and one of British music’s most enduring and versatile artists, returns with her joyful new single, ‘Good News’. The track is the first release from her upcoming album, ‘Girl About Town’, which is set to drop on the 4th of September this year – her first new album of original material in over 10 years.
‘Good News’ is available to stream and download here.
With a retro-inspired feel good vibe, ‘Good News’ is a pop song that is deeply steeped in the warmth and rich melodies of 60s soul. Additionally, it brings with it a message of hope that the world needs to hear right now.
Speaking of the track, Mari Wilson said,
“The idea for this came from watching the documentary, ‘Kate Garraway: Derek’s Story’. It’s about Kate’s husband’s long-term complications of COVID-19, and how she couldn’t visit him at the hospital for a very long time, and the challenges of being a full-time carer when he came home. That idea, coupled with all the terrible things happening in the world, made me think of how we are just not getting any good news and we all need it, especially right now. Musically I wanted it to have a bit of a Beach Boys vibe”.
‘Good News’ is the opening statement of a record that promises to be a genuine return to form, while ‘Girl About Town’ is the album Mari’s long-standing fans have been waiting for; a captivating collection of self-penned songs which reflect the diverse musical influences that have shaped her life and career. Its infectious blend of retro soul and irresistible pop hooks should also introduce her to a whole new generation of listeners.
“I had such a wonderful time writing and recording this album, and I’m really proud of it,” says Mari. “From the very beginning, I wanted to have a good time, and I think that shines through – it’s very much ‘me’. My fans have been eagerly waiting for new music, and I think it’s been worth the wait. I’m really excited to be releasing new music at this stage in my life”.
Mari Wilson first exploded onto the British pop scene in the early 1980s with her skyscraper beehive, a fully choreographed twelve-piece band The Wilsations, and a string of irresistible hit singles. Signed and celebrated, she notched up six chart hits including the classics ‘Just What I’ve Always Wanted’, and ‘Cry Me A River’, both taken from her debut album ‘Showpeople’. In the mid-eighties, after extensive touring across the UK, Europe and the United States, Mari made a bold and deliberate artistic turn. Reducing the band, stripping back the spectacle, she immersed herself in jazz, going on to perform regularly at Ronnie Scott’s and the South Bank, whilst sharing stages with legends like BB King and Ray Charles. “This is what really gave me my vocal chops,” she says. The result was a singer transformed: technically deeper, emotionally richer, and impossible to categorise.
That vocal authority has since carried her through an extraordinary and wide-ranging career; acclaimed jazz-pop albums, sold-out musical theatre runs (including playing Dusty Springfield in, ‘Dusty The Musical’, and appearing alongside Boy George in ‘Taboo’), a Daytime Emmy nomination, for Best Original Song, a beloved annual Christmas show at Islington Assembly Hall, and a 2023 Cherry Red anthology celebrating her iconic 80s catalogue. She has opened for Level 42, guested with Marc Almond and Heaven 17’s British Electric Foundation, and performed her BBC hit version of ‘Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps’, for the globally successful series ‘Coupling’.
Now, with ‘Good News’ and the forthcoming album, ‘Girl About Town’, Mari Wilson steps back into the spotlight, bringing with her four decades of craft, charisma, and an undiminished ability to make people feel good.
You can find out more about Mari Wilson and her music online on her official website, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Watch the music video for ‘Good News’ below.
