45
years on from the New Seekers releasing their iconic hit ‘I’d Like to Teach the
World to Sing’ Lucy Layton, daughter of one of the original band’s members, has
re-released the track and given is a fresh, modern lick of musical paint. The
song, famous both for its call for peace and its use in an iconic Coca Cola
advert, is available now to download. We caught up with the singer as she
promoted the record which, alongside the other tracks on the EP, has been
released in support of Syria Relief.
“It
was the lyric ‘to build the world a home’ that really rang true with me,” Lucy
told us as she described the path to re-recording the song. “I’ve spent a lot
of years travelling and living aboard. I came back last year after living a
couple of years in the United Arab Emirates. I have friends all over the globe
and having been shown all sorts of scenarios having been dragged on tour with
dad when I was young, I felt there was something I had to do about the Syria
situation. If I could help spread the word with music then that would be
something I could offer.
“As
musicians we’re not paid a lot but we can always spread the news through the
music.”
Lucy
was inspired to record the track both through the lyrics and the family
connection. “The group’s getting a bit older now and they don’t perform as
often but the song is something I’ve heard regularly all through my life but it’s
still special.
“It
was also the charity Syria Relief who thought it would be a good way to raise
money for the prosthetics limb clinic within Syria. Syria Relief, as a charity,
put money into refugee tents, food and water and they also send clothes out
there, but this one specifically is called ‘Step Forward’ and it’s their
clinics on the ground that make the prosthetics on the ground, 90% for children
who have been hit by shrapnel or have been bombed on the way to school, of
whilst in hospital.
“It’s
£375 a limb but these kids need to get back onto their feet again. It’s amazing
how they adjust to things, getting back to play football again and enjoying
themselves as much as they can.”
Lucy
was recently part of a fundraiser at the Shard in London where she sang and
they raised an incredible £40,000 over one night which will help keep the
clinic open. “We feel really blessed about all the people who came and bought
tickets and got involved.”
Alongside
music there was magic tricks, traditional Syrian food and the Orion Orchestra
performing live, who accompanied Lucy and her group on the song. The music
video for the song was also shown as part of the event, which is now available
to view online.
Musically,
Lucy’s version of the song, produced by K Warren, has a much more modern feel. “We
could have done the same version but that was a version for those in the
seventies, so I think it was important [to change it]. We wanted to create
something that we’d enjoy listening to, that works with the video and gets the
message across, and appeal for all ages especially young people. It has a concoction
of relevant melodic sounds and things that are current in music today, on the
Radio 1 friendly version.”
Alongside
the song Lucy Layton has also released a five-track EP including an acoustic
version of the charity track, with all the proceeds from the extended play also
going to Syria Relief.
Lucy
told us the EP has been planned for a while. “It’s been a good three years
since I’ve done my last album, and friends and fans alike have been asking when
I’m going to bring my next thing out. They wanted a new album, which obviously
take a long time and can cost a lot, so I said that I’m going to bring out half
an album – an EP – and put the track on it as well for Syria Relief.
“There
will be a new album out but not until the beginning of the year,” Lucy told us,
confirming that recording is under-way with several tracks in pre-production
with masters due by Christmas.
This
second album will follow her debut ‘Downbeat and Loved’ and we were keen to
know if there has been a change in sound. “It’s not a completely different
direction – it’s still what we do as a group – but I would say it’s more upbeat
as opposed to downbeat. There are a couple of ballads on there but the album
will be more upbeat in general.
“If
you listen to the EP, you’ll hear songs that are much faster than things we’ve
previously done. We love it, and it’s the direction we’ve been going in.”
With
thoughts drifting back to the main single, we were keen to know what the New Seekers
thought of the new take on their classic track. “My dad was really happy and
most have the people who have heard it seem to love it. One of my friends said
it might be a little Marmite if people love the seventies version.
“We’ve
had a lovely response from the New Seekers’ fans on Facebook, and they’ve found
it quite refreshing and understand that it matches with the meaning of what we
were trying to do with the Syria situation. No one has had a bad word to say
about it, and it’s always a risk doing such a well-known and big song.
“We
just wanted to make it sure it reached the hearts of the people watching the
video and convey the message as much as we could.”
Lucy
is now preparing for a live date on the 19th October at the Troubadour
in Earl’s Court, London. “We love that venue. It has a wonderful little stage
and has such an up-close and personal feel, and we can spend time with the
audience. There’s more [chance to] talk about each song and there’s great sound
in there. Sometimes the sound can be lost and it’s harder for the groups to
perform in the bigger venues.”
Looking
ahead, Lucy has plenty of ambitions to fill. “We’d love to do some more global
touring and do more shows abroad, or in the States. There’s this one venue I
used to do shows at called ‘Zero Gravity’ in the United Arab Emirates and it
would be nice, after being in the UK for two years, to go back there and put on
a show there now the single has been released.”
Buy
your copy of the single for Syria Relief at http://www.lucylaytonofficial.com/
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