British artists Wolf Alice and Laura Mvula are just two names on the track-list for Deezer’s latest project, ‘InVersions 80s.’
The compilation sees some critically acclaimed artists take on classic 80s tracks. Including Wolf Alice covering Roxy Music’s ‘More Than This’ and Laura Mvula taking on Toto’s iconic anthem ‘Africa.’
Wolf Alice’s front lady Ellie Rowsell wrote on Instagram about the release of the compilation: “In the wee hours of the morning on a plane journey back from Australia I (ellie) found myself unable to sleep. I began watching ‘book club’ a film about a group of older ladies who collectively read 50 Shades of Grey. I will never get that time back. However as the credits rolled ‘More Than This’ by Roxy Music came on and I was hooked. I always wanted to cover this song ever since i first heard up there in the sky so thanks @deezer for giving us the opportunity and thanks Iain Berryman for making it sound so good! X”
The compilation features 16 tracks by 16 artists from around the globe covering some of the 80s most famous hits. Brummy icon of funk and soul, Laura Mvula commented on her cover of ‘Africa,’ “I chose ‘Africa’ by Toto because it’s an 80s classic. It feels like music that I would write today and it fits in with the sound of my album.”
UK rising star Holly Humberstone also features on ‘InVersions 80s,’ covering Prince’s ‘I Would Die 4 U.’ She said of the compilation: “I am so excited to be a part of InVersions because the 80s is an era that continues to inspire me. I chose ‘I Would Die 4 U’ by Prince because he’s my all time favourite artist and I wanted to pay tribute to him in some way. I think it’s a beautifully simple but effective song and I love how the melodies are really static. Being able to put my own spin on it felt super special and I hope you all enjoy listening!”
Nigel Harding, Deezer’s VP of Global Artist Marketing, revealed the influence behind their latest compilation, “80s music is seeing a resurgence like never before, with a whole new generation of fans embracing the sounds of this unique decade. So it felt completely natural to invite today’s emerging musical stars to put a modern spin on their favorite 80s anthems, and the results are like hearing them all again for the first time.” Some of their featured artists saw a growth in streams of over 200% after their last ‘InVersions’ project was released.
Other artists to feature on this brand new “modern spin” of 80s classics, are Germany’s Milky Chance covering the famous 1981 track ‘Tainted Love’ by Soft Cell. And Columbian Audio Engineer Juan Pablo Vega, offering an upbeat backing to Chris Isaak’s ‘Wicked Game.’
Last year, Deezer released their debut ‘InVersions,’ which saw The Brit’s British Breakthrough Artist of the Year Arlo Parks cover Angèle’s ‘Ta Reine.’ And American singer-songwriter took on Fleetwood Mac’s iconic ‘Dreams.’
You can listen to Deezer’s ‘Inversions 80s’ originals compilation now.
Tracklist
Benny Sings – Dancing in the Dark [Bruce Springsteen]
Boy – Bette Davis Eyes [Kim Carnes]
Boy Pablo – Don’t You Want Me [Human League]
Cautious Clay – Holding Back the Years [Simply Red]
CSS – Buffalo Stance [Neneh Cherry]
Cuco –Don’t You (Forget About Me) [Simple Minds]
Feu! Chatterton – Joe Le Taxi [Vanessa Paradis]
Holly Humberstone – I Would Die 4 U [Prince]
Juan Pablo Vega – Wicked Game [Chris Isaak]
La Femme – Like A Prayer [Madonna]
Laura Mvula – Africa [Toto]
Lido Pimienta –Orinoco Flow [Enya]
L’Imperatrice – I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me) [Whitney Houston]
Milky Chance-Tainted Love [Soft Cell]
Roosevelt – Feels Like Heaven [Fiction Factory]
Wolf Alice – More Than This [Roxy Music]
