How did you become backing singers?
Valerie: I got in to the singing by accident, really. I've always loved singing from a young age. I decided to take it up as a hobby,and then decided to get serious about it.
My first tour with Erasure was the "Innocents Tour"' which was fabulous and I've never looked back since!!
Ann-Marie: As a child I was always singing along to everything. Then I got into local bands. Now, when my family tell me to "shut up" I can say, "people pay me for this!
Do you have a favourite Erasure song that you like to perform?
Valerie: I love all their songs. There are too many to mention. They are all brilliant songs, especially when you take them into another dimension acoustically which I thoroughly enjoyed.
I do like the songs from the "Loveboat" album, and again especially when they were played and sung acoustically. I would also like to mention that I do love the way Andy sang 'Always', 'The Piano Song' and 'In My Arms' from the tour. They were my favourites from the set.
Ann-Marie: "Sometimes". It just feels so good belting it out together on stage.
What are Andy and Vince like to work with?
Valerie: Vince and Andy are fabulous to work for. The boys come up with the most brilliant musical and visual ideas at times.
They are experimental in different dimensions, but still keep to their roots at the same time. That's what I like about the Erasure sound; it's distinctive, you can't mistake it.........fab!
Ann-Marie: Andy tells great stories and Vince makes a delicious Sunday Roast!
On 'The Other Tour' you both met up with Angela (from Vic Twenty) who subsequently asked you to sing with her on "My Generation", that must have been an exciting experience...
Valerie: I love Angie's new album 'Peakahokahoo' (Piney Gir).
It's so Angie, very quirky. It was a great pleasure working with Angie, her producers and Ann-Marie on My Generation. Thanks Angie and I wish you all the best!!!
Ann-Marie: It was! We went to the tiniest studio "somewhere" in Oxfordshire and got blown away by her fabulous music.
The last 18 months have been very busy, any thoughts on what the next 18 months will bring?
Valerie: In the last 18 months or so, working with Vince and Andy was for me a "Musical Feast" for the ears, the "icing on the cake". I enjoyed every aspect of the tour, especially the acoustic sessions in America, and for me the "cherry on the cake" was the final "spontaneous" acoustic session for Hogmanay, a fitting end to the whole year. And I would like to take this opportunity in saying thank you to Vince and Andy.
Ann-Marie: Well I definitely feel a part of the Erasure family now. As for the next 18 months. I don't even know about the next 18 weeks!