Hinda Hicks
Encyclopedia
Hinda Hicks is a Tunisia
n born singer
, with British
nationality having moved to West Sussex
as a child.
band
called the Fabulous Fug Band and at one time sent a demo
of her vocals
alongside Aretha Franklin
's "Giving Him Something He Can Feel" to Phil Collins
. However she continued to remain unsigned and moved to London
working as as a secretary
and singing with a band called Mixed Fruits.
She signed to Island Records
and her first single
, "I Wanna Be Your Lady
" was released in late 1997, followed by her first album
, eponymously-titled Hinda in 1998. Hicks co-wrote
the songs on Hinda.
, although a more concerted promotional campaign saw "If You Want Me" chart at number 25 in February 1998. She followed this up with the release of "You Think You Own Me" in May of the same year, which reached number 19. Her fourth single, a re-release of "I Wanna Be Your Lady" achieved her highest chart
position to date, at number 14 in August 1998.
During the summer of 1998 Hicks promoted both her single and album on mainstream television
and radio
shows in the UK
and she took supporting roles on tours with Boyzone
amongst others. By the end of that year "Truly" had charted at number 31.
' merger with Universal Records
and an apparent lack of promotion saw it falter at number 61 in the UK chart. Originally the second album was due for a late 2000 release. A handful of promotional copies and limited releases were made available, but commercially the launch was aborted and Hicks and her record company parted ways.
In between record companies and albums, Hicks found time to record vocals on other artists' tracks. This included "Let's Do It Again" with the late Lynden David Hall
, which featured on his album, The Other Side
and a compilation album (Pure R&B Volume 2) together with Brand New Day with Terri Walker
, appearing on Walker's Untitled album.
A new album was finally released in July 2004, now titled Still Doin' My Thing on a small R&B label, Shout Out Records, and containing a different tracklisting to Everything to Me.
The single "Up Up" from Still Doin' My Thing was released in the summer of 2004 and once again with Hicks failing to repeat her successes of six years previously the single did not make the Top 40.
page announced that a third album (then untitled) would be released in 2010. As of November 2008, Hicks was listed as part of a London-based artistic and music collective created by the DJ and producer Yvan Healer Selecta and called Raison d'Etre[sic] .
awards, Best R'n'B Act, Best Newcomer and Best Album and appeared on a MOBO Allstars charity single called "Aint No Stopping Us Now". In early 1999 Hicks was nominated at the BRIT Awards
in the categories of 'best newcomer' and 'best British female artist'
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
n born singer
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, with British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
nationality having moved to West Sussex
West Sussex
West Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex , Hampshire and Surrey. The county of Sussex has been divided into East and West since the 12th century, and obtained separate county councils in 1888, but it remained a single ceremonial county until 1974 and the coming...
as a child.
Introduction
Hicks originally sang with an R&BContemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
called the Fabulous Fug Band and at one time sent a demo
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
of her vocals
Human voice
The human voice consists of sound made by a human being using the vocal folds for talking, singing, laughing, crying, screaming, etc. Its frequency ranges from about 60 to 7000 Hz. The human voice is specifically that part of human sound production in which the vocal folds are the primary...
alongside Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...
's "Giving Him Something He Can Feel" to Phil Collins
Phil Collins
Philip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist....
. However she continued to remain unsigned and moved to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
working as as a secretary
Secretary
A secretary, or administrative assistant, is a person whose work consists of supporting management, including executives, using a variety of project management, communication & organizational skills. These functions may be entirely carried out to assist one other employee or may be for the benefit...
and singing with a band called Mixed Fruits.
She signed to Island Records
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
and her first single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
, "I Wanna Be Your Lady
I Wanna Be Your Lady
"I Wanna Be Your Lady" was the first single released from the Hinda album of Hinda Hicks and features Shaznay Lewis on vocals. It charted at 109 in the UK Singles Chart on its first release, but peaked on #14 on its second release of 15 August 1998....
" was released in late 1997, followed by her first album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, eponymously-titled Hinda in 1998. Hicks co-wrote
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
the songs on Hinda.
Early success
Hick's first released single failed to make the UK Singles ChartUK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
, although a more concerted promotional campaign saw "If You Want Me" chart at number 25 in February 1998. She followed this up with the release of "You Think You Own Me" in May of the same year, which reached number 19. Her fourth single, a re-release of "I Wanna Be Your Lady" achieved her highest chart
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
position to date, at number 14 in August 1998.
During the summer of 1998 Hicks promoted both her single and album on mainstream television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
and radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
shows in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and she took supporting roles on tours with Boyzone
Boyzone
Boyzone are an Irish boy band comprising Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham, Ronan Keating,Shane Lynch, and formerly Stephen Gately. Boyzone have 19 singles in the top 40 UK charts and 21 singles in the Ire charts. The group currently have 6 UK number one singles and 9 number one singles in Ireland with 12...
amongst others. By the end of that year "Truly" had charted at number 31.
Second album
Having begun work on her second album Hicks released "My Remedy", in 2000 but Island RecordsIsland Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
' merger with Universal Records
Universal Records
Universal Records was a record label owned by Universal Music Group, and it is now owned by Manny Patino and Michael Jackson, and operated as part of the Universal Motown Republic Group.-History:...
and an apparent lack of promotion saw it falter at number 61 in the UK chart. Originally the second album was due for a late 2000 release. A handful of promotional copies and limited releases were made available, but commercially the launch was aborted and Hicks and her record company parted ways.
In between record companies and albums, Hicks found time to record vocals on other artists' tracks. This included "Let's Do It Again" with the late Lynden David Hall
Lynden David Hall
Lynden David Hall was a singer, songwriter, arranger, and producer.- Life and career :Born in Wandsworth, South London, he won the 'best newcomer' accolade at the 1998 MOBO Awards....
, which featured on his album, The Other Side
The Other Side (Lynden David Hall album)
The Other Side is the second album by British R&B singer Lynden David Hall, released in 2000 on the Cooltempo label. It peaked at #36 on the UK albums chart.- Track listing :All tracks composed by Lynden David Hall# "If I Had to Choose" 4:08...
and a compilation album (Pure R&B Volume 2) together with Brand New Day with Terri Walker
Terri Walker
Terri Walker is an English R&B and soul singer–songwriter. Walker has released three albums in the United Kingdom, Untitled, L.O.V.E, and I Am. She also provided the majority of the vocals for Shanks & Bigfoot's debut album Swings & Roundabouts...
, appearing on Walker's Untitled album.
A new album was finally released in July 2004, now titled Still Doin' My Thing on a small R&B label, Shout Out Records, and containing a different tracklisting to Everything to Me.
The single "Up Up" from Still Doin' My Thing was released in the summer of 2004 and once again with Hicks failing to repeat her successes of six years previously the single did not make the Top 40.
Third album and the future
In February 2007 Hicks' MySpaceMySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
page announced that a third album (then untitled) would be released in 2010. As of November 2008, Hicks was listed as part of a London-based artistic and music collective created by the DJ and producer Yvan Healer Selecta and called Raison d'Etre
Crticial acclaim
In October 1998 Hicks was nominated for three MOBOMobo
Mobo can refer to:*Shorthand for the motherboard in computers and other electronic equipment*Shorthand for a mobile [network] operator or MNO *Shorthand for a mobile bohemian, a person who embraces mobile technology...
awards, Best R'n'B Act, Best Newcomer and Best Album and appeared on a MOBO Allstars charity single called "Aint No Stopping Us Now". In early 1999 Hicks was nominated at the BRIT Awards
Brit Awards
The Brit Awards are the British Phonographic Industry's annual pop music awards. The name was originally a shortened form of "British", "Britain" or "Britannia", but subsequently became a backronym for British Record Industry Trust...
in the categories of 'best newcomer' and 'best British female artist'
Sports
- According to various fan sites and her official website Hicks was once offered a basketballBasketballBasketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
scholarship in the U.S.United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and is a qualified coachCoach (sport)In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
.
Film
- Hicks has also appeared in two BritishUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
film productions: G:MT - Greenwich Mean TimeG:MT - Greenwich Mean TimeG:MT – Greenwich Mean Time is a 1999 British drama film.Starring Steve John Shepherd and Chiwetel Ejiofor, the film features music by Acid Jazz and Jungle artists including Talvin Singh, Hinda Hicks and Imogen Heap...
in 1999 (for which she performed several of the songs on the official soundtrackSoundtrackA soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
) and CircusCircus (2000 film)Circus is a 2000 British crime thriller movie directed by Rob Walker and written by David Logan. The movie stars John Hannah, Famke Janssen, Peter Stormare, Brian Conley, and Eddie Izzard. It was released in the UK on May 5, 2000 and had its USA release on September 15, 2000.-Plot:Leo and Lily ...
in 2000.
- She also took an uncredited role in a well-received U.S.United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
filmFilmA film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
Love & BasketballLove & Basketball (film)Love & Basketball is a 2000 American romantic drama film, written and directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood. This film stars Omar Epps and Sanaa Lathan...
in 2000 and wrote the song "Our Destiny" that appeared in the movie but was not featured on the soundtrackSoundtrackA soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
. The track did however feature on the Everything to Me album, which was not released in the UKUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Singles
- "I Wanna Be Your LadyI Wanna Be Your Lady"I Wanna Be Your Lady" was the first single released from the Hinda album of Hinda Hicks and features Shaznay Lewis on vocals. It charted at 109 in the UK Singles Chart on its first release, but peaked on #14 on its second release of 15 August 1998....
" / My Eyes (Island Records) (13 December 1997) - "If You Want Me" / "When You Touch Me There" (Island Records) (7 March 1998) - UKUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
#25 - "You Think You Own Me" (Island Records) (16 May 1998) - UK #19
- "I Wanna Be Your LadyI Wanna Be Your Lady"I Wanna Be Your Lady" was the first single released from the Hinda album of Hinda Hicks and features Shaznay Lewis on vocals. It charted at 109 in the UK Singles Chart on its first release, but peaked on #14 on its second release of 15 August 1998....
" (re-release) (Island Records) (15 August 1998) - UK #14 - "Truly" (Island Records) (24 October 1998) - UK #31
- "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now" single with the MOBO Allstars (Polygram) (11 December 1998) - UK #47
- "Let's Do It Again" single with Lynden David Hall, (11 September 2000) - UK #69
- "My Remedy" (Universal/Island Records) (14 October 2000) - UK #61
- "Up Up" (Shout Out Records) (17 July 2004)
- Our Destiny" (Love & Basketball Soundtrack)
Albums
- Hinda (Island Records) (29 August 1998) - UKUK Albums ChartThe UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
#20 - Everything to Me (Island/Universal Records) (10 October 2000) - Limited release
- Still Doin' My Thing (Shout Out Records) (19 July 2004)
- Journey's (2010/2011)
Music videos
- "If You Want Me" Directed by Dani JacobsDani Jacobs-Background:Jacobs was born in London. He went to University of Manchester to study Physics but left to pursue his interests in Film.He worked at the The Haçienda nightclub as a resident filmmaker and VJ, creating visuals and lighting effects to project in the club space...
- "You Think You Own Me" Directed by Dani JacobsDani Jacobs-Background:Jacobs was born in London. He went to University of Manchester to study Physics but left to pursue his interests in Film.He worked at the The Haçienda nightclub as a resident filmmaker and VJ, creating visuals and lighting effects to project in the club space...
Other appearances
- "If You Want Me" on the album, Street Jams 1998, by various artists (Telstar) (11 May 1998)
- "If You Want Me" on the album, Music in Motion II, by various artists (Stichting CPG (NetherlandsNetherlandsThe Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
)) (1998) - "Tears Are Waiting", "Where is the Love?", "Please Can I Go Now?", "Who Would You Have Me Love?" and "Succumb To You", all on the album G:MT: The Soundtrack, (Island Records) (27 September 1999)
- "Burn the Floor" on the album, Burn the Floor: Soundtrack, by various artists (MCA/Universal) (18 October 1999)
- "My Remedy" on the album, MOBO 2000, by various artists (Universal) (2 October 2000)
- "Let's Do It Again" on the album, Pure R&B Volume 2, by various artists (Telstar) (13 November 2001)
- "Let's Do It Again" on the album, Other Side, by Lynden David Hall (BMG International) (12 June 2001)
- "If You Want Me" on the album, Girls, by various artists (Spectrum Music) (2 September 2002)
- "I Just Wanna Dance", vocals on the 12" white label version by Global Rhythm (Solo Recordings) (2002)
- "Brand New Day" on the album, Untitled, by Terri Walker (Mercury Records) (3 March 2003)
- "Dreamin'" on the album, Dance and Urban, by various artists (HMV) (2004)