Fans have been eagerly awaiting the return of Lucy Kay with her second album ‘Dark Angel’ (due out Friday, November 12th, 20201). The soprano studied at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and won her way into hearts around the world with her audition on Britain’s Got Talent.
Classical Crossover Magazine has been pleased to share an exclusive series where Lucy Kay goes behind the song of her upcoming singles from the album starting with Enjoy the Silence, Creep, Poison, and now Benedictus which is available to stream everywhere Friday, October 22th.
Natasha Barbieri: What does this piece mean to you?
Lucy Kay: Benedictus is a beautiful song by composer Karl Jenkins and has been a song I have always listened to and admired. I interpret this piece as encapsulating the sense of a divine entity much bigger than ourselves and that we should remind ourselves daily just how precious life is.
Natasha Barbieri: When did you first hear it?
Lucy Kay: I must have been in my late 20’s when I heard this performed by Rhydian Roberts at Karl Jenkins birthday concert and It completely took my breath away.
Natasha Barbieri: What are some of the elements from the original that were important for you to keep and what were some of the new ideas you are most excited about?
Lucy Kay: My adaptation of Benedictus is still very much in keeping with the albums Hollywood Film score style but with an added serenity and majestic feel to it by adding the sweet and delicate tones of the Harp. Throughout this piece there is a continual call and response interaction between my vocals, the choir, and several solo instruments before an unexpected and sudden resound of magnificent vocals, orchestral tutti, including the organ at full force accelerating through a powerful and dynamic chorus! The listener is then brought back down from the heavens and the music resolves back to where we first started, with the serene call and response between myself, the choir, and the Orchestra.
Natasha Barbieri: Were there any challenging moments in this piece?
Lucy Kay: The sustained high notes are always a challenge after a long day of recording, especially if you’re a perfectionist like I am, sometimes the sound wasn’t as clear as I had liked so we decided to come back to this another day and start with a clear and fresh mind as well as voice!
Natasha Barbieri: How does this song fit into your album as a whole?
This is one of 3 real classical pieces on the album as I still wanted to give the audience a taste of the really classical side to my voice that I was known for on Britain’s Got Talent. This piece gives a nice contrast to the rock and pop covers and gives the listener time to reflect and feel like they are being taken to another place spiritually.
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