Just don’t call her Baby

Her voice will be known to everyone who has spent time on twinky dancefloors, but they might not know the full story behind Madison Avenue vocalist Cheyne Coates.

People might not realise she co-wrote and co-produced 1999’s Don’t Call Me Baby and Who The Hell Are You. They might not realise she is a dedicated environmentalist, a mother, and now, a record label owner.

And she’s just Cheyne now – a solo singer with her first single I’ve Got Your Number about to come out on her new record label, Apertif. After a creative collaboration with Madison Avenue partner rumoured to have gone sour, Cheyne says working alone is a dream.

I’ve been pretty self indulgent on this -“ I’ve done everything. I have been working with a couple of other people, but I’m the executive producer, so that pretty much translates as -˜I get last say’, she says.

When you’ve got lots of people in charge, it tends to get a bit hectic. It’s like -˜Me me!’ and -˜no, me me’!

There’s a common misconception about the female voice in front of the dance musician -“ she’s pretty, she’s possibly dumb, she’s got a minor talent. Cheyne is pretty, sure. But she’s not dumb, and her talents are far from minor. Is she afraid of that stereotype?

In all fairness, that is not uncommon to find, she says.

There’s a lot of acts out there that are much of a muchness. I write all my lyrics, my melodies, and I think that’s different from just walking up and singing. Not to take away from people who do just walk up and sing either – everyone’s got their talents.

In the wake of Madison Avenue (which she says she has no regrets over) Cheyne has been busy recording her first album and looking for new talents to sign to her label. The split didn’t slow her down at all.

I already had a few things written that I’d kept under my belt, she says.

I write heaps of stuff and it’s just not all appropriate to the one project. I’d always intended to do a solo project, so as soon as I walked out I was in the studio the next week.

I’ve Got Your Number is out now. Cheyne’s first solo album is due out in autumn.