It’s been almost 25 years since Anastacia released her debut album, Not That Kind, which shot her to international stardom and cemented her as a powerhouse pop vocalist.
Now with eight studio albums under her belt, over 40 awards to her name, and six completed headline tours, no one can argue that her legacy is one to be proud of.
Forging a stellar career hasn’t been easy, though, as Anastacia has admitted struggling to find her place in an ever-changing industry.
Speaking exclusively to , the I’m Outta Love hitmaker, 55, reveals what ‘terrifies’ her about her career and why she’s finally at peace with the space she’s created for herself in the music biz.
In a nutshell, if you’re fretting that she’ll end up venturing down the AI path, you have absolutely nothing to lose sleep over.
On accepting herself as an artist and refusing to change, she begins: ‘I’ve just kept my space. This boat continues to float, thank you, and I have no other paddles! This girl don’t rap, she’s not reggae, she doesn’t know how to salsa as far as what’s coming out of her mouth, so not that I don’t love all the nuances of music and where it went, but I felt like my wheelhouse is soul, pop, rock vibes.
‘Sticking with that feels much more comfortable than when I did try to do a version of my album.’
Explaining, she shares that she has mixed feelings towards 2008’s Heavy Rotation – which peaked at number 17 in the UK charts and gave us the lead single I Can Feel You – today.
‘Not that Heavy Rotation wasn’t a good album, it just felt like it was quite an R&B departure from Evolution (2017) or even the latest project I did with Our Songs (2023), those are Anastacia songs.
‘I picked them even though they were German originally and it was a project that got me to fall in love with being a writer in another way. I feel like music is going down an AI path – everything’s going down an AI path – but I used Google and I went into my soul and challenged myself to create a beautiful record.’
Anastacia adds about AI: ‘What is happening? At what point are we gonna put a kibosh on certain stuff? They’re writing songs, they’re getting our streams… I stay very loyal to me and what I like to sing, and that’s why my routine on the road is very strict, because my audience comes to hear the notes.’
She insists that she ‘doesn’t have a problem with any other new music coming out’ in modern times, but we’re pleased to know she’s standing her ground.
Reflecting on her career spanning over two decades, the American star says she had no idea where her talents could take her.
Looking back to the 90s, while aware that there was potential for singers to be rocketed to fame overnight, never did she think there would be such an interest in her.
‘I didn’t think I was gonna go on some random MTV show and then record labels would have a bidding war. That’s how you hear it happen, I didn’t think it would happen to me.
‘Looking at going 25 years, I’m seeing all my mates, like Mariah (Carey), and they’re celebrating because we came into this industry at a certain time. It’s so cute and you really celebrate them as well.’
Speaking of namedrops, Anastacia has carried with her some words of wisdom from one other legendary songstress who needs no introduction.
‘Celine Dion took me aside and said, “Promo is a lot of work, you don’t have to sing live on every single TV show, they will allow you to lip-sync, they know you can sing already, don’t try to over-step. You need all the interviews, you can’t lip-sync the interviews.”
‘She was like, “You’re the boss.” I was really grateful to get that advice to know when to say no and, as women, that’s hard, and not feel guilt all over your soul.’
To celebrate her 25 years in the business, Anastacia is heading out on a special anniversary tour next year.
Named in honour of her debut record, which she never got to tour originally, the string of shows includes 13 gigs in the UK, two of which will fill the London Palladium.
Excited to hit the road and take fans on a trip down memory lane, Anastacia says performing for her British fans is a treat.
‘There is a sense of humour and a vibe in the UK that just clicks with me completely. I take the p**s out of myself on a regular basis, so maybe that’s just my MO that works for them because I sing with all my heart and my strength and my soul but then, at the same time, if I messed up a word I’d call myself out on it. It’s a great country.’
Packed with all the hits, her set list is sure to entertain, which fans can jam out to, safe in the knowledge that Anastacia never gets tired of belting out her most famous tunes.
‘They are a warm, fuzzy hug. They feel like comfort,’ she says of Left Outside Alone, Paid My Dues, and others.
‘I enjoy singing them every single time. I don’t go, “Oh, this one again” never, ever have I done that in my career. Most of the songs that are favourites are encouraging, so I’m constantly singing my own mantra, reminding myself to be stronger.’
Having been open about her health woes in the past, Anastacia is keen to remind others as well as herself of the importance of strength and empowerment.
The songwriter has made no secret of her Crohn’s disease, plus her two instances of breast cancer, and, most recently, menopause.
Feeling blessed to still be doing what she loves, the artist and philanthropist leaves us with some powerful words after dedicating years to raising awareness of issues facing women’s healthcare.
‘The crazy stuff I’ve had to go through health-wise has helped me find sense in life, whether it was work or a relationship.’
‘I never thought I was doing anything strong or powerful,’ she says, reminiscing on going public with her cancer diagnosis and urging others to get checked.
‘I just thought, if this is how I’m gonna go, if this is how I’m gonna die, I don’t wanna die without making a difference.’