SR – Tell about the beginning of your musical career. On what music you were brought up?
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My very first musical encounter was listening to my father serenade me as a young baby in my crib. When I was about three years old, he would sing in harmony with my sister and I. My father was a huge Beatle fan and he also loved Tchaikowsky. My mother liked people like Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald, so I grew up listening to an eclectic assortment of music.

SR – About your miracle voice. In it is a little from traditional Irish singing, it is a little from African. In any case, national roots are felt. How you consider, what roots of your unique style of execution?
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I was raised in Johannesburg, South Africa and I spent many pre-school hours in the company of my African nanny. She would listen to the local Bantu radio station, and this is where I became familiar with the language and harmonic structure of ethnic African music. The ‘Celtic’ sound that I have is probably more akin to my religious upbringing. My maternal Grandparents were Russian Jews, and once again, one of my earliest musical memories was listening to the Cantor sing in the synagogue

SR – Whom you can name the teachers?
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I had no formal music training except for taking classical piano lessons as a young child for a few years. I joined the drama group at my school when I was 9 years old, and my drama teacher Morgan Ellis, recognised the fact that I had musical talent. He gave me the confidence to perform in front of an audience.

SR – You have achieved much in your life independently. It was hard for you – to achieve what at you is today?
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It has taken me many years to reach the level I am at today. I have been fortunate enough to work in the recording industry both in South Africa and the United Kingdom, first as a session singer, then as a recording artist in my own right. The years of experience I had performing with my sister in South Africa under the name of ‘The Stockley Sisters’ were invaluable to me. Not only did I learn some tough lessons along the way, but also I was able to make those mistakes at a very early age while hugely gaining experience in the music business before moving to England.

SR – You executed compositions of the diversified styles and formats. In what musical style to you was more comfortable to work?
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I am most comfortable when I am singing in harmony with myself. I still find the process of ‘building’ large blocks of voices exciting and challenging. I love to sing jazz for enjoyment and I have a natural flare for country music.

SR – You write music. You take a traditional folk music for a basis? What images are important for transferring with you the music to listeners?
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The inspiration for my writing comes from various sources. It could be jazz-based or it could have classical or folk roots. My second solo CD entitled ‘Second Nature’, contains quite a few Latin jazz-based tracks. Most importantly, I must feel excited about the song in the early stages of writing it. I like to collaborate with a partner whilst writing, so we can bring our different musical influences into one piece of music. I like to feel that I am bringing a sense of piece or spirituality to my audience, through my music.

SR – Your albums by melodically and sound, have much in common with the project in which you participated – Adiemus. Tell about this project and to whom has come there idea to create it?
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Adiemus was a happy experiment. I began working with Karl Jenkins and Mike Ratledge in the early nineties. At that point, they were one of the most successful writers of television and radio commercial music. Besides being an experienced studio singer, I’d previously had recording success with a project entitled’ ‘Praise’. This is where I became known in the industry for my Ethnic voices. Jenkins Ratledge was looking for someone who could sing in a Celtic style, and I was introduced to them. They were asked to write music for a Delta Airlines commercial and this is where I introduced the combination of Celtic and African voices together. Along with the classical orchestrations, the sound was totally unique. The commercial was a big success and so we all decided to make an album – Songs of Sanctuary. There is an obvious link between the vocal sounds of Adiemus and my solo work, because that is what I brought to Adiemus in the first instance.

SR – What Your opinion about musical style named World Music. What prospects you see with this musical style? Who from modern musicians worked in this stiles more pleasant to you?
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There have been artists such as Peter Gabriel who have brought World Music to the fore, but there are many exciting artists such as Azadoota , an Australian contemporary funk World Beat band, who aren’t necessarily main stream. I am classified as a New Age artist in the USA and a contemporary classical artist in the UK. In Germany, I was seen as more of a pop artist and in Japan, I am classified as being a Healing music artist.

SR – There is an opinion, recording companies, wishing to earn money, have actually killed this style in modern music, having released too much only commercial and not qualitative projects. What your opinion on this account?
MS – Answer: Listen answer | Download answer
There will always be ‘copy-cat’ recordings and yes, the market became flooded with sound-alike artists in the mid nineties, all wanting to sound like ‘Praise’ and ‘Adiemus’. At that point, it is up to the artist to move with the times, yet still remain true to his/her identity.

SR – You have personal fans. However recording companies not advance your projects too actively . What do you think in this thing?
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The recording industry has been plagued with financial problems, especially due to free downloading of music via the internet. Alternative artists such as myself will unfortunately take a back seat to the ‘quick fix’ artist. By this, I mean the more traditional pop or rap artist who has instant appeal to the teen record buying population.

SR – You work much in advertising. You have favorite works in this sphere?
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I have recorded some wonderful television commercials. My favourite ones include Cadbury’s Fruit’n’Nut Chocolate in the UK, where I was able to use a character voice similar to Marilyn Monroe, the Cheltenham & Gloucester commercial which was later used as a piece on an Adiemus CD and the Fiat Tempra commercial which later transcended into the group, ‘Praise’, were also two of my favourites.

SR – Are You act with the concerts or work in studio more?
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I am definitely more ‘at home’ in a recording studio. There I can indulge myself in creating different vocal textures and sounds. I have a studio in my home together with my husband Rod, who is a top UK recording engineer.

SR – You are known In Russia with project Adiemus and Praise with their song «ONLY YOU ». Tell about this project Praise. How, whom and when it was created? How many it has been sold plates? (Unfortunately, we practically did not manage to find singles in Internet-shops ).
MS – Answer: Listen answer | Download answer
‘Praise’ also began with a television commercial for the ‘Fiat Tempra’ motor car (Only You). This was the beginning of my ‘Ethnic’ singing career. Myself, Geoff MacCormack and Simon Goldenberg were the creators of this project, and together we enjoyed chart success and a very healthy recording contract with WEA Records.

SR – Why so successful project has stopped the existence?
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Unfortunately, into our second year with WEA, our A&R man was fired along with most of the company staff, and Praise got buried in a mound of red tape. The album was deleted and there are very few copies around

SR – You worked with such stars, as Tina Turner, Elton John, George Michael, Freddie Mercury, David Bowie, Mike Oldfield. Tell about this works. Why they have invited to record with you? What impressions from this works and these actors?
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I have worked with many famous artists such as George Michael, Freddie Mercury, Tina Turner etc…. There are too many for me to go into detail. Most of these artists have been people for whom I have done backup vocals, either on their records, on live shows or TV and film. Most have been very nice, friendly, down to earth people and some have been very eccentric and aloof. Tina and Freddie were just wonderful to work with, as they were such perfectionists, Brian May is the darling of the industry, not only because of his phenomenal talent as a musician, but he is a wonderfully personable guy. I presume that I was asked to work with people such as Mike Oldfield because they liked what I did as an artist.

SR – Kylie Minogue, Tina Turner, Cabalie, Brightman invited you a back-vocal for record of there albums. Your opinion on their vocal data? Their creativity is close to you or it there was simply works?
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I did a lot of work on Kylie Minogue’s albums in the eighties with Stock Aitken & Waterman. Most of these backing vocal sessions were done as part of my job. I was a very experienced backing singer, and this is what I did for a living. I have great respect for Kylie and what she has achieved, similarly with Sarah Brightman and Montserrat Caballe. I think Montserrat has an incredibly beautiful voice and her technique is amazing. Tina Turner is such an inspiration to women in this industry, and she proves that age does not matter.

SR – Many fans of World Music love project Beautiful World in which you also took part. Many are interested, why there was no continuation, and also your cooperation, and the project itself?
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Beautiful World was not my project. I was invited by my close colleague Phil Sawyer to come and guest on his album, but the project is not mine and we never discussed doing more recordings.

SR – What did you hear from modern Russian music? Whether there are favorite Russian musicians?
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There is a Blues guitarist who I think is phenomenally talented. I’m sure he is very famous in Russia, even though he moved to the United States many years ago. His name is Yuri Naumov and I love his unique style of playing.

SR – Are You know you have fans in Russia?
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Yes, I knew that I had some fans in Russia, as some of them write to me. I have no idea how many there are, or how many have heard my music.

SR – Are you visited Russia?
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No, I have never visited Russia, but I would love to one day.

SR – When there will be your new album? In what style it will be? Who wright songs?
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My second solo CD, ‘Second Nature’ has been licensed in Japan, the USA and South Africa so far. I am hoping that this year we will be able to get a release in the whole of Europe. I am beginning work on my third solo CD in the next couple of weeks. It will be more classical this time, hopefully recorded with orchestra.

SR – Last, traditional question of Special radio. That you would want to wish young, beginning musicians. What mistakes it should be avoided and on what to pay attention first of all?
MS – Answer: Listen answer | Download answer
My best advice to any young artist starting out in the recording industry would be to try and write your own material, make sure that you get a good manager who you can trust and do not give away your recording or publishing copyright if you can possibly avoid it. It is even more critical these days for artists to have more control of their careers. Most importantly, believe in yourself and love what you do.
Best of luck and love to you all, and thanks for listening.