I was so pleased to get this interview, as Dionne is one of the new forces of indie rock and soul. I also found the interview really interesting as we cover so many bases, from gospel to songwriting to music in schools. I have placed my review under the interview, but first I will put the press information to bring the casual reader up to speed!
From the city of Birmingham, Dionne is a force to be reckoned with in the world of Indie Rock Soul. A virtuoso in every sense, she seamlessly blends her Indie roots as guitarist and backing vocalist for Florence + The Machine with the rhythmic prowess of soul.
Inspired by iconic figures such as the Arctic Monkeys and Jimi Hendrix , Dionne has curated a signature sound that effortlessly fuses the energy of rock with the heartfelt emotion of soul, creating a live experience that captivates audiences worldwide.
Dionne’s musical journey has taken her to the biggest stages across the globe, sharing the spotlight with many acclaimed artists. Boasting world tours with both her sister, Laura Mvula, and Florence + The Machine, Dionne has honed her artistry amongst some of the industry’s finest.
Now ready to step into her own light, Dionne has been featured on BBC Introducing as the West Midland’s producer pick, on Spotify’s Created by Women editorial playlist and on Radio Capital Italy.
One of our great friends at the magazine is Shirley King (BB King’s daughter)—a truly wonderful lady in her seventies now, she has so many great stories! She always tells us that gospel music was behind the great singers, Elvis, Nina Simone, etc. I know your sister Laura Mvula was involved with gospel groups and choirs; was that part of your heritage too? And does gospel music continue to influence your music at all?
Dionne: Gospel music is an important part of my family’s heritage. We grew up in church, our mother being the daughter of Reverend Desmond Pemberton – my grandfather. The history of music and its many eras are so intertwined, I feel one could say that all popular music now has roots in gospel music! But to zoom in on my current exploration, I think my vocal phrasing and feel are very gospel-influenced. I don’t sing straight so much, but in a more loose, meandering kind of way. That’s what comes naturally to me and reflects the feeling I’m singing about. There are moments where singing straight is exactly the feeling too. Overall, it’s that contrast that tells the story the way I need to.
Shirley also told us that behind every true song is the blues, that the blues – the emotion of the story – underpins great vocal emotion. I know you are seen as indie rock, but are the blues there in your connection to your musical stories?
Dionne: I love the blues! Not just the notes of the blues scale itself, but the feeling with which these notes are played and the silence in-between. I think my vocal melodies right now are basically parts of the blues scale, and there are some bendy notes that I sing, kind of like how I’d play it on guitar. Then there’s the storytelling! I love a great story. My stories so far haven’t been typical blues in the sense that I lost my house and car and there’s nothing left for me to do but sing the blues – but my own stories so far are quite playful and sensual.
In the press release for the new single, it says, ‘Although originally intended as a male-female duet, ‘I’d Be Yours” is, for now at least, a solo offering from Dionne. Why did you change from the idea of a duet, and do you feel the song could revert to a duet when played live?
Dionne: When I wrote the hook ‘Said I’d Be Yours’ I got my boyfriend to sing the harmony line with me and just loved the feeling. But as I worked on the song with my producer Duncan Hamilton, I had this feeling that for now, as I’m beginning to share my stories, it’d be great for me to do that solo for now. I’d love to do it as a duet with someone in the future; that’d be a lot of fun!
You play both violin and guitar (I’m impressed)—do you write songs using the guitar? And does the violin (an instrument of emotion and passion, I feel) feature in your songwriting at all?
Dionne: Yes, I write with a guitar. Something magical happens with the guitar with the sound I’m currently exploring. I have a love-hate relationship with the violin. I think as part of an orchestral sound, there’s no better feeling than playing the violin. But on its own, for me, I don’t feel the magic as much.
There was a bit of a gap between your EP, “Give Me Vogue,” in 2023 and the new single in May 2025. Do you see this new single as a natural continuation from the music on the EP or more of a new starting position?
Dionne: A new starting position for sure. I love my debut ep – it was homemade, self produced and honest. But it was pre my ‘breakthrough moment’ creatively! I had an amazing conversation with my sister. Creatively I was confused because I felt that I loved so many different types of music; I had this strong desire not to be pigeonholed. I was trying to express all of myself in one song. My sister is eclectic like me (and most artists!), and yet all of her albums are quite specific in their sound world. So I asked her what her creative process is. She said she writes until ‘The Thing’ comes to her. And when she has ‘The Thing,’ it feels natural to continue down that path and explore. I had never given myself this opportunity before. Every new song I would start from scratch as though I had creative amnesia. So I found this fascinating and decided to see what would happen if I did the same. It’s been a revelation for me since then. I found that actually allowing myself to go deeper into a particular sonic world has allowed me to express myself even more fully than before. It continues to be a really fun and exciting adventure.
I’ll note that I am a bit of a fan of “Captured You” – the Ford Capri advert. It was so much fun and had me having a boogie in the kitchen with my two-year-old! Tell me about that one. Are you happy with it, and how did it come about?
Dionne: The story behind “Captured You” (Ford Capri Advert) makes me smile when I think of it. I was asked to sing on this advertisement for Ford. Loved the song. Then I realized it was originally by the legend Dionne Warwick – with whom I share a first name! We decided that since I loved the song so much and it was already going to be on tv, I’d make a full-length version. Had so much fun, contributed my own second verse lyrics as the original – doesn’t have a typical pop structure—and re-harmonized the verses. I love it, and it means a lot to have the huge honor now of having co-written a song with Philadelphia soul legends Thom Bell and Linda Creed (Epstein).
On a wider point, our June editorial discussed how small venues across the UK are struggling and about the crisis of music tuition in state schools. Part of what we wrote was, “The music industry has always had gatekeepers, but the gates feel heavier now, and the entry fees higher. Music lessons in schools are increasingly a privilege for those who can afford them. Instrument hire, tuition, even the time and space to practice—all are becoming luxuries. We risk a future where creativity becomes synonymous with privilege, where stage access belongs to the few who can afford it.” (Editorial here, should you want to read more) What would you like to see done in schools to encourage more young people to come off their phones and pick up an instrument?
Dionne: Affordable instrumental lessons in school were hugely important for my siblings and I growing up. My brother, James Douglas, is one of London’s leading cellists, having studied at the Royal Academy. My sister, who you know, also plays the violin and piano, all three of us benefiting hugely from Birmingham’s amazing music programs. We all played in the Birmingham school’s orchestras, from Junior Strings right through to the Symphony orchestra, and all went on to play in the cbso youth. My parents were not at all well off and I often wonder now how and why they prioritized our musical journeys when money was so tight. It’s truly incredible and we are so grateful. That being our history, the situation in schools now is really concerning. I teach in secondary schools when I’m not touring. So many students I’ve taught show such promise and natural ability with their keyboard skills. I asked them if it’s possible for them to get lessons and they said no. It is such a shame. I’m not sure what the solution is. I guess the obvious answer is more funding? But so many of these schools I’ve worked in are underfunded; they don’t even have the staff they need. More funding alone won’t solve things. I think there needs to be a government-instructed role for ‘the arts’/music in schools in the UK—someone who oversees music in schools that has a separate budget directly from the government/arts council. I don’t know how feasible that would be, but we can dream!
Lastly, can you share any plans with us for the remainder of 2025?
Dionne: My next single, ‘When Sky Falls,’ is out July 15th! These first 2 releases will be on my EP, which I’ll release later in Autumn – I might release a third single before then too!
At that point this fascinating interview ends. I would just say how, as an interviewer, I was so interested in what Dionne had to say, and I hope you have all enjoyed reading this too.
My review: I am reviewing two tracks by Dionne.
“I’d Be Yours” is the new single, a strong rock and soul mix. Dionne delivers a classy, bluesy vocal with a chorus that is built for radio play. The interesting thing is that this girl can rock! The drum sound and the guitar beat have a modern rock-influenced feeling that would surely connect live.
“Captured You” (Ford Capri Advert) has that commercial touch that comes with an advert. Musically I really liked it; it’s upbeat pop/rock with a wonderful vocal. I couldn’t resist a little boogie in my kitchen and my two-year-old was bouncing about. Can I just say that music is for two-year-olds too! More than anything it shows a wider sense of what Dionne can do; it probably doesn’t indicate the direction she is heading, but it is fine nevertheless.
Thus, the message of this review is that what we’re getting from Dionne here is range, confidence, and charisma. Whether she’s rocking a radio-ready anthem or sneaking into your living room through a cheeky advert, she’s got the kind of voice—and vibe—that makes you stop and listen. If this is a taste of what’s to come, then consider us officially hungry for the main course. Dionne isn’t just knocking on the door of the big stage—she’s halfway through it, heels on, mic in hand, and ready to bring the house down.
And we hope you liked the feature, dear reader! If you did, please check out the other pages of the magazine; we have many great features, merchandise, editorials, and even poetry! We work hard for you, and if you want to show some appreciation and support what we do, then do use the Support Us link below! Always nice for us to be appreciated.
You can stream music by Dionne here
By Lorraine Foley
