The Rhythm's Gonna Get You!

August 1998 Canarian Weekly

Talented and successful artist, Michaela Sydney, who has been singing on the cabaret circuit in south Tenerife for the past 15 months is about to launch her new Gloria Estefan show, The Rhythm's Gonna Get You!

We caught up with Michaela in the studio on Sunday, August 8, putting the final touches to her backing tracks, which have been produced by Ian Lennard at Input Studios. The project has been developing for some time, but the show is now ready to go on the road after 20 hours of studio time and the use of 6,000 feet of tape.

Ian has recreated many of the tracks himself, playing all the instruments and Michaela and he have added all their own backing vocals. The result is certainly a very high quality sound. Michaela has been researching and watching how Gloria puts her songs together in medleys, using whole songs instead of excerpts and Ian has also recreated three of these, including the lively ten minute medley including the Spanish, 'Oye Me Canto', (Hear My Voice). Michaela is planning more songs in Spanish, to appeal to a wider audience, as things develop.

We asked Michaela why she was changing now and her reply was because Gloria Estefan is popular, with lively music that fits in with the Canarian climate and the holiday atmosphere. It certainly seems that show will be extremely successful with an international audience, because on occasions when Michaela has slipped one of the new tracks into her current repertoire, Spanish and Italian visitors in particular, have unusually been drawn into British bars to order a drink.

Gloria Estefan, called by Time magazine as 'the most famous Cuban after Castro', would certainly seem to be a popular choice for both the British and international audiences, but the idea was not all Michaela's.

"Other artists, such as Chris Bryant, who does the Neil Diamond show, suggested that I do Gloria Estefan", says Michaela.

Meanwhile, Michaela's current versatile act, including songs from Barbra Streisand, Take That, Frank Sinatra, Barry Manilow, Witney Houston among many others, is still available. Catch either show, because we're sure that the Rhythm's Gonna Get You!