INTERVIEW : Rozalla

It had been a desperately long time since Zimbabwean singer Rozalla last occupied the Australian charts with her single 'Everybody's Free'. But after countless remixes throughout the past 18 years, the song re-entered the Australian charts earlier this year thanks to a remix by the Global Deejays and it's use in the promos for Channel 10's hit reality show 'So You Think You Can Dance'.
We caught up with the songstress for a quick natter and asked her how in the world so many remixes of the one song can be commissioned.
"Unfortunately, the record company I was signed to at the time still hold some of the rights to it (the song) and they give permission for the remixes to be done. I also think others have done their own remixes of their track, which I find flattering".
With renewed interest in Rozalla thanks to the (sanctioned) Global Deejays remix of the single, the time is most definitely right for the singer to return to our shores for a series of club appearances - something she says she's very much looking forward to.
"I was pleasantly surprised when I heard it ('Everybody's Free') was a hit in Australia again. I had been to Australia once before in the early 1990s, but I look forward to seeing it again. I'm sure I won't remember much from my last visit, so I'll be taking lots of pictures", she says.
Rozalla first came to global attention when her single 'Everybody's Free (To Feel Good)' became a worldwide hit, even making it's way into the US top 40. From there, she contributed the single 'I Love Music' to the soundtrack to the 1994 film 'Carlito's Way' and released the club hit 'Don't Go Lose It Baby' in 1998. But 'Don't Go Lose It Baby' was the last time we'd heard from Rozalla in Australia. We asked her why it had been so long since we'd seen her release material down under.
"If I had my way, I'd always release my material in Australia, but it comes down to getting licensing deals with record companies for that to happen, so hopefully we'll get that right for new releases in the future", she says, adding that it might not be the last we'll be hearing from her in 2009. She hints that her latest album, the jazz-inspired 'Brand New Version', may also get an Aussie release.
"My manager is working on it at the moment and hopefully we'll get a licensing deal", she says.
For the moment though, fans of the singer can get a little more up close and personal with Rozalla when her 2009 Australian club tour kicks off in Mooloolaba on Queensland's beautiful Sunshine Coast on Thursday May 28. From there, the tour visits Brisbane, Gold Coast, Perth, Sydney, Darwin, Newcastle and Melbourne. Dates below.

May 28 : Mooloolaba (Wharf Tavern)
May 29 : Brisbane (Hotel LA)
May 30 : Gold Coast (Parkwood Tavern)
May 31 : Perth (WA Pride)
June 04 : Sydney (theclub)
June 05 : Darwin (Discovery Nightclub)
June 06 : Newcastle (Fanny's Nightclub)
June 06 : Sydney (Oxford Arts Factory)
June 07 : Sydney (Argyle)
June 07 : Melbourne (Winter Music Festival)