Speech Therapy

Speech was at Big Dada one day when she was introduced to Wayne Lotek. As well as his own Lotek Hi-Fi project, Wayne has produced for Roots Manuva. The two of them hit it off and decided to put down a track. The result was "Searching." Acoustic guitar played by Wayne's brother, the brushed drums syncopating her flow, it created the perfect atmosphere for Speech's reflections on hostel life and the hustles involved in getting by. It was pretty clear what had to be done. In November 2007, Speech flew out to Australia and there, with a bunch of live musicians Wayne knew locally, plus the additional producer Plutonic Lab laid down most of what would become "Speech Therapy". On returning to London Speech continued to make connections. Roots Manuva agreed to write and sing a beautifully melancholy chorus for "Wheels In Motion". Micachu came through and matched him on "Better Days". Mike Lindsay from Tunng heard some of the demos and he and Speech came up with the sunny avant-pop of "Spinnin'" and the airy wistfulness of "Live & Learn". Her old friend and sometime guitarist in her band, Dread Keys, fashioned an acoustic slow burner which was perfect for the break-up lyrics of "Go Then, Bye," where Speech, like the greatest of soul divas, blazes half hurt and half defiant: "So take your X-Box and go 'long".

But it's the very last track of the record, the title track as it happens, which perhaps sums up what Speech is all about better than anything else she has written, sums up why the reaction to her music has been so strong, so heartfelt: "I've made some mistakes in this life I'm not proud of, see?/ But I hope that doesn't mean now I'm trying it will be harder for me/ I've been hurt and it's not an excuse but it's a reason/ It's like some things happen in life for a lifetime or a season/ And I'm just now learning how this world really works/ It's a law that says you get back what you put forth." Speech Debelle is putting forth everything - her thoughts, beliefs, mistakes, love, anguish, humour. Now she's just waiting to get it back.

"Just the right amount of attitude and smarts... Unique - and uniquely British."
- Pitchfork

"We're hooked on figuring her out..."
- NME