Everybody's Free singer Rozalla on being a 90s icon and appearing at Reminisce Festival

Talk about a timeless classic. Everybody’s Free (To Feel Good) may have been a Nineties hit but the spine-tingling track remains just as popular more than 30 years after it was released. The dancefloor smash made a household name of Zambia-born singer Rozalla, now 60, who among other things, went on to tour Europe supporting Michael Jackson.

Now based in Surrey, the singer found time in her super-busy schedule to talk to the ECHO as she prepares to play this year’s Reminisce Festival in St Helens.

Rozalla, thank you so much for your time. How’s your summer going? Any standout shows?

Absolutely. Practically every weekend I have been flying to Spain and doing these massive Love the 90s festivals, where there are anywhere between five and 25,000 people. It blows my mind.

Do you like being so busy?

Yes. Since Covid things have really gotten busy. It has been fantastic. Sometimes I have to say no – I need some time to breathe. But Covid reminded us all that, as the saying goes, ‘you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone’ and the opportunity is there to do these shows. So, I think just take care of my health, sleep well... do all of those things.

How can it be that Everybody’s Free is 33 years old? Can you believe you have been performing it for three decades?

I know, right. Oh my. It is unbelievable. I turned the big 6-0 this year, too. I am thinking I am 60 years old and I am still being asked to go and perform this song. I thought I would be winding down and getting ready to retire, but oh no no no....I absolutely love what I do and the fact I am still getting asked to go and perform speaks volumes. And I love it. So why not?

Did you know when you recorded it that it was a special song?

I didn’t have a clue. When I’m recording a song I think, yes some are more special than others but you just never know. I thought at the time, “everybody’s free to feel good...” those lyrics were so positive and it was for the whole world [for] “brothers and sisters” and the song has become that.

How did your own life change after the song came out?

Oh my gosh! I left living with my family in Zimbabwe and Zambia to come and live in the UK to try my best to give my career a chance, and here I am, over thirtysomething years later, living in the UK, married to an Englishman. My life has changed dramatically. I miss my family greatly but I get to go and see them twice a year and I am grateful for that.

Did you always want to be a singer?

All my life. That is all my focus was on. That is all I have ever wanted. My mum was worried when I started travelling to England. My dad said to me just go for it and remember if it doesn’t work out you have always got a home to come back to.

Are there any career highlights you could tell us about?

The biggest one has to be being a support act for Michael Jackson in 1992 on the European leg of his Dangerous tour. We did that for 42 dates. It was amazing. I have so much respect for these artists who go out and tour, the greatest admiration. When I look at Taylor Swift, I don’t know how she is doing it... wow.

How do you feel about being known as one of the big club divas? Being part of that amazing group of women...

It’s surreal. I can’t believe it, telling me that I am part of those divas up there... It is something I will never get used to. I suppose, when I look back at my life to where I am today, it is everything I have dreamed of and more.

We are talking of course because you are coming to play at Reminisce. You have played before haven’t you...

Yes. They have been booking me almost since the start. I have watched it grow and grow. I couldn’t do it last year but the last time I performed there were over 20,000 people. It is phenomenal. [The crowd] makes me feel like a goddess. If I believed it I would be walking on air all the time.

It must be incredible to have one of those songs that you know, when the beat and the lyrics come in, everyone’s heart leaps...

Absolutely. I thank God, I thank the heavens, I thank the universe. That song is my passport. That song has given me a career. To still be out singing it 33 years later... is just incredible.

• Rozalla plays Reminisce at Sherdley Park, St Helens on Saturday September 7. See reminiscefestival.com for full line-up and ticket details.