INTERVIEW – Jo O’Meara Shares All including her career, past strugless and the path ahead

I am the most happy I have ever been in my life and I really mean that. It’s a nice feeling to feel!

Looking back Jo revealed “With the band, it was so busy and so hectic, I just used it as a bit of escapism to run away with myself for a little while.” admits Jo.

“I got caught up in the flashing lights and getting the three sevens or leprechauns, or whatever it would be. It was just a bit too much fun.”

Jo revealed that her bandmates were aware of the issue at the time, saying: “When we used to travel around the county, it was like, ‘Where’s Jo?’. Everyone would know, ‘oh, she’s on the fruit machine’. But it was just what I did.

“When I look back I think, ‘I shouldn’t really have been doing that’, because what you learn as you get older is you never win.”

gambling was more about a thrill for her than the prospect of winning money, explaining: “It was about beating the machine, getting the three sevens, the excitement of that was making me want to do it even more.

″[But] you never win – that’s why I’m here today, to highlight it because it’s everywhere.”

Discussing the issue of online gambling, Jo said: “When you’re pressing a button, it’s so easy to fall into a very, very dark place… It could happen to anybody. I think there’s still a big stigma to it, where people associate gambling with a man sitting in a betting place or a poker table. It’s not the case at all. It’s happening a lot more than it has before.

“I wanted to reach out to people and say, ‘I’ve been there myself, I understand it, there’s no shame in picking the phone up and asking for help’.”

Whn asked whether an S Club 7 reunion would ever be on the cards, Jo admittied: “I think if it ever was to happen, I’d definitely be up for doing it. I’m ready to reach for the stars!

“It’s a case of getting seven bodies all together in the same room, we’re all so busy and it’s pretty full on when it’s S Club 7.”

Speaking of covers, you’ve released some incredible S Club bangers in your ‘Unplugged’ releases. What made you want to put a new spin on these? 

It was very important for me to feature some s club tracks in my solo career, as it it where I came from And I owe a lot to the band! I decided to do the more unplugged versions to create a sound that was original for me, and to show the songs off on a different light.

It’s been a little over a year since the release of your album ‘With Love’. What was your favourite track to write and record and why? 

I loved every moment making that album, it was a personal journey discovering my sound and writing about subjects close to my heart! I think maybe ‘On the Surface’ was the one I was most proud of as it was a message to let people know, it is important to talk if your not in a good place!

Similarly, which song is your favourite from the collection to perform live and why?

I love singing the acoustic version of ‘Don’t Stop Movin”, people seem to really enjoy it!

You’ve performed at a series of packed venues over the last year. How has performing to an audience changed since you first took the stage back in the 90s? 

I’ve loved performing over the past year! The acoustic sets I have really loved ! I think it’s changed a lot since I first started as I have grown up and know who I am as a solo artist my audience have grown with me and it’s like we are all on this journey together , which is really lovely.

How have you seen the music industry change over the years? 

Wow that has thrown me haha! I’ve been asked so many questions that it’s hard to think of a new one!

What’s one question that you would like to be asked, but nobody ever does?

Wow that has thrown me haha! I’ve been asked so many questions that it’s hard to think of a new one!

Jo O’Meara released a phenomenal cover of Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’, to raise money for GOSH last year. With so much excitement around the release, Jo explains why ‘Thriller’ is so important, as well as what the future holds, adding r it seemed to the perfect song to release for Charity! excited to be a part of it..

Finally, what does the future hold for you and your music? 

There is a lot of exciting things planned for this year and I am so excited! There will be lots more new music, a new album and a few things I am not allowed to share just yet! But watch this space.