Belinda Carlisle talks music comeback

80’s singer Belinda Carlisle was unsure whether she wanted to return to music

The 64-year-old singer – who has 31-year-old son James with husband Morgan Mason – was the lead singer of renowned rock group The Go-Gos and went on to achieve a string of hits in her own right in the 1980s but had been “ready to slow down” when her son’s chance meeting with legendary songwriter Diane Warren led to a spontaneous career revival.

“I was ready to slow down, had done pretty much everything in my career, and then my son ran into Diane Warren. She said, ‘What is your mum doing? Let’s get her on the phone!’ So they Facetimed me and she said, ‘Get down to the studio, I have some hits for you. I thought, do I really want to go there and open that door? Then I thought I’d be stupid not to hear her out!”

The ‘Heaven is a Place on Earth’ hitmaker went on to explain that upon hearing the song ‘Big Big Love’ , she “freaked out” and immediately said yes to Diane – who has sold 125 million records and written nine number-one hits – as she noted that a host of “weird coincidences” led to her recording her new EP ‘Kismet’, more than five years after she last released an album.

She added: “She played me ‘Big Big Love’ and I freaked out and said, ‘I wanna sing this song! You can’t say no to the women who has written more hit songs than anyone else! I adore her. I ended up recording five songs and calling the EP Kismet because that really encapsulates what happened. All these weird coincidences that lead me to singing.”

Belinda Carlisle is an American singer, songwriter, and musician. She was born on August 17, 1958, in Hollywood, California. Carlisle gained prominence as the lead vocalist of the all-female band The Go-Go’s, which formed in 1978. The Go-Go’s achieved significant success in the 1980s with hits like “We Got the Beat,” “Our Lips Are Sealed,” and “Vacation.” They were one of the first all-female bands who wrote their own songs and played their own instruments to achieve mainstream success.

After the Go-Go’s disbanded in 1985, Carlisle embarked on a successful solo career. Her solo debut album, “Belinda,” was released in 1986 and featured the hit singles “Mad About You” and “Heaven Is a Place on Earth.” The latter became her most successful song, reaching the top of the charts in several countries and solidifying her status as a solo artist. Carlisle continued to release albums throughout the 1980s and 1990s, with songs like “Circle in the Sand,” “I Get Weak,” and “Leave a Light On” becoming popular.

Belinda Carlisle’s music is primarily pop-oriented, with elements of rock, new wave, and dance-pop. Her powerful and distinctive vocals, along with catchy melodies, contributed to her success as both a band member and a solo artist. She has sold millions of records worldwide and has had a significant impact on the music industry, particularly during the 1980s.

In addition to her music career, Carlisle has been open about her struggles with drug addiction and her journey towards sobriety. She has also written a memoir, “Lips Unsealed,” which was published in 2010 and chronicles her life and experiences in the music industry.

‘Kismet’ is out now.