The Brixton born singer burst onto the music scene as lead singer of UK rock band Skunk Anansie. Skin’s distinctive vocals and image transfixed audiences worldwide and the revelation that she was a lesbian caused a media frenzy in the mid-nineties.

Skunk Anansie’s music caused just as much of a stir as the frontwoman herself and the band released three hit albums that gave us the classic singles 'Hedonism (Just Because You Feel Good)' and 'Weak As I Am'.

Now she’s back with Fake Chemical State, her second solo album. What's more, she'll be performing at the GaydarGirls official London launch party on 2 March at Café de Paris.

GaydarRadio’s Simon Le Vans caught up with Skin to talk about rock, coming out and Pop Idol of all things!

Well, it’s been 12 years now since you started making music.
Yes, Skunk Anansie got together in 1994, which was the same year that we got signed.

I remember the first time I saw you fronting Skunk Anansie and I was really scared but I also fancied you because you looked like a boy!
I like a bit of androgyny!

Were you going for the 'I’m gonna scare people' look?
Actually, no! To be honest, I feel like I’m a lovely big cuddly animal and I find it quite amusing that people seem to be so scared of me. Dirty loud rock music is very powerful and it’s not the kind of music you perform with a smile on your face, but I’m used to people thinking I’m scary now - even though I don’t think I am!

Was it a struggle for you to be the first black woman to sing rock music, instead of dance or soul?
Well, I wasn’t the first, but maybe I was one of the main ones from our generation in terms of contemporary modern indie rock music. At the time it was unusual I suppose. I don’t have much love for singing r’n’b, but I love listening to it!

"I’m actually bisexual but I was happy to be called a lesbian. It’s more of an insult to be called straight because it’s really just not what I am at all."

Was it hard for you to come out?
Well, I didn’t really really think about it because it happened in an interview with NME. The guy asked me what my boyfriend thought of my music and I said, ‘Well, my girlfriend really likes it,’ and that was it! It became this huge deal and the word lesbian just seemed to front every interview I did.

I’m actually bisexual but I was happy to be called a lesbian. It’s more of an insult to be called straight because it’s really just not what I am at all.

I never had this whole big deal about coming out because I just answered a question so I never really considered it, but if I’d sat down and thought about it I might have thought twice. I feel like it would have been more difficult to be honest with my music if I had lied about my sexuality. It didn’t occur to me to do it any other way.

Did you get any bad reactions?
Yes definitely. This was twelve years ago and people are a little bit more liberal know - though sometimes you think they are and then sometimes you realise they’re not. You’d think the music industry would be much more open attitude-wise but I have encountered a lot of negativity. It’s never been my issue; it’s always been other people’s issues, so I’ve just tried to move forward and be myself.

Now, I’ve heard that you’ve gone on record as being, shall we say, not a huge fan of the whole Pop Idol phenomenon …
You know what? I like Will Young and Lemarr. I think they’re the only two people that have come out of the whole Pop Idol fake singing shows that are actually very good at what they do. I think it’s incredibly difficult to come from nowhere and not to have had years of doing pubs and that sort of thing to formulate who you are and what your art form is. To just be sprung out there is really difficult and, as a consequence, you see a lot of rubbish because people can’t be that great that quickly. My heart goes out to them because they have a harder time than having done it the real way round.

"I never had this whole big deal about coming out because I just answered a question so I never really considered it, but if I’d sat down and thought about it I might have thought twice."

I think Lemarr had an advantage because he came third.
That was the one episode of that show that I saw and I thought it was so clearly obvious that he was the best singer so it was really weird when he didn’t win. I suppose the good thing about the show is that it’s made a lot of people go out and make good music because they’re tired of seeing these shows.

You worked with The Strokes’ Gordon Raphael on your new album. What was that like?
I’d done all the demo’s and rehearsed all the songs before I went into the studio because I didn’t want it to stay fresh and new in the studio, which is something that Gordon’s particularly good at. He interferes in a nice way and comes up with great ideas and he only works on music that he already likes, so he’s not someone who will have somebody who’s never been in the studio before and design everything for them. He needs to hear and like stuff before he’ll even bother. He made everything sound extra, extra good!

Your new album’s called Fake Chemical State. Any plans for a tour to support it?
Yes, well the first single 'Alone In My Room’ is out on 6 March on download only and then we’ll be in Glasgow on 17 March, then at the Koko club in London on 20 March.

And you’re also appearing at the Café de Paris in London for the launch of GaydarGirls on 2 March.
Yes! I’m so looking forward to that; it appeals to my naughty side! They asked me to do it and I thought it sounded brilliant.

It’s going to be one hell-of-a party.
I hope so!

GaydarGirls Official London Launch Party: Thursday 2 March 2006
Café de Paris, 4 Coventry Street, London W1
10.30pm-2am, £9 / £5 NUS

VIP pre-party at the Candy Bar in Soho. Read our Bar Facts piece on the Candy Bar.

Find out more at www.gaydargirls.com/launchparty.

Gaydar Girls Brighton Launch: Saturday 4 March
Wet Pussy at Envy with a PA from Mz Fontaine, the UK’s first out lesbian rapper. Read our interview with Mz Fontaine.

Gaydar Girls Manchester Launch: Sunday 30 April
Presented by Vanilla Bar at Climax. Watch our for more details coming soon.

Get Skin’s latest CD Fake Chemical State. Buy it online and save money!