EDINBURGH 2015 - BWW Interviews: Apphia Campbell of SOUL SESSIONS.

BWW:UK speaks to actress and singer Apphia Campbell about her two Edinburgh Fringe shows that she is performing this year. Her Nina Simone inspired play Black Is The Color Of My Voice returns to the festival for the second year and she is also performing an all new cabaret style show Nina Simone Soul Sessions.

What have you been up to since last year's festival?

Well, I moved bases and I'm in Edinburgh permanently now so I've left Shanghai. After the festival I did a little bit of touring with the show so I went to various parts of the UK and I went to Barbados and some other really cool places. I also produced a concert in Shanghai and then I started working on this piece!

How are you finding it doing two shows at the festival this year?

It's different. It's a bit more intense. But the shows are so different so that is what I really like. Black Is The Color Of My Voice I've been doing for a while and I love it but it is quite dark. With Soul Sessions it is nice to do something light and fun with more of my personality in it.

Can you tell us a bit more about Soul Sessions?

It's more cabaret style so I talk about my life in China, growing up and how my path is kind of similar to Nina Simone's path in aspects of my life. It's kind of the same format as Black, I just sing her songs to kind of progress the story. It's all music pretty much.

And then you're touring after the Fringe?

Yes. I'm going to a lot of cities that I don't really know!

I had a look at your tour dates and noticed it's not so much cities but more like the West coast of Scotland?!

[laughs] Yeah, I kind of like going to these little places. I went to Inverness back in May and it's just beautiful with this beautiful theatre which is a little bit out of place. But it's nice to be able to travel. I mean I love the Highlands and it's kind of nice seeing the roads in Scotland which are so beautiful. I'm really looking forward to it.

How have audiences responses been to the two shows?

For Black Is The Color people have still been really receptive to the show and for Soul Sessions people have been getting up and clapping along. People seem to be really enjoying it. I feel like I'm getting really hardcore Nina Simone fans for Soul Sessions.

Have you started thinking about next year's festival yet? Maybe three shows next year?

[laughs] Now that would be a challenge! I'm hoping to have some time to sit down and write. I'm thinking of maybe taking January off from performing and just focusing on writing something new. If it's not ready I'll do something, but one step at a time!

Photo credit: Josh Tinter

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