WATCH: Doreen Tipton has her sights on the charts with new single Lockdown Baby
The Black Country’s Doreen Tipton has released her first single – all about the lockdown.
Despite music being a huge part of her live shows, Doreen has never released a single – so has now released Lockdown Baby on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify and her own website.
She said: “Music has always been important part of the live shows, but I’d never formally released a single as such, so I thought it’d be an interesting new departure. And what better subject matter than lockdown?
“So I combined a tune that’s even more infectious than the virus with some satirical rapping all about our shared experiences of lockdown, and Lockdown Baby was born.
Watch the Lockdown Baby video:
“I like a challenge, and I had some amazing and complimentary comments from everyone on social media. But I need to get it to a much wider audience, and that’s tough.
“The only problem with music in the modern era is it’s very tricky to make it pay off, unless you’re a mega star. Everyone has got used to listening for free.
“I found out that one play on Spotify earns you the grand total of $0.004 – so on current forecasts I’m going to earn a quarter of a dollar. I haven’t ordered my pop star’s yacht just yet.
“But if you all rush online now and download a copy, who knows. We might have a Black Country wench in the download charts, which would be quite an interesting coup for the area.”
During lockdown, Doreen has also turned her hand to writing a diary about all of her experiences during the pandemic – as well as another children’s book called Poetry in my Ocean.
She is hoping to be back on tour later this year – with her rescheduled show, Doreen’s Revolution, hopefully making its way to Dudley Town Hall on October 7.
Doreen said: “Not being able to perform live has been the hardest part. Comedy needs an audience. You can’t connect with people properly on Zoom, clever as it is. In fact I can’t connect with people on Zoom full stop – because I don’t know which buttons to press.
“I am really looking forward to getting back in front of people, it’ll be weird and wonderful.”
Doreen said that she’s looking forward to having her hair cut when lockdown lifts – and possibly may release her second single, celebrating the women chainmakers of Cradley Heath.
She’s yet to be called up for her Covid-19 vaccine, but as soon as she receives the letter she said she will be there – as long as the appointment is in the afternoon.
Doreen added: “I’m not old enough to be called up yet. Even though I look it.
“I did get a bit confused by some of the conspiracy theories out there, suggesting weird things might happen, like I’d grow a pair of antlers the next day or something, or Bill Gates would be able to listen in to my conversations.
“But I don’t think there’s much evidence for that. And to be honest I quite fancy a pair of antlers. I think they’d suit me. And Bill Gates is welcome to listen in.
“So when I get the call up I’ll be there – provided that it’s sometime in the afternoon. I don’t do mornings.”
For more information, visit doreentipton.com
