Neneh Cherry Takes Us on a Musical Journey Inspired by Her Memoir, ‘A Thousand Threads’
Neneh Cherry, a musical trailblazer for more than three decades, is full of stories. In her new memoir, A Thousand Threads, she pulls back the curtain on her extraordinary life, from her early childhood in Sweden to her mother’s marriage to jazz musician Don Cherry; from recording with punk group The Slits in London to her career as a solo artist.
To celebrate the audiobook release of A Thousands Threads, Neneh joined Spotify on Tuesday for a fireside chat at our London office hosted by presenter and author Annie Mac. The event was a rare opportunity for fans to hear from Neneh herself, alongside her daughter, singer-songwriter Mabel.
As guests arrived, they were treated to the beats of London-based DJ Sandra Omari. British Jamaican chef and artist Denai Moore provided a special menu of drinks and snacks inspired by Neneh’s iconic discography and the places woven through her memoir.
Mabel and Neneh Cherry (Photo by Antony Jones/Getty Images for Spotify)
Neneh Cherry (Photo by Antony Jones/Getty Images for Spotify)
Mabel (Photo by Antony Jones/Getty Images for Spotify)
Annie Mac (Photo by Antony Jones/Getty Images for Spotify)
(Photo by Antony Jones/Getty Images for Spotify)
Sandra Omari (Photo by Antony Jones/Getty Images for Spotify)
(Photo by Antony Jones/Getty Images for Spotify)
Neneh and Mabel then took the stage for a conversation with Annie followed by an audience Q&A, a blend of intimate storytelling and lively discussion. The mother-daughter duo reflected on insights from Neneh’s memoir, the evolution of the music industry, and more.
On how the act of remembering impacted her while writing the book, Neneh said: “It did many things. Without a doubt, it was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. It was really, really hard. I felt an incredible responsibility to the ones that have gone, my parents. I came to a place in my life where I felt so aware of how beautiful and how deep the legacy is that my parents gave me.”
Listen to A Thousand Threads on Spotify to discover more of Neneh’s story.
