Deniece Pearson, Brit Award winner, Grammy nominee, and lead singer of everyone’s favourite 80s icons, Five Star ,returns with her fresh, funky, soulful and effortlessly stylish new single ‘Like a Child.’ Rich with buoyant harmonies, glorious polyphonic riffs and lush celestial lyrics, Deniece’s plethora of new music is exciting news for Five Star’s one hundred and forty thousand monthly Spotify listeners. GIITTV were thrilled to talk to Deniece about her new material and upcoming album here.
Having spent the past year in the studio completing her forthcoming album Free-Queen-See (due early 2026), ‘Like a Child’ is Deniece’s first release of 2025. With previous singles exploring her love of reggae and big pop, ‘Like A Child’ demonstrates once again just how varied Deniece’s sound is. With nods to 90s R&B and unmistakable echoes of TLC, ‘Like A Child’ takes things down a notch; a smooth and sultry groove with just the right amount of nostalgia, whilst referencing Deniece’s faith with a line from scripture – ‘Whomever welcomes a child like this in my name welcomes me.’
“Simple but very important words to apply to life!” says Deniece. “I wanted to create a soothing soulful vibe for summer. And I wanted my vocals on the verses to mimic and tribute Lisa Left Eye from TLC, who were one of my favourite groups in the 80s/90s along with other American female rappers like Monie Love & Queen Latifah. I’m excited to put this out to the world!”
Recorded close to where she grew up in Essex, ‘Like A Child’ felt like a full circle moment for Deniece – a return to her roots, but for the start of a brand-new chapter.
It’s hard now to comprehend just how huge Five Star were in the 80s, weaving elements of R&B, Pop, Soul, Disco and Funk within their flawless performances. With many fans agreeing that they should have been as big as The Jackson Five.
During her time with Five Star, Deniece achieved unprecedented success with over twenty top thirty UK singles, including chart-toppers like ‘System Addict’, ‘The Slightest Touch’ and the anthem ‘Rain Or Shine’. The group holds the distinction of being the youngest British act to have a number-one album, as well as the first group to achieve seven consecutive hit singles from a single album in the UK.
The last couple of years have been somewhat of a comeback for Deniece; Celebrating 40 years in music in 2023, she began releasing new music as well as performing two sold out shows at Pizza Express Live in London along with a string of other live performances up and down the country. She has released three singles since then, ‘Forever Young’ – afeel-good infused pop-bop which reached #12 in Music Week’s Pop Chart and went Top Ten in their Black Chart, her firsteverChristmas single, ‘Santa Claus is Coming’ which hit Number 1 in the Reggae chart and most recently, ‘Evolution’ a big pop production out early last year. All will be included on her brand-new solo album ‘Free-Queen-See’ out early 2026 – which will be her first new studio album in over a decade.
After taking a career break to raise her two children, Deniece made a triumphant return to the stage, captivating audiences with her remarkable talent. Her performances in the West End production of the Michael Jackson musical ‘Thriller Live’ in 2009 garnered great reviews, as well as starring in ‘Respect La Diva’ where she wowed audiences with her sensational cover of Beyonce’s ‘Listen’ and a medley of Whitney Houston hits. Deniece’s star power extended to international stages, including a memorable performance at the Sydney Opera House in Australia as a lead singer in the show ‘Disco Divas’.
Deniece’s appearance on BBC1’s The Voice in 2012 opened new doors, including an incredible opportunity to support The Jacksons on their UK tour. In September 2013, she released ‘Rafiki Yangu’ (Swahili for ‘My Friend’), a heartfelt tribute to Nelson Mandela and Africa’s pursuit of peace and prosperity. The song, dedicated to the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, demonstrated Deniece’s commitment to using her platform to make a positive impact.
Following the success of her debut solo album, ‘Imprint’, released in the summer of 2014 and supported by a 16-date UK tour alongside Billy Ocean, Deniece has continued to captivate audiences with her live shows, and is currently planning a new UK Tour – details coming very soon.
Find Deniece Pearson at
www.deniecepearsonofficial.com
