Saturdays star Una Healy says her new solo album goes back to her roots

AS a member of The Saturdays it was all catchy pop tunes and slick dance routines for Una Healy.

Now, though, with the band on a break, the Irish singer/songwriter has gone back to her roots.

And her debut solo album, The Waiting Game, is a world away from her girl group days, with folk, pop and rock mixed with country.

“It’s very different, but more true to who I was a solo artist before the band,” Una told iN10.

“The music is very much my own personal taste. When I was 12 I started playing guitar and writing songs. I grew up listening to country stations and I’ve had that love ever since. I think the music is very emotional.

“There is so much music out there that might be just about a feeling repeated a million times.

“But country songs have a story and, musically, they can be so simple.”

Una was signed to record giant Decca and she has been working away quietly in the background since The Saturdays went their separate ways.

“It’s great to have people hear it rather than me just talk about it,” says Una, 35, who’s married to English rugby international Ben Foden.

“I actually began writing it three years ago. You need time to write loads of songs because they’re not all going to be good and you’re not going to like them all.

“I wrote dozens and then whittled it down to 12 I was happy with. Then we picked the first single Stay My Love, a duet with Sam Palladio from the Nashville TV series.”

Una was involved every step along the way, from writing the music in the first place to the very last studio production tweak.

Writing about what you know is important and for Una that included penning songs about her kids Aoife (pronounced “ee-fa”), who’s nearly five, and Tadhg (pronounced “ti-ge”) who turns two in February.

“I can’t believe I’ve got a little girl that’s started school already!” Una laughed.

“But Tadgh is still more of baby. He’s at the ‘terrible twos’ stage.

“We were at a wedding recently and he kicked off on the plane, there and back.

“Aoife was nice and quiet but Tadgh really went for it. We were trying to pacify him the best way we could with treats and drinks and the iPad.

“It was chaos. Fortunately it was quite a short flight. I think all the other passengers were in sympathy with me rather than hating me. I think they felt for us.”

Una has embraced motherhood and she still smiles at the memory of Aoife’s first day at school.

“I’d taken her along for an induction day so I had an idea of what to expect.

“But luckily, on the day, she had a little friend she’d met at nursery.

“The pair of them walked in quite happy hand in hand while Ben and I were just left there looking.”

The Saturdays had 13 top 10 singles including Up, Just Can’t Get Enough, Ego and Higher.

They had sell-out tours and their own reality series Chasing The Saturdays before deciding to take a break early in 2015.

Since then Una has fitted in being a judge on The Voice Of Ireland along with motherhood and her solo career.

The other girls have been similarly busy, with Rochelle Humes turning to TV presenting, Mollie King and Vanessa White also doing solo music and Frankie Bridge appearing on Strictly Come Dancing.

Unlike other groups whose parting of the ways has been due to fallouts and bitterness, the five are still friends.

“All the girls have been so supportive of my album as I have with their ventures,” says Una.

“We’re all doing our own thing for now but it’s very important we do support each other.

“We’re still really close and we still speak all the time and see each other as often as we can.

“We’re all very busy but I’m always keeping up to date with what they’re up to. We’re good friends.”

Fans always want to know if there will be a reunion and Una says she still hopes that will happen.

“Because of all the success The Saturdays had we’d want to come back and feel hungry for it again.

“So we all hope we can do it again one day.”