Joan Armatrading has been a UK singer-songwriter now for around half-a-century, a fact that seems to come as a bit of a surprise to both of us when we hook up for a chat about her career and her latest chart-topping album, ‘Consequences.’

Armatrading is the first UK female singer-songwriter to receive a Grammy Nomination. She is clearly extremely proud of this and when I venture to express an expectation that it must have been an extraordinary thing for a black woman to achieve, back in 1980 when it first happened, (she’s been nominated three times, so far) she swiftly puts me in my place: “It’s nothing to do with being ‘black.’ That’s never been an issue for me. I’ve never felt any pressure or stress because of that, or because I’m a woman. I’m a writer. I never played covers though my first label did ask if I was going to do some covers of others’ songs. That was a short conversation. I don’t do that. It’s just not going to happen. I’m very self-assured. I have a confidence in what I do, what I write, record and how I work.”

This week we spotlight Haven on the Queensway 1533 The Queensway Toronto. Monday to Thursday 8:30 am to 4:00 pm Phone: 416-640-2005 Email: info@havenontheq.com   Haven on the Queensway operates a food bank that provides groceries, household products, personal hygiene items and even pet food to anyone in need in the community.

It’s a lady laden line-up this week. Stepping in with Legacy singer/songwriter Joan Armatrading's new forthcoming album, Consequences, one of her most intimate and direct yet and one that wears its conscience and its heart on its sleeve.

As a teaser, Armatrading has released the album's first single "Already There". Due to drop June 18th (Digital) and August 13 (CD/LP) via BMG, her 22nd studio album to date, Consequences ably illustrates the fact that Armatrading never likes to repeat herself. It is in no way a follow up to 2018's UK's Top 30 oeuvre Not Too Far Away.