Heather Small – M People

heather small
“Heather Small” by lee dix is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Heather Small is a British soul singer best known as the vocalist in M People before embarking on a solo career. Between 1992 and 1997, M People released five studio albums, in addition to a number of live and compilation records. Their second album, Elegant Slumming, featured the hit singles ‘One Night in Heaven’ and ‘Moving On Up’, reached number two in the UK Top 40 and won a Mercury Music Prize.

After the release of The Best of M People in 1998, the group took a break until they toured again in 2007, 2012 and 2013. During the band’s hiatus, Heather Small released two studio albums, Proud and Close to a Miracle, and in 2022 she returned with Colour My Life.

Why Heather Small is vegan

Heather Small has been vegan since around 1992, when she was 27 years old.1Lacey, H. 2022. Q&A with Heather Small: ‘I’m impatient with myself’. Financial Times. Available: https://www.ft.com/content/35182bc8-f10f-4601-9cb6-67d77341f7ad [Accessed 26 May 2026]. She is “passionate about being a vegan” and credits her vegan diet for her healthy appearance and ability to look after her strong singing voice.2McClay, I. 2024. Kendal Calling 2024 – Interview With Heather Small. Three Songs and Out. Available: https://www.threesongsandout.com/single-post/kendal-calling-2024-interview-with-heather-small [Accessed 26 May 2026].

As a child and into adulthood, Heather suffered from severe allergies to animals, dust and feathers, as well as suffering from asthma and eczema. By chance, she was advised by a holistic practitioner to cut out dairy and see if it helped. It did and since then Heather hasn’t had to cancel any shows because of her allergies.3Hope, H. 2016. Singer Heather Small reveals how her terrible allergies almost ruined her pop career. Mirror. Available: https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/singer-heather-small-reveals-how-8238723 [Accessed 17 March 2021].

In 2017, Heather took part in a discussion about being a vegan on the BBC Radio 4 ‘PM’ programme.4heathersmall-mpeople.com. 2017. Heather Small, BBC Radio 4 PM Vegan Discussion 05.09.17. Available: https://heathersmall-mpeople.com/news/heather-small-bbc-radio-4-pm-vegan-discussion-050917 [Accessed 17 March 2021].

“I don’t eat meat as a moral choice, and I don’t eat dairy products because they are very mucus-forming, and that is bad for your voice.”5thefreelibrary.com. 2000. Not so much loud as Proud; M People singer Heather Small may have a powerful voice, but she has an enemy which won’t go away – stage fright. Available: https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Not+so+much+loud+as+Proud%3B+M+People+singer+Heather+Small+may+have+a…-a063530480 [Accessed 17 March 2021].

References

  1. Lacey, H. 2022. Q&A with Heather Small: ‘I’m impatient with myself’. Financial Times. Available: https://www.ft.com/content/35182bc8-f10f-4601-9cb6-67d77341f7ad [Accessed 26 May 2026].
  2. McClay, I. 2024. Kendal Calling 2024 – Interview With Heather Small. Three Songs and Out. Available: https://www.threesongsandout.com/single-post/kendal-calling-2024-interview-with-heather-small [Accessed 26 May 2026].
  3. Hope, H. 2016. Singer Heather Small reveals how her terrible allergies almost ruined her pop career. Mirror. Available: https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/singer-heather-small-reveals-how-8238723 [Accessed 17 March 2021].
  4. heathersmall-mpeople.com. 2017. Heather Small, BBC Radio 4 PM Vegan Discussion 05.09.17. Available: https://heathersmall-mpeople.com/news/heather-small-bbc-radio-4-pm-vegan-discussion-050917 [Accessed 17 March 2021].
  5. thefreelibrary.com. 2000. Not so much loud as Proud; M People singer Heather Small may have a powerful voice, but she has an enemy which won’t go away – stage fright. Available: https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Not+so+much+loud+as+Proud%3B+M+People+singer+Heather+Small+may+have+a…-a063530480 [Accessed 17 March 2021].
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