Stella Grundy is one of Manchester’s most distinctive voices. Best known as the singer of Intastella, she played a key role in the city’s music and club culture from the early 1980s onwards.
In this interview, Stella looks back on her journey from being a teenage singer in Moston to becoming the frontwoman of Intastella during the height of the Madchester era.
She talks about her first band Marine Escape, rehearsing while still in school, early gigs at venues including Corbiers and the Cyprus Tavern, and gaining an honorary membership to the Haçienda while still a teenager.
Stella shares memories of Manchester’s underground music scene, from The Fall and Stockholm Monsters to the clubs, bars and creative spaces that shaped a generation. She reflects on the importance of places like Corbiers, Afflecks and the Haçienda, and explains why she believes the real Manchester scene was far more diverse and creative than the media’s simplified version of “Madchester”.
The conversation also explores the formation of Intastella, how Stella joined forces with Spencer Birtwistle and Little Anthony, and the challenges the band faced despite releasing acclaimed records such as Dreams From Paradise, Century and Sumo Fly.
Stella discusses record labels, producers, the realities of the music industry, and why she believes Intastella were often ahead of their time. She also reflects on being a working-class Northern woman in music and theatre, and the determination it took to carve out a creative career on her own terms.
Towards the end of the interview, Stella talks about her daughter Nico, one of Manchester’s most exciting contemporary artists, and offers a fascinating perspective on creativity, songwriting and the importance of supporting new artists rather than simply celebrating the past.
This is a warm, funny and insightful conversation covering over four decades of Manchester music, culture, fashion and creativity.
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