Music legend Paul Weller praises singer's cover of Style Council hit

Music legend Paul Weller has given his backing to a cover of a Style Council hit by singer Kristyna Myles, describing her version as “absolutely stunning”.

Kristyna, who grew up in Broughton Astley, recorded The Paris Match with Style Council drummer Steve White to mark the 30th anniversary of its original release.

Steve, who co-produced and played on the track, said Paul, who wrote the song, was a big fan.

“I kept Paul in the loop the whole time and he really loved it,” he said. “He said it was one of the best versions of one of his songs he had ever heard.

“Very few people tackle his songs, so for him to like and approve it is a tribute to Kristyna.”

The track will be released on Monday, with a launch gig at The Musician tonight.

Kristyna, who is signed to Universal record label Decca, got her break in 2005 after busking in Manchester.

She went on to win BBC Radio Five Live’s Busk Idol competition and since then has opened shows for a host of big names, including Status Quo, Mick Hucknall, The Wanted and Will Young.

Steve, who spotted Kristyna in October last year, said the 29-year-old’s talent was obvious immediately.

“She sings Paris Match so beautifully,” he said.

“This is one of my favourite songs and means a lot to me. I knew it had to be a female, it just wouldn’t work with a male voice.

“It needed to be different enough that people have interest in it, but not too different that people don’t identify with it.”

Steve said he wanted to keep the original meaning behind the song alive.

“I wanted the emotion to still be there from the original piece,” he said.

“The song is about a relationship that failed, so when we were recording, I kept on telling Kristyna just to have that emotion in her voice.

“I said to her: ‘Go and do another take, but this time imagine that your husband has just left you – I want to hear that in your voice. Sing as if you’re singing to a lost love.’”

Kristyna said that The Paris Match was one of her favourite Style Council songs.

“I was invited to perform with Steve White for his 30 years in music shows and he asked me to sing The Paris Match,” she said.

“When interest to release the track as a single followed and I received permission from Paul Weller to record it, I was over the moon.”

The track will be available to purchase as a download on iTunes from Monday, for 79p.

A percentage of the single sales will go to homeless charity Centrepoint, for which Kristyna is an ambassador.