The vocal talents of Shirlie Kemp have arguably graced some of the '80s biggest hits, whether providing backing vocals for Wham! or her own career as half of Pepsi Shirlie, but after some time away from the spotlight, she returned with her husband Martin for 2019's In the Swing of It.

Born into a large family in Bushey, Hertfordshire, Kemp (nee Holliman) had originally found her way into the music industry as a backup dancer for her then-boyfriend Andrew Ridgeley's band, Wham!. Alongside her friend Dee C. Lee, the pair went on to perform as backing vocalists for Wham! and their careers took off. With Lee leaving to join the Style Council, her replacement, Helen Pepsi DeMacque, would eventually provide her a duo partner. When Wham! broke up in 1986, Pepsi Shirlie broke into the spotlight with the release of their debut album, 1987's All Right Now. After a handful of Top 10 U.K. singles, the duo returned in 1991 with their sophomore album, Change, but with the pop landscape changing, the pair decided to quit. At the height of Pepsi Shirlie's career, Holliman married partner Martin Kemp, whose band, Spandau Ballet, had also ridden the wave of '80s pop. Deciding to focus on family, she retired, returning in 2000 to provide backing vocals, alongside her partner Pepsi, for Geri Halliwell's single "Bag It Up." It wouldn't be until 2019 that Holliman returned to the studio. With encouragement from her husband, the pair decided to record a selection of easy listening standards with Kemp backed by a full band. In the Swing of It, which also featured a handful of songs penned by their daughter, Harleymoon, was issued at the tail-end of the year, preceded by the single "Nice Work If You Can Get It." ~ Rich Wilson, Rovi