Interview with Adenike Adewale, Whitney - Queen of the Night
Whitney – Queen Of The Night celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2025, with more than 100 shows scheduled across the UK and internationally, following landmark performances at some of the world’s best-known and loved venues including The London Palladium and Royal Albert Hall.
Adenike, from Bromley, stars in Whitney – Queen Of The Night alongside international project work for the Ministry Of Justice.
A shy, quiet child who loved music – Adenike Adewale honed her vocals in her bedroom listening to powerhouse performers and singing in school and university choirs.
Now she tours the country, fronting Whitney – Queen Of The Night, celebrating the music and life of one of the greatest singers of all time: Whitney Houston.
The ultimate tribute to the remarkable musical repertoire of Whitney Houston, Whitney – Queen Of The Night is an electrifying production that honours her timeless songs with sensational vocalists and a full live band.
Audiences are blown away by an extraordinary journey through three decades of all-time hits such as I Wanna Dance With Somebody, One Moment In Time, I’m Every Woman, I Will Always Love You, My Love Is Your Love, So Emotional, Run To You, Saving All My Love, How Will I Know, Million Dollar Bill, The Greatest Love Of All, and many more.
Find out more about Adenike and Whitney – Queen Of The Night with this all-new interview…
HOW DID YOU COME TO STAR IN WHITNEY – QUEEN OF THE NIGHT?
I started singing in choirs and school productions at a young age but I was shy and was happy to stay in the background.
I only learned to develop more confidence as I got older. Singing and writing songs was my joy, I used to enjoy being in my own space with a piano and my voice, which is how I developed it from this small timid voice. I enjoyed listening to all the powerhouse singers; Nina Simone, Celine Dion, Whitney, lots of gospel – we had a lot of that music around the house and my family.
It remained a huge hobby but over time I did more and more and came out of myself. I became a choir leader at university, where I was studying law. I am from that kind of strict African upbringing to make my parents proud and study hard, but music was my respite from that and allowed me time out from studying.
I tried to step out of that comfort zone and ended up singing at events, in church etc., and a few years later I got the confidence to apply for The Voice in 2021 – almost right at the peak of Covid. We had online auditions first, the next stage was in person. But it was a case of if not now then when would I take that step. I got through to the blind auditions and was selected for Team Will.I.Am, reaching the battle stages – when I sang a Whitney song, and then the semi-finals. It was a massive experience for me and such a huge step up from churches and weddings.
I had so much support through that and I realised it was what I really wanted to do – so when Whitney – Queen Of The Night came up, I grabbed the chance.
It is challenging to combine my work on Ministry Of Justice projects with Whitney, but they both offer flexibility and the impact that work has is just so incredible.
WHAT IS IT THAT MAKES WHITNEY HOUSTON SUCH A SPECIAL ARTIST FOR YOU?
My mum was a huge fan, so Whitney Houston was always ringing and singing in our house from an early age.
That vocal passion she had, the gospel background, it spoke to me. Her voice wasn’t just pleasing to the ear, but the passion was something I related to. I aspired to have that range and that freedom of vocal ability – it was so powerful. I wanted to emulate that ability from the timid voice I had, it gave me something to work for.
The gospel industry in itself was where Whitney started and then went into soul, pop and RnB. Faith played a huge role in her life and stayed prominent in her music. To be able to bless others through song was something I aspired to too.
WHY DO YOU THINK WHITNEY’S MUSIC STILL HAS SUCH INFLUENCE FOR FANS TODAY?
To have influence as she has, relating to a wide range of generations is powerful. You still see teenagers go crazy over I Wanna Dance With Somebody, just as their mums and grandmothers have done.
Whitney was true to her personality and was able to portray that with music. Lyrics were usually written for her, but she managed to bring her own self to them at the same time by putting passion and love into her songs – which are feelings everyone can relate to. And we see that in the show, as people are singing along, they all have their memories attached to the different songs in the show.
WHITNEY HOUSTON WAS REALLY KNOWN FOR THAT IMMACULATE VOICE. HOW DO YOU DO IT?
Whitney Houston really was ‘The Voice’!
There is a lot of time dedicated to looking after my vocals. She had that ability from a young age, and yes, it was affected towards the end of her life, but I never had that ability as a child or teenager. But it takes a lot of practice, rehearsals and spending time listening to Whitney’s music.
I work hard to keep my voice fit so that I can enjoy every performance and make sure everybody has a good time. The show goes through the timelines of Whitney’s life and achievements, and I see it as taking the audience on a journey with me and that’s how I make it work.
TELL US ALL ABOUT WHITNEY – QUEEN OF THE NIGHT AND WHAT AUDIENCES CAN EXPECT…
Whitney – Queen Of The Night very much has an interactive feel. I love that it’s one of those shows where the audience feels very much part of it.
The band plays a huge role. We have guitar, bass, saxophone, percussion, drummer and piano, two backing dancers and singers who are constantly on stage, and a featured vocalist who has a huge role too. We get on so well and enjoy it every night. It’s great to have a musical family like we do and being able to take audiences on the journey – it’s magical.
The show includes the powerhouse hits, the RnB feels, it hits all the Whitney spots, and it’s two-and-a-half hours of songs to celebrate her life.
In between the songs, we are taking people through her life with the chat. That’s what makes it different as a ‘tribute’ show as such, in that I’m not being Whitney, not acting as her, not until the music kicks in and my voice starts. As soon as the music starts it’s a faithful Whitney performance, but between times we are sharing that story.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE PART OF THE SHOW/SONG(S) TO SING?
There’s so much to love in this show, but probably for me the interaction in My Love Is Your Love is a highlight, where we get someone to join us on stage. I think people assume they are pre-chosen or planted people but they’re not – it’s a genuine live selection. Sometimes they are great and can really sing, other times they’re people who just want to dance along. Whoever it is, we love that lovely moment of celebrating together… And you never know quite how it will turn out each night!
At the end of the show, there’s Greatest Love Of All, and there are certain vocal gymnastics and fireworks I get to pull out which really get the crowd going, while the lyrics are just beautiful.
And then there’s I Will Always Love You…You see the stories of that song in everyone’s eyes, the tears, the smiles. I get so many messages about that song, whether it reminds them of someone, something in their lives – and that’s what reminds me that what we do is not just ‘entertainment’. It’s emotion, love, memories…
But that song, wow! When I first started singing it, it was intimidating. Even if you don’t know Whitney Houston, you know that song, those first few bars. Starting in the show, I definitely felt a pressure in knowing I had to step out every night to deliver that song, that magic. I definitely pace myself to be ready for it every time, as each audience is hearing it from us for the first time. And it’s so magical; sometimes you could hear a pin drop through the whole song, other times they are cheering throughout.
There’s another point in the show, where I get to really hold the audience, and I get goosebumps every time. That’s how special this show is!
YOU HAVE PLAYED SOME INCREDIBLE VENUES WITH WHITNEY – QUEEN OF THE NIGHT, WHAT’S IT LIKE STEPPING OUT AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL AND THE LONDON PALLADIUM?
When those shows came up, I could not believe it! It’s such a milestone and an incredible experience for the show to have those moments. Being able to perform at those venues shows how far Whitney – Queen Of The Night has come and just how good the show is… Not many tribute shows can claim those venues on their schedule!
It’s the show’s 10th anniversary in 2025, so for us all to experience those nights together is amazing.
For me, I could never have expected headlining the Royal Albert Hall and The London Palladium so soon in my music career. They are dream venues! I was in tears the night before, feeling so blessed. And I had so many family and friends who were able to come along and support us.
YOUR SCHEDULE OF SHOWS FOR WHITNEY – QUEEN OF THE NIGHT IS FULL ON. HOW DO YOU LOOK AFTER YOURSELF ON THE ROAD TO MAINTAIN THOSE VOCALS?
I try to strike a balance of resting my body and vocals before and between shows. It’s important to pace yourself, to eat the right foods and drink the right liquids, which isn’t always easy on tour. It takes discipline. There are certain foods I won’t eat before a show, and I don’t have fizzy or cold drinks.
I have learned to take all the advice from vocal coaches and do a lot of research online too – as it’s about long-term vocal care, as well as keeping vocally healthy from show to show. If we have four shows back to back, four powerhouse performances, you have to recuperate well between. It’s hard to not get swept up in the moment of each show, I do get over excited sometimes, but then have to remember to pull it back a bit.
We have a great team on the show and around us, and we support each other to make sure we keep the show at its very best.
WHAT DOES YOUR WHITNEY – QUEEN OF THE NIGHT SHOW DAY LOOK LIKE?
It’s usually an early start for travel, then once we get to a venue, I love having a walk around the town or city. A great thing about theatres is they’re usually central, so it’s easy to take that time. It’d be so easy to just turn up, perform and leave, but one of my favourite things about touring is seeing places around the country I wouldn’t otherwise get to visit. It’s fun to walk past people in restaurants and think they’re maybe having dinner before coming to the show!
We have our sound check, and after that I prepare all my costumes and things, lay everything out where it needs to be… I have three wigs and eight to 10 costumes every show, so I need to be really organised.
It’s nice to spend time with the girls then. We sometimes go out to eat or have something at the theatre and have a rest before we start getting ready. We have music on in the dressing room – sometimes it’s a bit of Whitney to check our vocals, or the radio or a playlist on someone’s phone. Depends on the mood that day.
I get my make-up and costume on, ready for our call to stage – then I look in the mirror to check everything is in place. There’s not a specific moment when I ‘become’ Whitney, but I definitely enter a frame of mind at that point and do some final vocal warm ups.
There’s a lovely few minutes right at the top of the show where I am by myself. The band goes out and starts up, then the backing vocalists go out, so it’s just me backstage for a quiet minute when I say a prayer for myself, the band and the audience, which gives me the confidence and flow to deliver the show.
Then I get my moment to catwalk on, pose and begin. It feels brand new and exciting every single time! Our audiences are amazing. Most of the time, they are pretty wild and it’s an absolute party, but some nights they are really reflective – which is probably more intimidating as it’s more intense. Those first few minutes of the show, I love seeing which type of audience they will be. It’s thrilling!
LOOKING BACK ON WHITNEY HOUSTON’S LIFE AND CAREER, HOW DOES WHITNEY – QUEEN OF THE NIGHT REFLECT THE CHALLENGES WHILE CELEBRATING HER MUSIC?
I am old enough to recall all the feeling of her life coming to an end too soon, as she had been so much part of our family’s musical life.
With the show, we get messages and comments from people who saw her perform live and they tell us how much they love our show which is a huge compliment. It’s powerful to bring a performance that reflects the time when she was at her best and very special to be able to help people recreate their memories of Whitney and how very, very special she was at her prime.
Even though most of her hits came before those difficult times, they are reflected in a lot of the songs and lyrics – the emotions are all there and we hope to bring the moments to treasure to the front.
Tickets for Whitney – Queen Of The Night are on sale now from www.cuffeandtaylor.com
