Early Life
Shaznay Lewis was born Tricia Marie Lewis on October 14, 1975, in Islington, London, England. She is the daughter of a Jamaican mother and a Barbadian father. As a teenager, Shaznay played in three matches for the London football team Arsenal Ladies. She started entering singing competitions when she was 13 years old.
All Saints
Lewis met Curiosity Killed the Cat vocalist Ben Volpeliere-Pierrot at a party, and he invited her to the Metamorphosis recording studios, which were located on All Saints Road in London. Shaznay began doing backing vocals there, and in 1993, she met Melanie Blatt and recorded with her there. The duo formed the girl group All Saints 1.9.7.5. with Simone Rainford, and after Rainford left, Natalie and Nicole Appleton joined the group. The name was later shortened to All Saints, and in 1997, they released their debut self-titled album. The album was a hit, reaching the top 10 on the charts in more than a dozen countries, and it was certified 5× Platinum in the UK, 3× Platinum in Canada, 2× Platinum in Australia, and Platinum in New Zealand, Spain, Switzerland, and the U.S. The group had top 10 singles on the UK Singles Chart with the songs “I Know Where It’s At” (#4), “Never Ever” (#1), “Under the Bridge” (#1), “Bootie Call” (#1), and “War of Nerves” (#7). All Saints released their second album, “Saints & Sinners,” in 2000, and it reached #1 on the UK Albums Chart and Scottish Albums Chart and went 2× Platinum in the UK. The singles “Pure Shores” and “Black Coffee” topped the UK Singles Chart. In 2001, the group split up. They won an Igor Novello Award that year for Most Performed Work for “Pure Shores,” which Lewis co-wrote with William Orbit. All Saints reunited in 2006 and released the album “Studio 1” later that year. “Studio 1” reached #40 on the UK Albums Chart and #45 on the Scottish Albums Chart, and it was certified Gold in the UK. The single “Rock Steady” reached the top 10 on the charts in Belgium, the Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary, Russia, Scotland, Spain, and the UK. The group disbanded in 2009, but they reunited again in 2014 to serve as the opening act for the Backstreet Boys at five concerts in the UK and Ireland. In 2016, they released their fourth album, “Red Flag,” followed by “Testament” in 2018. “Red Flag” reached #3 on the UK Albums Chart and #6 on the Scottish Albums chart. “Testament” topped the UK Independent Albums Chart and peaked at #11 on the Irish Independent Albums Chart and #15 on the UK Albums Chart and Scottish Albums Chart. In 2020, All Saints teamed up with Sting for a cover of “Message in a Bottle.” In 2024, Lewis released her second solo album, “Pages,” which reached #9 on the UK Independent Albums chart, #13 on the UK Album Downloads chart, and #23 on the Scottish Albums chart. The album included the singles “Miracle,” “Kiss of Life,” “Good Mourning” (with Shola Ama and General Levy), and “Got to Let Go.”
Solo Career
In 2004, Shaznay released her debut solo album, “Open,” which reached #12 on the UK R&B Albums chart, #22 on the UK Albums chart, and #23 on the Scottish Albums chart. The single “Never Felt Like This Before” peaked at #3 on the UK Hip Hop/R&B chart, #8 on the UK Singles chart, #19 on the Recorded Music NZ chart, and #35 on the Irish IRMA chart. The album also featured the single “You,” which reached #56 on the UK Singles chart and #62 on the Scottish Albums chart.
Personal Life
Shaznay married dancer Christian “Storm” Horsfall on August 21, 2004. The couple welcomed their son, Tyler-Xaine, in February 2006 and their daughter, Tigerlily, in November 2009.
Awards and Nominations
In 1998, All Saints won BRIT Awards for Best British Single and Best British Video and a MOBO Award for Best Video for “Never Ever.” They also received a Viva Comet Award for Best International Newcomer and an MTV Europe Music Award for Best New Act. The group won an Edison Award for Best International Newcomer in 1999 and an MTV Europe Music Award for Best Pop in 2000. In 2001, “Pure Shores” earned All Saints an Ivor Novello Award for Most Performed Work. The group has also received nominations from the APRA Music Awards, NME Awards, and Classic Pop Reader Awards.
