Carmen Squire

Carmen was born on 12 August 1969. Her mother, Nikki Squire (née James), worked at The Speakeasy in London. According to Jon Brewer: "Underneath the bar, and unbeknownst to most people, was a little Moses basket, which was where Carmen, Nikki's daughter, used to sleep". On 12 August 1970, Nikki met Yes bassist Chris Squire and struck up a friendship. They were married on 19 June 1972 and Chris went on to adopt Carmen. The family moved to New Pipers, Virginia Water, Surrey in December 1972. Chris and Nikki had two daughters together, Carmen's half sisters, Chandrika Squire (born February 1972) and Camille (born 24 July 1977). With the exception of a photograph, aged two, inside the Yes "Fragile" album, Carmen's first appearance in the public eye was in 1983 when she began modeling. Chris Squire's first solo album, "Fish out of Water" (1975), featured a track called "Lucky Seven", which he says was inspired by wandering whether the Nanny he and Nikki Squire employed to look after Carmen and Chandrika would be lucky in love when she went out after work. Her first recorded music credit was in 1987 on her mother's group's debut album, the self-titled "Esquire", which also featured Chris Squire. Carmen can be heard singing backing vocals on some of the tracks, including "Knock Twice for Heaven". During the making of the album, Chris and Nikki Squire divorced. Chris married actress Melissa Morgan Squire on 8 May 1993. Carmen contributed backing, and some lead, vocals to the second Esquire album, "Coming Home", in 1994. Around this time, she had a relationship with Yes keyboard player Tony Kaye. According to Jon Brewer: "He (Chris Squire) had terrible problems with Tony Kaye. Tony went off with Carmen and Chris found it difficult going on stage with him. He'd say: "I'm playing in a band with a possible future son-in-law who's the same age as I am!" Thank God that Tony and Carmen broke up in the end." Meanwhile, Carmen became a successful voice-over artist. By the early 2000s, her voice was heard regularly on British television and radio. Her voice could be heard daily on BBC Radio 2 until 2018. In 2006, she sang backing vocals and played rhythm guitar for Astrella Celeste, appearing on her album "Blue Star". In 2013, Carmen worked with Mark Brydon and DJ Richard Barratt on a dance project called Tooth Faeries. She co-wrote and sang lead vocals on the song "Dust and Ashes". Two years later, a follow-up single was released, "The Sound", with an accompanying music video in which Carmen features: Tooth Faeries: The Sound (2015). In 2018 she filmed her mother, Nikki Squire, for her Esquire: Gaia (Mother of Heaven) (2018) music video.