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| The Waves: Still Walking on Sunshine
--------------------------------------------------- Back in the 80s, a band from Cambridge, England made their indelible mark on the music world with the mega-feelgood hit 'Walking on Sunshine.' Soon the Waves were opening for the Beach Boys and surfing a tidal wave created by their first major record label success. 
Then in 1997, the band won the annual Eurovision Song Contest for the UK with
'Love Shine a Light' before finally going their separate ways in 1999. Now,
however, Katrina and the Waves are making waves again as they celebrate their
20th anniversary with a re-issue of original recordings from 1983-1984.
Celebritymate's Toby Osborne catches up with guitarist and songwriter Kimberley
Rew and singer Katrina Leskanich. Celebritymate: Hi Kimberley and Katrina - the release of your original recordings from 1983-1984 must feel like a blast from the past. Twenty years later, what is it like to hear those original tracks unleashed again? And what was it like to be a part of that back then? Kimberley Rew: Well, I had the task of going through our old quarter-inch tapes so I was - as you rightly say - blasted. I wasn't a part of it, we WERE it! When you're that age and trying to 'make it' with a band, you do it blindly and unquestioningly... Katrina Leskanich: It is amazing to hear these tracks backed up in a sympathetic and resourceful package after all these years. CM: So, were/are you always as happy and upbeat as the music? Is that even possible!?! Because Katrina and the Waves produced some incredibly happy tunes... KR: We're not specially happy upbeat people; it's the style of music we liked. Don't forget, that 60s revival sound was unheard of then - that's partly why we sounded so different. KL: We were happy to be making a living doing what we loved the most... CM: Now, on a side-note, have you seen 'High Fidelity'? Jack Black does a crazy dance to Walking on Sunshine which is fairly memorable... Any thoughts about reforming the band and getting his band to support you at an upcoming gig?  KR: Not a side note! The
mainstream of the song's appeal being demonstrated!! Nick Hornby (the writer of
High Fidelity) is, I'm sure, aware of the buttons the song presses... And I'm
still waiting to have control over the choice of other artists on live shows!
KL: I am sure Jack Black has bigger fishes to fry. CM: Do you ever wonder, for instance, how many people have hummed Walking on Sunshine subconsciously? It's like your music is ingrained into the world's psyche... I even think I heard one of your tracks in a TV commercial for diapers the other day.... KR: Music is supposed to be memorable. Most of man's history there's been no recorded sound so all of it had to be remembered. Walking on Sunshine was different and its upbeatness came to be used as a signal for upbeatness... As for our music appearing in films and TV commercials; we were actually listed in 'Empire' magazine's Top 5 "soundtrack whores." And the baby commercial would be 'Fisher-Price'... CM: Here is a tough question but, using a crystal ball -- where do you think you will be in another 20 years from now? Playing music? Cryogenically frozen for the joy of future generations..? KR: The cryogenic stuff sounds like the predictions of my youth -- for example, by 1970 we'll all be living on the moon travelling by monorail. So, a large pinch of salt. KL: In 20 years time I am quite sure I will be fighting off a chronic disease...  CM: Please let us know if you have any other plans in the pipeline? Solo tours, other album releases? Where can we see/hear you next? KR: For me, a re-release of my 1981 mini-compilation album 'Bible of Bop,' and another new solo album, and undoubtedly more Robyn Hitchcock (of the band Soft Boys) activities. And see www.kimberleyrew.com for updates. KL: I will be releasing a CD on 'Bongo Beat' records in 2005. In the meantime I will release a CD of stuff through www.katrinasweb.com. Also check out the official Katrina and the Waves website at www.katw.com |
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