http://youtu.be/uks4GXn7PMw
Hailing from Hamilton, New Zealand, Katchafire have become a global roots reggae phenomenon. The all-Maori reggae band bring their pure classic sound to the Brewery on Thursday November 13.
Tell me how the Katchafire crew first got together.
The short story is: About 1997 Grenville, my father, much to my mother’s disgust, moved us out of our house – he had a friend with apartments for lease right in the middle of town and somehow Dad managed to get his friend to give him the apartment for $100 a week! At the time it was $600 a week average for a place like this! We had the town at our fingertips – all the pubs and clubs were all a stone’s throw away!
At the time we where a covers band and were playing 4-hour shows to win over bar owners! 2001 we entered a comp in Auckland that Dawn Raid was holding; we won that. The prize was $5,000 worth of recording time; we recorded Giddy Up and Bounce This.
What have been some of your personal career highlights?
Opening the Hawaiian market, they have been the reason we got into mainland America. We thank Hawaiians big time for leading the charge.
What is it about reggae do you think that resonates with people?
Apart from the infectious grooves and the positive messages it’s one of those genres that can cross over to all ages and walks of life. It’s a music you can listen to any time of the day.
It’s like food you never get sick of.
What are the social issues that you are most passionate about?
I just want the world to be as one. Just imagine a world full of love; there would be no war, no famine, no need for crime. I think love is the most underestimated power in the world today.
If there were one issue I would push – it is love.
Do you think that music can make a difference to people’s lives? Or to how we live on the planet?
Music is the other underestimated power in the world today – as a musician we have a platform and a responsibility to make a difference in some way.
With our music Katchafire has helped a lot of people. Music brings the world together.
What would you like people to take away from your music?
Just the good vibrations we put out and some vocal zones, a pill you take for losing your voice from singing too much… and maybe some merch to help pay for fuel to get to the next town.
What is the essence of good songwriting for you?
Getting people to sing your song. It does not have to be a masterpiece of a song or clever wording. But the fact that everyone can sing your song – and a good song is one that everyone can and wants to sing.
How does the band operate when it comes to songwriting and recording?
We have a huge game of full-contact rugby league, heavy hit and all; the winner gets to control how the songs sounds. Nah… if this were true I would have no songs on the album!
We have four songwriters and whoever is writing the song gets the last say on how it turns out.
What should we expect for the show at the Byron Brewery?
Expect to lose your voice from singing all the words to all the hits that Katchafire has to date!
We do Three Little Birds by Bob Marley as a tribute to the man that made it possible for us to be here, and we see who sings it the loudest! We do this all over the world; the place that’s winning now is Hawaii – so Byron Bay, I want you guys to take the record for being the loudest in the world! You will be dubbed with title ‘9th member’ by adding your harmonies to the song! So bring it on!
Tickets $40 and on sale now through the Brewery website: byronbaybrewery.com.au.
Show starts at 8pm.