In 1985, the world was full of hope. Ronald Reagan was sworn in on Jan 20 for his second term, and the United Nations had declared 1985 to be “International Youth Year.” It was in that year that Katrina and the Waves rose to glory with a song that has since carried our hearts and minds into a forever young state. We have been “Walking On Sunshine” for 25 years. PopWreckoning’s Thomas Starks was fortunate to have a conversation with Kimberley Rew, writer and co-band member of Katrina and The Waves. 
Thomas Starks, PopWreckoning: Good afternoon, Mr. Rew.
Kimberley Rew: Hello, Thomas.
TS: Very pleased to have you here. My name is Thomas Starks with PopWreckoning. I’m honored to speak with you.
KR: It’s entirely my pleasure.
TS: So you have a quite a massive event this summer, huh?
KR: That’s correct! Twenty-five years of “Walking on Sunshine” plus all the re-issues.
TS: Have you literally been walking on sunshine? (Mr. Rew humored me, thankfully)
KR: Well, ummm, not recently because it’s kind of snowing and raining for about three months, but I do plan to do that later this year.
TS: So where are you residing at the moment?
KR: Ok, well, I’m in Cambridge England. That’s my hometown. I have lived here for a very long time, about 40 years. As of yet, still here, and yeah I still play music around Cambridge. Still making records here. The Soft Boys were formed and Katrina and the Waves were formed here way back in 14th Century B.C.
TS: With Radar Records?
KR: Yes, indeed. Yes.
TS: So you’re still making new records, are you utilizing a studio in or outside of Cambridge?
KR: Well, I’m very fortunate in that Katrina and The Waves had it’s own recording studio, which is just outside of Cambridge. The surviving Waves, we still have that studio there, so yes, still recording there.
TS: So I have received your 4 LP’s, the ones you released for retrospect. Those are excellent, and forgive me if this is common knowledge, but are you still performing with Katrina?
KR: Well no, the history was with Katrina and The Waves, we actually continued until 1997, I don’t know if you are aware of the Eurovision Song Contests?
TS: Well, I do know that you released Katrina and The Waves in Canada, and then Rolling Stone had a hand in introducing you to the United States.
KR: Yeah, in the early history, but to get back to your earlier question, no Katrina and The Waves aren’t still together as a sort of functioning unit. But the early history of the band was such that we spent about tour years looking around for a deal, and then did eventually land a kind of little independent deal in Canada. Now two of the four records that you’ve got there Katrina and The Waves and Katrina and The Waves 2 were released in Canada originally, and then from there the word spread to the states.
TS: Now, explain to me how this came about, were you looking at letting the 25th Anniversary of “Walking On Sunshine” calmly pass or was there a buzz about it and around you?
KR: Well, there is a buzz, yeah. People are interested, which is why we’re here sort of talking really…
TS: Exactly.
KR: Either way, that interest sort of self generates itself, so it’s a bit of a circular thing. I think there’s a buzz, yeah, reaching that 25-year milestone. Plus the fact that, you know, as time has gone by, the 80’s have kind of gone into this sort of classic kind of category.
TS: I also see a sort of sub part of this, a big one too, not only are celebrating 25 years, we are getting to meet “Kimberley Rew.” Now, you’ve written for The Bangles and Celine Dion, who else have you written for?
KR: Right. Ok, well, who else have we got? Well, Dolly Parton recorded “Walking On Sunshine,” I think on an album called Treasures in about 1995, that was a nice one. Oh and Aly and A.J. did as well. Let’s see, the cast of “Glee,” you’re familiar with that T.V. show right?
TS: Yes, I am.
KR: They recorded it just recently. Although most of it has been on one song, Celine Dion recorded a song called “That’s Just the Woman in Me”; the Bangles, they did a song called “Going Out to Liverpool.” Also, Jefferson Starship, which is kind of a very distant descendant of Jefferson Airplane actually recorded a song called “Rock Myself To Sleep,” which I wrote with bass player Vince De La Cruz. So it’s not a long list, but it’s got some good moments.
TS: Well, I’d rather have a short list of quality, than a long list of just stuff you don’t care to listen to anyway. Well I think you’ve done a great job, so you have these four in retrospect, what do you have in store? Two part question: after this are you going in studio and creating a whole new work and 2nd- where are we going to celebrate?
KR: Right, well, probably on the airwaves. It’s been the #2 summer song of 2008, so we’re hoping we can get it to #1 for 2010, that would be very nice. So yeah, that would be the venue for celebration. Oh, and do you know the World Cup, the soccer World Cup?
TS: Oh yes.
KR: This year, well probably you won’t hear it there, but the BBC, the BBC put their football on television, a gospel choir version, that’s another place it’s gonna be heard. And the first part of your question, yeah I’m writing and recording all the time. I actually just finished an album, so gonna see if there’s any interest in that, you know these things do happen.
TS: I really believe there is going to be interest in this. So tell me how you hooked up with Brooklyn Vegan? Did they come to you?
KR: Ohhh, I don’t really know. There’s this thing on the internet that Brooklyn Vegan is going to have a series of my songs available on their Web sites. You know, I don’t really know how that works actually, we’re just waiting to see what happens. I feel kind of stupid, you know, saying I don’t know who is going to sing what song or how you’re going to hear it. I don’t know if they are on the Web site at the moment, so I do apologize. But if you get a chance to check it out, please let me know. (Kimberley laughs with appreciation)
TS: I think it’s completely OK because we are going to keep an ear out for it. I do know that they are going to be releasing a tribute E.P. of the songs covered by apparently some of the most talented artists in the world of Indie music today. So, long after the celebration this summer, I think we are going to be seeing some very interesting things coming not only from you, but also from your followers, your peers and those respected in the music industry today. I also have to admit, I don’t think there’s been a summer go by when I haven’t heard “Walking on Sunshine” and had to literally stand up and dance.
KR: OK, well, I’m very glad you said that. I actually had a guy ask me earlier this afternoon “How do you feel when it comes on like in a romantic comedy, do you wince?” But you know I stand up and everybody else does, so well done.
TS: Well, I think what you have done and are doing is great. Twenty-five years for one song is a great accomplishment and I hope to interview you in 25 more.
KR:That would be nice wouldn’t it? I hope I’m still here. I hope I can still talk.
TS: Well, I know that song carries a lot of weight. We are looking forward to everything you have coming. Where can our fans and readers find you online?
KR: Well, you can go to www.katw.com, which is the official Katrina and the Waves Web site. You can also go too kimberleyrew.com, which is my Web site. That has got links to things like all the sort of gigs I’m doing around Cambridge, you know; things like that. Plus all the sort of history, discography and everything. You know KATW has the news on it, like the cast of Glee singing, Celine Dion and all the rest of it. Also, there are all sorts of things popping up on the internet anyway, so it all goes in the general interest of what’s going on.
TS: Now a lot of our readers are on Facebook as well, do you have a Facebook we can find you on, a fan page?
KR: I am on Facebook, yes. Yeah, but I have to admit, between you, me and the gate post, I’m not really a Facebook kind of a guy. That is I don’t go on there and tell people what I had for breakfast. I mean, but you know, I got into music because I really loved playing the guitar, you know? And then 40 or 50 years later, Facebook came along, which is something that I’m supposed to do because of the position that I’m in. But I mean I’m not actually very good at going on and saying anything very interesting. But yes, I’m now on Facebook, hang on, I’m getting a prompt here…
(A voice in the background, a female who’s voice has been present through out speaks up. Sounds as though she is a sweet person just trying to move him along)
Background Voice: You’ve got plenty of personal things on your Web site…
KR: Yeah, if you wanna sort of check me out, go to my Web site. There’s a thing called “In Pursuit.” Also, a free download of an E.P. called Ridgeway…
Background Voice: You’ve also got stuff on YouTube…
KR: And, of course, various things on YouTube. You know, you can see what I look like there. You know, there’s sort of cameras coming in from above. You can see how much hair I’ve got left, you know like all my friends. We’ve been playing playing music forever.
TS: Well, we appreciate what you do, Mr. Rew. We would also like to thank the coach behind you, who is giving you this information.
(We all laugh out loud, pressure released…now, we’re friends.)
KR: Oh yes, Naomi, I couldn’t have done it without her.
TS: It takes a team to build it. I want to ask one last question, if you had the opportunity to work with anybody right now at all, who would it be?
KR: Well, that would be easy, it would be with my lovely fiancee, Lee: bass player, backing singer, songwriter, everything. You know I play music with her every week and I wouldn’t change that. It doesn’t get any better.
TS: Well, thank you, Mr. Rew. I appreciate your time.
KR: Well, thank you, Thomas.
