Emerging as a Bob Marley cover band and family recording project across Aoteoroa, Katchafire have become a global roots-reggae phenomenon built on a foundation of soulful jazz, classic funk, modern dancehall and slinky-reggae pop.
Their authentic sound crafts a chilled vibe and captures the group’s diversity of sound and instrumentation. The eight-piece collective have become a staple act on the Californian and Pacific reggae scene with their brand of chilled-out and slow-vibing roots music.
Ahead of a one-off show on the Sunshine Coast in November, drummer/ vocalist Jordan Bell answered the following questions.
The group was born when Grenville, Logan and you started recording music in an apartment. When was the tipping point that the group started to become the Katchafire we are familiar with today?
There were many tipping points; how far shall we go back? The first tipping point was the day we decided to do this full-time; my father moved out from the comfort of home away from my mother to set up Katchafire's HQ — right in the middle of town. We could practise all day with no noise control knocking trying to take our instruments away. Later we meet bar and pub owners that heard our music from walking down the street asking us to play at their club one night a week and later becoming the house band.
How long were you doing the cover band before it grew into your own influences and original material?
We did the cover thing for about three years creating a fan base, which would later span the globe. We went through musicians in the earlier years. The hardest years for any band is the start. It was hard to keep musicians to keep the faith. But it was our school of reggae so to speak. Learning to play Bob Marley and many other, great reggae artists helped our chops — we were learning without knowing it.
With eight members in the group – especially three of which being related – what is the chemistry like?
We usually have a big race and the winner takes the right to tell everyone else what to do. Nah! Life on the road is just like a big family; we all have to respect each other. There are some differences, but we know each other now to know when you’re pushing too far. But we have had some clashes though.In terms of creative ideas, the songwriter usually gets last say on how the song comes out.
How about life on the road? What is the privacy situation like?
It’s pretty efficient — we have two, big vans that fit our gear and the band and we travel that way thus giving us more mobility than a big tour bus that you can't park at the food court ‘cause the roof is too low to drive the bus in.
With all members being from Maori decent, you have established an authentic sound and aesthetic representative of your culture as well as appropriating it with different formulas from different eras and different cultures; aside from the funk and groove you seem to ooze from your veins, do you think that this aesthetic adds another layer of accessibility or branding to the group’s international success?
It sure does. I think first of all it’s who you are as a musician; why you’re doing it is key. We just cruise along without forcing it in people's faces. Our approach has always been what you see is what you get, it is a true and authentic approach. I think people are smart and pick up on fake things — our authentic message comes through our music and who we are as people.
Katchafire play Kings Beach Tavern on the Sunshine Coast on Thursday 20th November.
