Although it’s not the best of starts for her Australian tour with it raining down in Sydney, when I call Katrina Leskanich (of Katrina and the Waves) she is upbeat in overcoming the jetlag and in spite of the inclement conditions is keen to check out the Botanical Gardens as well as some ‘off the beaten track’ places but will be equally happy even to visit the mall.
That is Katrina, always seeing the ‘sunshine’ even on a rainy day.
Surprisingly, I learn that Katrina probably knows Tasmania better than I do having, on a previous visit ‘walked from one side of the island to the other’ checking out coffee shops along the way. Katrina says she had a fantastic time and thinks Tasmania is ‘a very special place with friendly people’.
Katrina is always keen to experience the places she visits and what they have to offer and thinks those that are content with a tour from plane to hotel to venue and don’t take advantage of opportunities to explore the sites are missing out and placing themselves in a bubble of self-importance and if they are scared of being recognised on these adventures, she says, ‘have you heard of a baseball cap?’.
Katrina believes the 80’s gives us escapism to a music with a simple melody and a time of ‘positivity and joy’. Katrina beautifully says ‘music is the sanctuary of the misfits and outcasts’ and those that believe in that sunshine.
I ask Katrina about her success in the Eurovision song contest in 1997. Katrina says the competition ‘is an interesting phenomonen’ and ‘a recipe of culture’. Katrina is glowing in her support of this year’s show and Australian entrant Dami Im, saying she ‘was the best’, ‘brilliant’ and ‘should have won’. She believes Australia has opened the door for America, Canada and New Zealand to also take part although perhaps the contest name will have to change!
Multi-talented Katrina has also hosted TV programs and starred in musicals playing Elli Greenwich, in ‘Leader of the Pack’ the musical telling the story of the life of the singer and songwriter of such songs as ‘Be my baby’, ‘Leader of the pack’ and ‘River deep mountain high’, songs that influenced Katrina’s own music.
Katrina is also a writer having penned ‘Peggy Lee Loves London: my London’ which will be released this year as ‘Metropoodle’. The book details the story of Katrina’s toy poodle’s adventures. Further adventures for Peggy will include one to Cornwell, Ireland and just maybe one day, Tasmania.
The last word should reference Katrina’s song ‘Walking on Sunshine’ a song that always ‘brings her joy’ and ‘has never let her down’. Thank you Katrina, for never letting us down and bringing us joy with your music.
Katrina will perform with the ‘Totally 80s’ tour at the Wrest Point Entertainment Centre Friday 22nd July at 8.30pm.
Paula Xiberras
