Kavana Takes Over The VIVA iPod

Fionnula Hainey | 7th October 2015

Kavana 13

‘Dance Tonight’ – Lucy Pearl

Random one I know but it reminds me of my L.A. years when, having just moved there and renting my own apartment on sunset strip, this would be blaring from my balcony – usually on a Friday night when I was getting up to no good!

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‘Loves In Need’ – Stevie Wonder

This is one of my fave Stevie songs. My sister played this to me in the late nineties and I loved the whole intro of Stevie singing the acappello intro. It’s also the first song on the cassette demo I sent to Nigel Martin Smith, manager of Take That, who later signed me after hearing it. I recorded the demo on my hi-fi at home, tape to tape, it took me all day! Dayck!

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‘Keep On Movin’ – Soul II Soul

I remember joining the ‘Britannia Music Club’ catalogue where you would order five tapes and get them in the post for five pounds, ninety-nine – a bargain. I had no idea who this group were really, apart from ‘Back To Life’  but this track and the drum programming plus Caron Wheeler’s amazing vocals blew me away.

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‘Like A Prayer’ – Madonna

What can I say? The first album on tape that I ever bought. The whole album is genius Pop at its best but this, to me, was Madonna in her prime superstar status. The Gospel choir gave it a more soulful sound. Years later I was lucky enough to write with Patrick Leonard in L.A. who wrote this with her.

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‘What’s Goin On’ – Marvin Gaye 

Love the laid-back groove of this song. A cooler sound for Marvin, away from his Motown roots and also a great message of peace and love. The sax intro eases you right into soul music at its best.

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‘There Is A Light That Never Goes Out’ – The Smiths

One of my favourite Mozza/Smiths songs. A great melody and it gives that instant northern sound they created. A song for loners and people that didn’t conform. Typical Morrissey!

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‘Step On’ – Happy Mondays

Tuuuune! This song sums up the whole hedonism of not only the group but also the ‘madchester’ scene which was happening at the time, plus Rowetta’s signature vocals which take me back to that summer and make me smile.

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‘De ja vu’ – Kavana

My new single which is basically ace! Available now on iTunes.

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