Damien Edwards, best known as lead singer with Cats In Space and for his theatre work expands on his singing career and what the future holds with regard to new music and live gigs.
Who were your influences in the early days and have you always wanted to be a singer in a band?
I’ve been in bands since school, when I was 16. Before that I had only really sung in school musical productions and a couple of Christmas services in church.
Bearing in mind that my parents were lovers of Queen, The Bee Gees, Roxy music and Barbra Streisand, I guess they were early influences.
As I got older, it was The Police, Peter Gabriel, The Eagles & Don Henley’s solo albums of the time (Boys of Summer etc). I was heavily into the more Pop tinged 80’s stuff, Duran Duran, Nik Kershaw… not a lot of Rock to be honest.
Apart from Cats In Space have you ever auditioned for the vocal spot in any other notable bands?
Nope. No one knows who I am! [Laughs]
Have you ever had any plans to release a solo album?
There are 2 EPs available ‘Home’ and ‘This is the place’. They’ve been around a while. Again, they’re not really Rock, more MOR. You can find them on Bandcamp or any streaming service.
Yes, regarding a new solo album. I’ve decided that I should be doing that, just for my own self-gratification as much as anything.
Do you have a favourite song to sing on stage?
I have a few To be honest. Regarding Cats In Space it would probably be ‘1,000,000 Miles’ or ‘Kickstart The Sun’. But part of my background is in theatre. I played Roy Orbison in ‘The Roy Orbison Story’ and there’s a Roy song called ‘In Dreams’ that is beautiful. I love ‘The Moon’s A Harsh Mistress’, a Glenn Campbell song written by Jimmy Webb which is magnificent.
Some vocalists are on strict dietary regimes or gargle with special liquids. How have you kept your voice in tip-top shape all these years?
If my voice is tired, I steam it, inhaling and exhaling steam… it helps. I try not to have too much dairy. I should avoid sugar but I’m not great at that.
Do you still get the same buzz out of singing live as you did in the past?
The last tour we did, the show was over two hours long. It was a really hard sing and frankly it was more about getting through it than enjoying it. There were parts that I enjoyed but I felt a lot of responsibility just to be able to get through it. The fans deserve as good a show as you can perform.
A couple weeks ago I did a show at the London Palladium where I got to sing three Bowie songs (All You Pretty Things, Quicksand and Modern love) and that was a blast. Packed venue, great crowd, great sound, band etc. Gigs like that are a real treat because you’re not really doing a massive amount of singing and there’s nothing quite like performing in a storied venue to a full house.
Are there any musicians that you have not worked with, but would like to in the future?
There are loads and I’ll probably never be in the same room as them.
I see you’ve had some acting parts. Do you consider yourself an actor who can sing or a singer who can act?
Definitely a singer who can act… or who used to act. Maybe in the future I will again.
You’re an actor, singer and have worked in theatre, which of these are your favourite?
All of them. They’re different disciplines but it’s all really exciting stuff.
‘War Of The Worlds’ must have been a blast, what was it like for you?
It was a fantastic experience. Jeff Wayne produced this wonderful album and to get to be a part of it, live on stage, was quite something. Plus experiencing a really big tour with a big budget… it was a really amazing thing to be a part of.
Cats In Space are about to release a live album which means likely a new studio album may not appear until 2025. How do you find the process of writing with the other guys in the band?
The way it generally works for me is, Greg sends some bits of music, maybe an idea for a chorus, or a title for the song and I come up with a melody line and a lyric. Other times there’s a completed song that maybe needs a verse, or a completed bit of music that needs lyrics. Or Greg and Steevi have written a piece together but it needs a little work.
There isn’t really a set way of working, but I do prefer to be left to my own devices. I don’t particularly benefit from being set up in a room with someone. I love to be sent some music and someone just say, this song is about whatever. Can you write something about that?
Do you have any other acting parts lined up?
I wish, but no. My life has been basically music since before lockdown.
Have you or would you consider producing other bands?
I don’t think that I have the expertise to work with another band. I’m always open to giving people advice, writing with them etc, but I wouldn’t want to take advantage of another band. The business has a fair few folks like that as it is. I’ll stick, hopefully, to what I’m good at.
What do you get up to on your downtime from music?
I like to be out in nature, walking, going to the movies, reading, spending time with those who are nearest and dearest, my wife and friends.
With the live circuit back up and running, is there a possibility of seeing you perform in the UK again, either with Cats In Space or some other avenue of entertainment?
I perform for a living so hopefully, yes! CATS will tour again soon, I expect. I’ll always follow the opportunities that are presented.
Do you have anything else in the pipeline at the moment that you can share?
Apart from being involved in the new CATS album, and starting to write some new stuff for myself, not really. I wish that I could tell you that my diary was full for the next two years, of exciting stuff, but there are gaps here and there! As always, I’m open to anything and everything!
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