Limahl is perhaps best-known as the former frontman of Kajagoogoo and for his 1984 hit ‘The NeverEnding Story’, which featured in the smash-hit movie of the same name.
Today the English singer-songwriter makes his welcome return to music with Still in Love, his first new material in 8 years. The track is available to stream and download everywhere and it continues his knack for a catchy pop tune.
I caught up with Limahl to talk about his return, find out more about the new single and discuss his post-COVID-19 plans…
Hi Limahl. How are you today and how are you keeping busy during lockdown?
Hi, Iām doing my best to stay away from chocolate but failing miserably lol. Iām also trying to cut my own hair which is impossible, the hard bit is doing the back innit – thatās where the partner comes in handy, but be careful, self-haircuts can cause divorces I hear š Hairdressers should now be recognised as key workers imo. Seriously though, Iām missing the gym but making up for it with cycling and working out at home. I find exercise really helps my mind as well as the body. Just before the lockdown started, I drove to Wigan to bring my lovely 82-year-old mother Cynthia to Hertfordshire to stay with me and my partner Steve coz we didnāt want her being alone for the lockdown. We havenāt killed each other yet lol. Iām sharing looking after mum with my sister Caroline who lives nearby.
Your new single is Still in Love. Whatās the inspiration behind the track?
The inspiration behind the track was simply trying to look for that illusive magic moment when the harmonics of the instruments meld with the vocals and it hopefully comes together like a nice jigsaw puzzle.
Historically the world has 100 years of song melodies & lyrics, so today, musicians/songwriters/producers must dig deep to stumble on something special. I was not in the headspace of our protagonist in writing this song. Heās in that scary place weāve all been to at some point in our lives where the heart is hurting badly. It’s not nice. But what an amazing feeling when you come through the other side and start learning to love yourself again. The verse feels dark but then thereās a kind of optimism in the chorus. I was hurt in love a couple times in my younger days (who hasnāt been) but am now in a great relationship with my civil partner Steve of 26 years.
This is your first solo music in 8 years. Why did you decide to release music now?
I was tempted back into the recording studio after three popular American TV shows used my music last year.
āToo Shyā was featured in Netflixās āBlack Mirrorā episode āBandersnatchā (their first interactive show). Then āAmerican Horror Storyā also used āToo Shyā and actually had a guy playing Limahl in the storyline set in 1984 – I get bumped off by one of the supernaturals which apparently in cult circles, is quite the accolade lol.
Then āNeverending Storyā played a pivotal role in the season three finale of Netflixās āStranger Thingsā.
Monthly Spotify streams of the song went up from 300,000 to 1.5 million. So as u can imagine, it feels like a possible opportunity AND they donāt come along very often. As the Americans would probably say āu gotta grab it by the balls kidā !!
What plans do you have for new music moving forward? Are you working on an EP or album right now?
With COVID-19 itās tricky to plan at the mo. Lockdown is certainly an opportunity to be creative though. I might have more music in the pipeline, watch this space . . . songwriting is a bit like learning to ride a bike or swim – once you can do it, it stays with you. Even today, I still write lyrics and phrases down if something pops into my head. I still get excited at the thought of arriving at a creative session where something doesnāt exist yet – then 3 hours later, something begins to unfold. Itās satisfying and thrilling.
Youāre celebrating 40 years in the music industry. What would you say have been your highlights?
In terms of hit songs, āToo Shyā & āNeverending Storyā of course , which although are 35 years old, have gained even more value with age, like an antique vase for eg. I too have become kind of more valuable – the big retro festivals now refer to us as Heritage Artists, I like that lol. Highlights ? Hmm let me see . . . I remember meeting and sharing a cigarette with Freddie Mercury at his party in central London after a Wembley concert around 1983. Meeting Princess Diana in a line-up at a charity event at the London Hippodrome standing next to Boy George. And Iām only a local lad done good from a Wigan council estate.
What are the biggest challenges youāve faced in your career?
Kajagoogoo splitting up meant that I suddenly had to find a new sound and a new creative team. Thatās not easy. Kajagoogoo were talented musicians/songwriters. We had an energy, a creative synergy and I missed that at first. I missed the camaraderie and banter of being with the guys. BUT I didnāt have a choice – they called and fired me. They thought we were being labelled a teeny band and that it was my fault. Crazy eh ! With hindsight, they must have contemplated their decision and have since realised that The Beatles were a teeny band at first, as were Wham and Duran (and many others). Kajagoogoo were noā1 all over the world, we had it all at our fingertips and in the blink an eye, what took 5 years to achieve, they threw away. Thankfully I met the legendary producer Giorgio Moroder and collaborated with him on āNeverending Storyā. That song (and āToo Shyā of course) has kept the phone ringing for the last 25 years for all kinds of work reasons – gigs, TV shows, corporate shows, TV synch use, commercials, etc. āToo Shyā was used in a UK Walkers Crisps TV advert and also for āOrangeā mobile, in France. āNeverending Storyā was used in the Swedish National Lottery. I actually sent Giorgio an iPhone video message for his 80th birthday last week. His wife Fransisca emailed about how she was planning to surprise him. They live in Beverly Hills and the two of them celebrated in lockdown. At 80, he probably didnāt fancy a big shindig lol. In my message, I said āI hope thereāll be flashes and dancing, that Fransisca will take his breath away and the partying will be neverending (alluding to three of his big hits).
If you could go back in time to give your younger self some advice, what would it be?
Donāt smoke. Read the small print. Call your mum every week. Pace yourself. Respect your body and sleep. I pushed my body for a while when working in Amsterdam at 25 years old, thinking I was invincible (the way youth often does) and ended up suffering with insomnia for about three months. IT WAS HORRIBLE. Never again did I disrespect my sleep pattern. Eat well and do some exercise and if youāre lucky and donāt get hit by a bus (which I nearly did btw in 2018 by half a second but that’s another story) youāll have a long and prosperous life.
Your songs have enjoyed longevity and were most recently used in American Horror Story: 1984 and Stranger Things. How does it feel to know these songs are such an integral part of pop music history?
Itās absofrigginlutely fanflippintastic! For many Americans, the British artists from the early 80ās ānew waveā invasion, has a kind of cult status there. Acts like Soft Cell, Human League, Pet Shop Boys, Eurythmics, Culture Club, and Kajagoogoo are held in high esteem. In 2018 I toured there with ABC & Belinda Carlisle. I had an absolute blast and also got three days off in Las Vegas.
Which artists are you enjoying and drawing inspiration from right now?
Atm Iām enjoying on my Spotify: āBust This Townā by Stereophonics , āMotherā by Charlie Puth, āCounting Starsā by OneRepublic, āNo Rootsā by Alice Merton, āStrongā by Mark Kingswood, āNice To Meet Yaā by Niall Horan, āColoursā by Black Pumas, āTrampolineā by Shaed & Zayn, āCandlelightā by Jack Savoretti, āDonāt Start Nowā by Dua Lipa, āRollingā & āHeroā by Michael Kiwanuka, āDo It So Wellā by Example, āTongue Tiedā by Earl, āCirclesā by Post Malone, āLike Sugarā by Chaka Khan, āLolaās Themeā by Shapeshifters, āGiantā by Calvin Harris/Rag nā Bone Man. And finally, various tracks/mixes by Purple Disco Machine.
What other plans do you have for the year?
Well for starters, it depends what happens with the single. Apart from that, will try and steer clear of the dreaded Covid – then beyond that, who knows. I hope the lockdown eases slowly and then maybe we can all go to the seaside for little holiday. Steve and I really like Poole in Dorset. We usually take our bicycles and ride a lot. Besides, even if air travel does come back, who wants to risk sitting on a plane, a confined space, for 2-3 hours. Can u imagine if someone coughs, weāll all be running for the escape door lol. No thanks. Iāll stay and enjoy the UK, which is lovely in Summer anyway. Weāre members of āThe National Trustā and love visiting their properties which usually have stunning gardens. I hope and pray theyāll find good Covid treatments soon and then eventually a vaccine. I know people whoāve had HIV for years and now they just take one pill a day which keeps the virus at bay. Iāll keep dipping my toes in the creative water too. Iām generally an optimistic person.
Limhal’s new single Still in Love is out now and you can listen at https://ffm.to/stillinlove. Watch the music video for the track below: