Steps confirmed last week that they were back with a bang as they released their 21st single, What The Future Holds – music to fans’ ears after they waited three years.
Now, in an exclusive chat with Daily Star Online, Claire Richards, Ian ‘H’ Watkins, Lee Latchford Evans, Faye Tozer and Lisa Scott-Lee have spoken about going up against new names in today’s music industry.
The five-piece pop group were catapulted to international fame back in 1997 with their hit single, 5,6,7,8, which instantly cemented them as one of Britain’s biggest musical groups.
Now, 23 years since bursting onto the scene with their fun-filled hits, the group are preparing to release their sixth studio album and tenth headline tour as well as teasing an A-List performance collaboration.
Steps revealed to Daily Star Online that they barely feel nerves ahead of a new single release (Image: daily star)
Speaking about their nerves ahead of their new release, Claire Richards said: “We’re in such a different place now to what we were back in the nineties, it’s almost like we release the music for our fans, we know we have a certain audience that will get involved, buy the albums and stream the albums.
“I get more nervous at the beginning of a whole campaign rather than what chart position we’re going to get because it doesn’t feel like that’s the important thing anymore.”
The group recently announced their first single in almost four years (Image: steps)
Sharing his thoughts about how different the industry is today, H said that the band work “backwards”.
“You do all your promo, then released a single. Now, you release a single and do all your promo,” the Dancing On Ice star said.
When probed about the digital world, which can see an artist hit the number one spot just hours after they release a track, Faye added: “I think it takes away the impact of releasing a single because you don’t really list singles these days.
Claire revealed that a tour being unsuccessful would be more damaging to the group than not achieving chart success
“I think it takes a little bit of the excitement out of it.”
The 44-year-old went on to say: “As Claire said, I don’t think we’re aiming for a number one anymore.”
Former Celebrity Big Brother star Claire, 43, added: “I’d say we’re more nervous for the tour, that is our baby. That’s where we all shine more than anything, if that was a complete disaster, I think that would be worse.”
STEPS are heading out on their tenth headline tour next year (Image: steps)
It was revealed last week the Scared Of The Dark singers had teamed up with Grammy-award winning star Sia who has penned their single What The Future Holds.
Speaking to Daily Star’s Wired column, Claire went on to say: “Our hit 5,6,7,8 was No1 in Australia all those years ago, and she was a fan.”
After famously covering Kylie Minogue’s hit Better The Devil You Know, the group who now share the same record label with the Aussie princess teased fans could expect a collaboration.
“I’m sure if she’s not busy, she could pop down [to the tour],” joked Claire before insisting Kylie would have to perform the Steps version.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
