Firing Squad

New Zealand has one of the most fertile reggae scenes in the world. Few of its representatives can lay claim to Katchafire's success, however. Forming in 1997 as a Bob Marley tribute act, they've since gone on to share stages with The Wailers, Horace Andy, UB40 and Maxi Priest; performing extensively throughout New Zealand, Australia, America, South America and Europe.

“Yeah, it got to the point where we weren't even playing in New Zealand because we were so busy touring,” singer-guitarist Logan Bell laughs at their hectic schedule. “We managed to get back there just recently – and, even then, it was only eight dates or so. Pretty exclusive. Our focus lately has pretty much been about trying to take our music to the world – all four corners of it.”

The band are very much a touring juggernaut. While boasting a less than wieldy line-up (seven musicians in total), Katchafire are one of the hardest-working bands of their genre. Their recent US tour saw them tackle 35 dates. Their upcoming Australian jaunt sprawls over 31 shows. It's perhaps unsurprising they dubbed their fourth and most recent album On The Road Again back in 2010.

“You know, we really do want to spread the net as far and as wide as possible,” Bell explains. “That's the reason we haven't spent a whole lot of time at home over the past five years. The focus has been the rest of the world. We actually kind of feel at home in places like America now – we've done it so often over the past several years.”

It creates an interesting conundrum for the group. Katchafire, more so than most, are a band of community and family. Ignoring reggae's inherent connection to such ideals, Katchafire were initially formed of brothers and cousins. Yet, as they bring their message to the world, they inevitably separate themselves from all that is most dear to them as a collective and as individuals.

“Yeah, that's definitely an issue. Most of the boys in the band have multiple kids. Family is very important to all of us and being away from our loved ones is probably one of the hardest parts about being away on the road for so long,” Bell reflects sadly. “All we can do is try not to be gone for too long at a time, you know? Try not to be away for more than five or six weeks with each tour.”

Still, there's limited sympathy. Katchafire do it to themselves. If they weren't so good at what they did, they wouldn't be in such a predicament – and they are a genuinely exceptional ensemble. With five songwriters and seven musicians, Katchafire records have long been storehouses of both talent and eclecticism; strong reggae songcraft augmented by liberal lashings of funk, jazz, soul and pop. Their success is unsurprising.   

“Well, we pinch ourselves every day,” Bell laughs. “You know, we've always sought to keep our goals nice and realistic as a band. When we started, all we wanted to do was write and play the music that we liked to listen to as a band. When other people seemed to like it, we just wanted to see if we could release an album. It just kind of kept going. We all feel so lucky to be doing what we're doing.

“I mean, there's demand for our music in Brazil, Indonesia, Bangladesh... Places we never thought would even hear our music,” the singer says incredulously. “And I just think that kind of following is the greatest compliment you could ever get as a musician.”