Lee and Lisa
Last week, Steps returned on Sky Living with Steps Reunion, a show documenting their efforts to re-build their friendships within the band.
The day after the first episode aired, we spoke to Lee Latchford-Evans and Lisa Scott-Lee about the documentary, being back together and the Ultimate Collection.
-So, how does it feel to have Steps back together again?
Lee: It feels good. It feels nice to catch up on old times. Obviously we were nervous at first, but we've actually been back together recording this documentary for a few months now. We're in a slightly different place right now.
-Was it hard initially trying to rebuild your friendships to get back together?
Lisa: What people don't realise is that it happened over the ten year period. It's not been a forced thing. We've built bridges because we've wanted to, not because we're in a band.
Naturally, we became friends over time but we never talked about the split. What you saw last night [one the first episode] and what you'll see next week is us having those very honest conversations. Finding out exactly what happened, how people felt at the time and five people's stories really.
-How did talks of a reunion actually start then, once those relationships had been fixed?
Lisa: Well, we were actually approached to do this documentary around the same time as finding out that Sony were going to do release our Ultimate Collection. It was our lives, our vocals on the songs, so we wanted to be a part of that and support it, naturally.
We were presented with this opportunity, and we felt lucky to be given it. We've got the documentary out now on Sky Living and over the next four weeks, and our Ultimate Collection out on October 10th. That's our way of saying thank you to the fans for the support they've given us over the last 15 years.
-Was it hard doing the documentary, bringing up some of the issues from the last decade or so?
Lee: Probably one of the hardest things some of us have ever done in a way. It's also very private, as well. To open your heart, and everything comes out on camera - I'm quite proud of us all having the courage to do that.
Like Lisa says, it's for us and for the fans. It's a way of having closure for ourselves, and looking to the future - "is there going to be a future or not? Let's look at that."
For the fans, it's more about...this is what happened, guys. We know it was wrong, it was done the wrong way, but for some of us it was out of our control. These are our stories about that.
-Is it important to be open to the fans about it after all this time?
Lisa: It is. Times have changed as well. Back in the day, we were known as a fluffy pop group. We did have issues to address. We had to look at those and look at the past to move forward.
-What was it like being back together to record the cover of 'Dancing Queen' for the collection?
Lisa: I thought it was lovely. What was different this time round, was the five of us were actually around a microphone.
I guess people would expect that that's how it's done. We recorded a lot of our tracks individually, so you didn't have that bonding time in the studio.
Lee: To get in there together and do that...in a way, we're singing the pure Steps sound of what it is, which is really nice.
-Was the track-listing for the Ultimate Collection Sony's decision, or did you get a say?
Lee: Actually, we had a lot of say, and we were changing it as it went along! We didn't want it to be Steps Gold, because that's just not fair. We wanted to have some new tracks, and it to be in a chronological order. It's almost like you take the journey with us from day one to where we are now, in a way. That's what we've done with the Ultimate Collection.
You have the new track as you've heard, we have a couple of tracks on there that weren't on Gold. There's also the DVD as well, so you get all the videos.
-The first episode for the documentary just aired. Were you pleased with how it turned out?
Lisa: I think it was telling viewing. It was difficult to watch, if I'm honest. I think it will surprise the audience, how honest we've been. We've had a good, positive response.
Lee: We just heard today that our old albums have entered into the Top 30 of iTunes, which was never something we were thinking about. We were shocked really, it's phenomenal. We really didn't know what to expect. It's turning into quite a positive thing.
-Do you think Steps can still bring something new to the market now?
Lisa: I do, because there isn't another Steps out there. Over the last 10 years, nobody has really filled our shoes. It is, what it is. It's a tough world out there, so it's nice to have a lighter shade.
-You've been talking a lot over the last 10 years, but what have you been doing in terms of projects, before work started on this?
Lee: All five of us have been very busy in our own rights. Personally, for myself, there's been musical theatre, from West End to the Edinburgh Fringe. There's been some movies that I've done, some low-budget British feature films, which has been a really great experience.
I had a rock band for a while called The Latch, which I thoroughly enjoyed, touring up and down the country, doing underground rock gigs - a different world from Steps. I've been into fitness heavily as well. I've got famouslyfit.com which is my own online health and fitness site. Lisa?
Lisa: I stayed with the music for a while, I loved it. I wasn't quite ready to stop, so I managed my brothers for a while. I actually secured myself a record deal with Universal.
I wrote some songs, one of them was 'Lately', my first solo single, which went in at Number 6. I was proud of that. After the music, I did various TV shows.
Then, I took a couple of years out and had my two lovely babies. I have a little boy and girl. After that, it's fantastic to be able to show them Steps and what mummy did.
-Congratulations Now that you're back together, are there any plans in the future for a new album, or are you concentrating on the documentary and the Ultimate Collection?
Lee: Well, we're actually still filming the documentary at the moment, so even we don't know how it ends! We don't really want to look too far ahead. The most important thing for us is that the Steps name, and the legacy we created, carries on - we don't want to tarnish that.
I think by doing this, supporting the Ultimate Collection, we can put our stamp back on it. The response we've had so far is very positive. It does give an inkling that there possibly could be a future, but it still feels a bit early to say anything.
It's just nice to finally come to a point where we can close the door, and say "Right, we're friends, this is great. What do you want to do now?"
-Yeah, then just looking ahead to the next stage? Ending one phase of your career, and moving onto the next?
Lee: Yeah, and looking at demand. There's no point going out there and trying to flog a dead horse, at the end of the day. Luckily, I don't think we're going to do that.
-What shout-out would you give to any Steps fans reading this?
Lisa: Really, we want to say a big thank you for everyone who supported us then, and are still supporting us now. We've got some new fans along the way.
Lee: A big hello to the new fans!
Lisa: It's good to get feedback. The difference is now, with technology, we can see what the fans are saying and thinking instantly on Twitter. It's wonderful to have that.
Female First - Alistair McGeorge
Last week, Steps returned on Sky Living with Steps Reunion, a show documenting their efforts to re-build their friendships within the band.
The day after the first episode aired, we spoke to Lee Latchford-Evans and Lisa Scott-Lee about the documentary, being back together and the Ultimate Collection.
-So, how does it feel to have Steps back together again?
Lee: It feels good. It feels nice to catch up on old times. Obviously we were nervous at first, but we've actually been back together recording this documentary for a few months now. We're in a slightly different place right now.
-Was it hard initially trying to rebuild your friendships to get back together?
Lisa: What people don't realise is that it happened over the ten year period. It's not been a forced thing. We've built bridges because we've wanted to, not because we're in a band.
Naturally, we became friends over time but we never talked about the split. What you saw last night [one the first episode] and what you'll see next week is us having those very honest conversations. Finding out exactly what happened, how people felt at the time and five people's stories really.
-How did talks of a reunion actually start then, once those relationships had been fixed?
Lisa: Well, we were actually approached to do this documentary around the same time as finding out that Sony were going to do release our Ultimate Collection. It was our lives, our vocals on the songs, so we wanted to be a part of that and support it, naturally.
We were presented with this opportunity, and we felt lucky to be given it. We've got the documentary out now on Sky Living and over the next four weeks, and our Ultimate Collection out on October 10th. That's our way of saying thank you to the fans for the support they've given us over the last 15 years.
-Was it hard doing the documentary, bringing up some of the issues from the last decade or so?
Lee: Probably one of the hardest things some of us have ever done in a way. It's also very private, as well. To open your heart, and everything comes out on camera - I'm quite proud of us all having the courage to do that.
Like Lisa says, it's for us and for the fans. It's a way of having closure for ourselves, and looking to the future - "is there going to be a future or not? Let's look at that."
For the fans, it's more about...this is what happened, guys. We know it was wrong, it was done the wrong way, but for some of us it was out of our control. These are our stories about that.
-Is it important to be open to the fans about it after all this time?
Lisa: It is. Times have changed as well. Back in the day, we were known as a fluffy pop group. We did have issues to address. We had to look at those and look at the past to move forward.
-What was it like being back together to record the cover of 'Dancing Queen' for the collection?
Lisa: I thought it was lovely. What was different this time round, was the five of us were actually around a microphone.
I guess people would expect that that's how it's done. We recorded a lot of our tracks individually, so you didn't have that bonding time in the studio.
Lee: To get in there together and do that...in a way, we're singing the pure Steps sound of what it is, which is really nice.
-Was the track-listing for the Ultimate Collection Sony's decision, or did you get a say?
Lee: Actually, we had a lot of say, and we were changing it as it went along! We didn't want it to be Steps Gold, because that's just not fair. We wanted to have some new tracks, and it to be in a chronological order. It's almost like you take the journey with us from day one to where we are now, in a way. That's what we've done with the Ultimate Collection.
Tagged in Steps