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Whatever happened to... Honeyz?
Published Monday, Apr 27 2009, 06:16 BST | By David Balls | 8 comments
How did the Honeyz first get together?
"We first got introduced through our management company, but in those days you had to pretend you were friends before you started a band! We all lived together for a couple of years while we recorded the album. We all got on really well and it was probably two of the best years of all of our lives. We released our first single 'Finally Found' and it was pretty much an overnight success."
What was the highlight of your time in the group?
"Having 'Finally Found' in the Top 10 for ten weeks was amazing. We also got to sing with Lionel Richie and meet so many people we admired. It didn't really last as long as we wanted but we got to travel to places like Japan and Australia and have experiences most people would never get to enjoy."
Why did your second album never see the light of day?
"We still don't really know what happened. We went to the States and recorded with some really good people... then the record company decided to drop us just before it was meant to be released. They didn't even give us a chance. We probably signed one of the worst deals in the history of the record industry. We were messed with from all angles and didn't earn enough money to fight it."
Why do you think they had so much control over you?
"We were so young and naive when we signed the deal and had no guidance. It was the typical scenario where you sign anything because you want to be famous. Then we realised we were in a mess because we were really successful but our bank accounts weren't reflecting what we were doing. We started to question things so it all went a bit pear-shaped and it drove us apart really. We had nobody on our side to make sure we were signing something that would make us set for life. We were doing all the hard work and not seeing anything for it."
Do you still see the girls these days?
"I don't talk to Heavenli but I'm still very close to Naima because we both have young children now. I see Mariama a lot as we still do gigs together. So yeah, I see a couple of them!"
What's the chances of a Honeyz reunion then?
"Zero. I love music and love to sing so we still do Honeyz gigs, but we do them with Mariama and my sister Candace. It's a much more relaxed atmosphere as the three of us are all actually wanting to be there. I've been doing a lot of songwriting too and some acting work. Last year I did the 'Chicago and Beyond' tour so my heart is still very much in the industry."
Press play below to watch the 'Finally Found' video:
More about Celena Cherry at: http://www.myspace.com/celenacherry
What are your memories of the Honeyz? Would you like to see a reunion? Use the space below to leave your comments.
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Patrick, Ireland, on August 14th, 2009
They were really created by First Avenue just to cash in on their success with Eternal *only not anywhere near as good*. I've got both albums, the first 5 fantastic singles, the rest extremely bland. The 2nd album sounded like it was still in the demo stages. Love To Love You Baby was the only single from the 2nd album that could've gone top 10, tied in with a Coke advertisement, the video & remixes were all done but Mariama left just before the release, that was it, oddly it doesn't appear on the album promo. Not Gonna Trip sounds like an average album track & that's why it stalled at #24. I Don't Know sounded like a really nice demo, it could've done with beefing up, the video was lovely but that wasn't enough to stop it charting at #28. Talk To The Hand was fab but after all the flops, no-one would playlist it resulting in Mercury dropping them. Mercury were a crap label at the time but the Honeyz were treated much better than the likes of Dina Carroll, Vanessa Amorosi etc
They were really created by First Avenue just to cash in on their success with Eternal *only not anywhere near as good*. I've got both albums, the first 5 fantastic singles, the rest extremely bland. The 2nd album sounded like it was still in the demo stages. Love To Love You Baby was the only single from the 2nd album that could've gone top 10, tied in with a Coke advertisement, the video & remixes were all done but Mariama left just before the release, that was it, oddly it doesn't appear on the album promo. Not Gonna Trip sounds like an average album track & that's why it stalled at #24. I Don't Know sounded like a really nice demo, it could've done with beefing up, the video was lovely but that wasn't enough to stop it charting at #28. Talk To The Hand was fab but after all the flops, no-one would playlist it resulting in Mercury dropping them. Mercury were a crap label at the time but the Honeyz were treated much better than the likes of Dina Carroll, Vanessa Amorosi etc
Jay ,Eire, on May 5th, 2009
I have the Wonder #8 album (the reissue).My fav tracks are 'Never Let You Down' and 'Do Me Baby'. I liked the original line up but thought they looked a bit posed and pouty.I preferred it when Mariama joined as the 'look' of the group became more natural and friendly.I went 'off' them (back them) when it seemed as if the Honeyz dumped Mariama as soon as Heavanli decided she wanted to return (or at least,that's how the teen mags reported it at the time) - so maybe they lost some fans over that ? I still listen to the debut album a lot.It's a quality cd ,with no need to skip past any of the tracks - and Celena has a great voice. I don't think i ever heard anything from the second album.
I have the Wonder #8 album (the reissue).My fav tracks are 'Never Let You Down' and 'Do Me Baby'. I liked the original line up but thought they looked a bit posed and pouty.I preferred it when Mariama joined as the 'look' of the group became more natural and friendly.I went 'off' them (back them) when it seemed as if the Honeyz dumped Mariama as soon as Heavanli decided she wanted to return (or at least,that's how the teen mags reported it at the time) - so maybe they lost some fans over that ? I still listen to the debut album a lot.It's a quality cd ,with no need to skip past any of the tracks - and Celena has a great voice. I don't think i ever heard anything from the second album.
Lucy, on April 28th, 2009
They should have never let Heavenli come back after she left and should have kept Mariama in the group, instead of getting rid of her.
They should have never let Heavenli come back after she left and should have kept Mariama in the group, instead of getting rid of her.
Sam, Bournemouth, on April 28th, 2009
I agree with nick, where in bmth r u?
I agree with nick, where in bmth r u?
Nick, Bournemouth, on April 27th, 2009
Oh i want a copy of the second album! I loved Talk To The Hand... Also was big fan of Won't Take It Lying Down and Not Even Gonna Trip. They did come back a few years later with You Don't Know, didn't they? That flopped so will probably explain why record company didn't want to risk the album.. I saw them at G.A.Y too...class!
Oh i want a copy of the second album! I loved Talk To The Hand... Also was big fan of Won't Take It Lying Down and Not Even Gonna Trip. They did come back a few years later with You Don't Know, didn't they? That flopped so will probably explain why record company didn't want to risk the album.. I saw them at G.A.Y too...class!
mikee , hull, on April 27th, 2009
used to love the honeyz, i got a copy of their 2nd album and it was fantastic the line up changes never bothered me, it was rumoured that heavenli left cos her bloke at time matthew marsden tried to get her to go solo. celena was the best honey and finally found is still a good song and wonder no8 is a brill album.
used to love the honeyz, i got a copy of their 2nd album and it was fantastic the line up changes never bothered me, it was rumoured that heavenli left cos her bloke at time matthew marsden tried to get her to go solo. celena was the best honey and finally found is still a good song and wonder no8 is a brill album.
anna, london, on April 27th, 2009
they make the sugababes look stable with all their line-up changes! celena, naima, heavenli, then mariama replaces heavenli, then heavenli replaced mariama, then candace replaces naima, then mariama replaces heavenli... lol.
they make the sugababes look stable with all their line-up changes! celena, naima, heavenli, then mariama replaces heavenli, then heavenli replaced mariama, then candace replaces naima, then mariama replaces heavenli... lol.
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Sounds as if Celena still has some bitterness towards Heavenli;there was always tension there. To be honest the Honeyz were a mediocre band. Celena's voice was nothing special; it was all style over substance with them. They did have one good track though, 'Love of a Lifetime'; my sis still has the CD single somewhere. Shalom x