As good as ABBA

UK-based Abba Reunion are so authentic in their rendering of ABBA hits, they are often mistaken to be the originals. Band member Emma Hodgetts in a short interview with DNA

This group of four takes being a tribute band to an entirely new level. Abba Reunion are a UK-based band who exclusively perform only ABBA hits. But it doesn’t stop with just belting out the hits. For the band— starring Vikki Holland Bowyer as Ani-Frida Lyngstad, Emma Hodgetts as Agnetha, Stephen Milan as Bjorn and Greg Stevenson as Benny— itmeans closely imitating the originals stars to the extent that they get mistaken to be ‘the’ band.

As band member Emma Hodgets explains, “As an actor has to research his role it is the same for all the band members of Abba Reunion. It is important that all our band members have a real passion for ABBA and each and every member have had to research their characters.” So where, other ABBA tribute bands just sing the songs with symmetrical and identical moves, Abba Reunion turn in a more authentic performance.“We impersonate them with authenticity so that real ABBA fans get the proper experience,” she says.

Elaborating on the research they put in for giving a near-ABBA experience, Emma says, “We have watched footage, observed the characters and their mannerisms both visually and musically for hours! We use both studio and live concert coverage with as many interviews we can find in order to replicate them”. “It’s very MI 4,” she jests about their in-depth preparations and adds, “I guess we’re ABBA experts.”

As a bunch of talented musicians, there must be an unsaid desire to want to perform their own originals? “Who wouldn’t?” queries Agnetha before quickly adding, “at the same time, we’ve been around enough to know that the special set of circumstances that has to happen for a band to make it in the big, bad world of music is rare. So, I guess we’re grateful for what we’ve got. It’s a good life and we love what we do.”

Funny as it might sound, there have been many an instance where this band has been mistaken for the original band. “It happens all the time and one gets used to it,” Agnetha replies. So, how do the band members react to it? “We’re not the original; we respect and love their music and what they’ve given to the world of music but we’d like to think we’re a part of the history with what we do.”

The easy success of Abba Reunion, in a small way, can also be attributed to its co-founder, Vikki Holland Bowyer. Vikki’s claims to fame include directing, co producing, choreographing and performing as Frida in London’s only West End Abba Tribute show in 2002. She’s also the only ABBA performer to have won a “Best musical” award in Germany for her performance as Frida. Vikki then joined forces with musical genius Greg Stevenson to give the world Mama Mia -The Abba Experience with the tribute band ABBA Reunion.

The Abba Reunion have performed alongside several international artistes, including The Vagabonds, Showaddywaddy, The Four Tops, Slade, Mudd, Jimmy James, 911, The Real Thing and The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. This will be their first performance in Bangalore.