Remember High and Postcard from Heaven in the 1990s? Interview with the voice of Lighthouse Family Tunde Baiyewu

High videoclip by Lighthouse Family

Internationally acclaimed for the worldwide hit High which reached the top 10 in 16 countries in 1997, Lighthouse Family were a British duo from Newcastle, England, made up of songwriter Paul Tucker and singer Tunde Baiyewu which disgracefully split in July 2022, right in the middle of the process of arranging this interview with Tunde.

High by Lighthouse Family

Thousands of fans were left heartbroken and the ticket holders of the hometown festival the pair was supposed to headline that week were also left bitterly disappointed that the band broke up just weeks before the gig, especially since they had been waiting since 2020 through cancellations to see the show.

Now, any irreconcilable differences that may have arisen at the eleventh hour deserve all due respect and consideration, but so did fans and festival workers who, at the bottom of a 2-plus-year nightmare season for live gigs, didn’t deserve to be let down last minute by their favourite show headliners after the concert had gone sold-out.

And so, the pair we have known and appreciated ever since 1995 for mesmerising singles like Lifted, Ocean Drive, Raincloud and Postcard from Heaven won’t be recording or performing together anymore, but Tunde Baiyewu is still here today for a quick Q&A about the past and future of his music.

Tunde, what achievements are you most proud of?

That we have made a handful of Platinum albums which have stood the test of time and we have performed in some pretty amazing venues.

Which one of your songs are you most attached to?

Hmmm! That’s a tough one. Songs are like my children and the truth is I love them all equally. But if I’m pressed, I’ll have to say maybe Lifted. I have a soft spot for it because of its spiritual nature. A lot of our songs in the creation stages came out of some really deep conversations Paul and myself used to have. We talked about life, some of our experiences and lots of spiritual stuff too. I just feel that Lifted really encompasses that.

How do you feel when you hear one of your songs playing on the radio?

Surprised! Believe it or not, I am still always surprised every single time. I’m driving my kids to school in the morning or driving my wife to the supermarket and all of a sudden, High or Ocean Drive pops on the radio. Hahaha! It is usually accompanied by an awkward silence as we all look at each other sheepishly. Ultimately though, I enjoy their nods of approval and the pride in my children’s little faces.

What’s the first word that comes to your mind as you hear the words Lighthouse Family?

Newcastle. That’s where Lighthouse Family was born. Such fond memories of Paul and I slugging it out, working in bars down at the Quayside and the Big Market.

What legacy have Lighthouse Family left to the world?

Well, hopefully, a legacy of some timeless tunes.

What do you think of the current state of music?

Music is always evolving. There’s a lot of good stuff out there in the world today.

Is there any difference in music between today and when you first started out in the 1990s?

Yes. There’s a lot of music from different cultures that have crossed over to influence and broaden what is acceptable on the airwaves.

Do you think musicians have some sort of political and social responsibility? What’s the relationship between music and politics today?

A political responsibility, not really. Personally, as a musician, I don’t feel I have a political responsibility. However, I’d say yes to social responsibility. I think music, as an art form, has a strong influence on human emotions and people are often affected by what they see and hear. But that is not to say you can’t make whatever type of music you choose as a musician.

What do you think of talent shows like The X Factor?

Some really talented people have been discovered through that show. It’s another great avenue to expose some of the amazing talents hiding out there that we otherwise would never get to know.

What’s the best song of all time, in your opinion?

That’s a tough and very subjective question. It depends on how far back into history you want to go. In the 1960s, it was One Note Samba by Antônio Carlos Jobim. In the 1970s, it was Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon & Garfunkel. In the 1980s, it was Michael Jackson’s Thriller. In the 1990s, it was Crazy by Seal. All in my humble opinion of course! I really like Halleluyah by Jeff Buckley. I also love Sometimes It Snows in April by Prince, so ask me tomorrow and my answers might be different.

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