wicked smile

HRH Mag’s Diane Davies caught up with Steve Janevski of Wicked Smile to hear about their recent UK tour, his love of Tennis and what’s in the pipeline for 2023.

Have you recovered from touring yet?

Yes, it’s Summer in Melbourne, Australia so I’m enjoying the weather whilst I can. Both Wicked Smile and Cassidy had a very successful month-long tour (last November in 2022). It seems just like yesterday that we were at HRH in Great Yarmouth. The response for the entire tour was amazing!

You took your very talented daughter Cassidy Paris on the road with you, was that full of proud Dad moments?

Absolutely. Cassidy played to lots of packed rooms on the tour and the feedback from the crowd has been amazing. It really was such a proud moment to see Cassidy kick ass night after night. Any parent who watches their kid(s) succeed know that there isn’t a greater feeling. She recently signed a three-album deal with a respected label (yet to be announced) so there’s a great buzz happening which is amazing. Proud? - you betcha!

You have been to the UK a number of times. What do you love about us ‘Poms’ the most?

I have made so many lifelong friends in the U.K. Some people followed our tour around and saw us multiple times - the ultimate compliment. Whether it be the chats, drinks, or dinners, I am so blessed to have so many good ‘Poms’ in my life. I guess that’s a real positive about social media. We can continue the friendship even after our tour.

How would you describe Wicked Smile in relation to your other band The Radio Sun?

Wicked Smile has a heavier edge, dualling guitars and soaring vocals. For instance, we’d suit on a bill with Skid Row, Dokken or Iron Maiden. The Radio Sun is a melodic rock band influenced by bands such as Bad English, Nelson and Andy Taylor.

I’m a key songwriter in both bands and I love all music from melodic rock through to classic heavy metal. After several tours with The Radio Sun (currently on a well-deserved break) I have really enjoyed showcasing my new band Wicked Smile to the U.K. The response has been amazing!

Are The Radio Sun on a hiatus at the moment?

Yes - a well-deserved break. We made five albums and one EP in five years. We toured the U.K. three times, the U.S.A. three times and Japan once - that’s a lot. It was just time to have a break. We’ll get back together when the time’s right. For now, I’m really enjoying the heavier music direction of Wicked Smile and playing guitar in the Cassidy Paris band.

How happy are you with the success of Wicked Smile’s debut Album ‘Wait For The Night’?

The response to our debut album Wait For The Night has been amazing. Some critics and fans named it in their Album of the Year lists which was extremely humbling. Wicked Smile was something that I started from scratch. I wrote the entire album with my good friend Paul Laine (ex-Danger Danger/The Defiants). I then handpicked people from the Melbourne scene to be in the band. Vocalist Danny Cecati really shines on the album. He has a Dio meets Dickinson type of voice that needs to be heard...and have you seen the length of his hair? (Steve is jealous lol).

The band are yourself and four others, Danny Cecati, Cav, Jason & Dave Graham. Did you all contribute to writing on the album?

No, the album was written by Paul Laine & myself. I knew exactly what kind of album I wanted to make. I wanted to make the best 80’s (influenced) hard rock album that I could. This album is a ‘tip of the hat’ to the music that I grew up with as a kid. I wanted the songs to be ‘all killer and no filler’. You’ll hear influences such as Rainbow, Dio, Iron Maiden, Savatage, Icon, Queensryche, Dokken and Skid Row on the album. I’ve always worn my influences on my sleeves, yet put my twist on things in a modern way. We have already started work on the second album which is more of a band effort. I’ve also written a few tracks with Paul Laine to keep things balanced.

What plans have you in store for Wicked Smile in 2023?

We’re playing lots of live shows. We’re playing our own headline shows around Australia and doing some support gigs. We’ll support Skid Row Australia wide in May which is going to be so much fun. Gigging with one of my all-time favourite bands will be surreal. We’re also planning to release a new EP/CD. We can’t wait for our fans to hear our new material.

Wicked Smile & Cassidy Paris will also be back in the U.K. in 2023 in late November/early December. We want our U.K. fans to embrace what we’re doing and be part of our journey. Look out for tour dates.

You must have played with quite a few big names over the years, did any influence or change your musical tastes?

Definitely. I got to meet and support Steve Vai back in the day. Not only is he one of the best guitarists in the world, he was such a nice guy. He was always friendly and always made time for our band to soundcheck on tour (which he really didn’t need to do). Very cool! I’ve also had the pleasure of meeting George Lynch/Mr. Scary on several occasions. He is another genuine good person. He really appreciates his fans and is very humble. I would probably say that Dokken were a big influence on me as a teenager.

I like asking this one, how many guitars are in the house at the moment, and which is your current favourite?

We have nine guitars in our house. Cassidy has three (two Fender electric guitars (she endorses Squier guitars) and one acoustic). I have six (four Jackson Guitars (I endorse them), one Les Paul and one acoustic).

My favourite guitar is my Phil Collen Jackson guitar. It sounds amazing and has a great modern yet classic look about it.

What was the highlight of 2022 for you?

I’m not just saying this just because this is HRH magazine, but the response to Cassidy Paris and Wicked Smile at Hard Rock Hell 15 in November was my highlight of the year. Cassidy was on stage at about 4 pm in the afternoon and she packed the place out. You couldn’t get into the room! The Wicked Smile signing session went for 75+ minutes and was cut off only due to the next signing session. I was told that we now hold the record for the longest signing session by any band. This is particularly humbling as we are an independent band with no record company assistance. I think the crowd spoke in numbers and I’ll always remember this!!

I notice you’re a massive Tennis fan and went to the Australian Open in your hometown of Melbourne. Did you ever consider a Tennis career instead of picking up the guitar?

I used to play competition tennis and yes, I was a guest of a friend who is the coach of a doubles team at this year’s Australian Open... BUT rock ‘n’ roll has always been my number one passion. Records like Rainbow Rising, Judas Priest Screaming For Vengeance, Queensryche Operation Mindcrime, Dokken Tooth & Nail and Skid Row debut (and Slave To The Grind) influenced my music journey in a big way!

Words: Diane Davies Photo Credit: Press Supplied