Skye Edwards, Lead Singer of Morcheeba, Talks About Her First Film Festival Experience and the Possibility of Collaborating with Russell Crowe. The Karlovy Vary Film Festival’s 2023 edition is set to kick off on Friday night with an impressive lineup of A-list talent. Ewan McGregor and Alicia Vikander will be present in the Czech spa town to receive special honors, while Russell Crowe will attend for a career retrospective and will be honored with the Crystal Globe lifetime achievement award. Crowe will also take the stage on opening night with his band, The Gentlemen Barbers.
However, amidst these notable acts, there is another musical performance scheduled for June 30 during the opening concert—one that boasts an established reputation, although perhaps not as widely recognized as the Gladiator star (no offense, Russell). British band Morcheeba has been refining their downtempo, electronic sound since their formation in the mid-1990s. They have transitioned from their trip hop roots into more pop-infused, hip-hop-influenced soul waters. Their breakout album, “Big Calm,” released in 1998, and its follow-up, “Fragments of Freedom,” released in 2000, garnered significant attention. Now, over two decades later, the band, consisting of founding members Ross Godfrey and Skye Edwards, is touring in support of their 10th studio album, “Blackest Blue,” which was released in 2021. As part of their major European tour, Morcheeba will grace the stage in Karlovy Vary on June 30, marking what Edwards believes to be their first-ever appearance at a film festival.
In an email interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Skye Edwards discusses the band’s various connections to the world of cinema and the exciting prospect of potentially collaborating with Russell Crowe, renowned for his deep and gravelly voice.
Q: Have you ever performed at the opening of a film festival before, or is this a first?
A: I can’t recall if we have performed at a film festival before. However, I have attended a few film premieres in the past. One of my favorites was many years ago when I took my children to see “Spy Kids” starring Antonio Banderas. The after-show event took place at the famous Hamleys toy shop in central London. My kids had the opportunity to meet the young actors and play video games for free. They had the time of their lives!
Q: Did you ever imagine that you would be performing on the same night as Russell Crowe and his band?
A: No, not in a million years! I’m really looking forward to potentially meeting Russell and watching his set. He has such a distinct and deep gravelly voice. Maybe he and I could collaborate on something. I think our contrasting voices would blend together beautifully, akin to the collaboration between Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin.
