Hatz off to Honeyz; Naima's rubber headwear in the latest Honeyz video may be raising pulses, but the girls are keen to prove they're more than singing sex objects.
ANDREA CORR look-alike Naima Belkhiati has a new favourite item of clothing. A hat.And we're not talking flat caps or balaclavas.
The hat in question is black, made of rubber and is the undisputed star attraction of The Honeyz' latest video - much to the French sex kitten's delight.
"Do you know, there are 23 unofficial websites for The Honeyz? I went into them and there were letters from guys fantasising about me wearing that hat in bed," purrs the Parisian pixie who has been linked with everyone from Jamie Theakston to East 17's Brian Harvey.
It has also, she reveals, stirred the attentions of an ex-boyfriend who happened to call her up that same week to talk about said hat.
"I don't like tacky stuff, but I had to wear the hat. And I got to keep it..." she giggles.
The Honeyz made their name with sultry R'n'B numbers like Finally Found, End Of The Line and Love Of A Lifetime - all notable for the soppiness of their lyrics. But that didn't stop them becoming the toast of last year's MOBO awards.
Won't Take It Lying Down is the last single to be taken from The Honeyz' debut album, Wonder No 8, and a move away from the trio's trademark lovey- dovey lyrics.
Written and produced by Simon Climie, it's an up-tempo slice of street soul guaranteed to turn heads.
"People say we have our tits out and wear bikinis, but they didn't say that about the Spice Girls," pouts the band's self- appointed spokesperson, Naima, 26, as she idly flicks through a men's mag shoot of semi- naked Honeyz.
"Okay, so some people thought the hat was a bit much. But it's dressing up. It's a girl dressing up!"
Celena Cherry wasn't quite so fortunate. While Naima got to keep that hat - and the handcuffs, to boot, the chief Honey was forced to ditch her whip on the grounds of bad taste.
Not that she's complaining. She still got to thrust her more than ample chest into what looks like an armour- plated basque for the racy video, AND play the star-struck fan to Simon Climie (of Climie Fisher fame).
"I used to be really into them," she gushes, before relaying the tale of just how Simon jumped on to the angelic- voiced trio's bandwagon with no persuasion needed whatsoever. Naima, Celena and Mariama (more of her later), had every intention of writing a single. They just didn't have the time.
"It was just madness. We were working from 5am to 2pm, travelling around Asia. So we said: `Whoever can send in a good song, we'll listen to it'."
Easier said than done, however. They had, explains Celena, to be "feeling it first" before they would accept any old track on to their repackaged, album, which was re- released last year.
Many of their former writers' efforts lacked that certain `oomph' the girls desired: "We love the songs we did before, but we got sick of not being able to show people the other side of us," says Celena. "We just stood there and looked pretty.
"We needed an up-tempo track. Our record company was like: `You need an up- tempo number'.
"And while our music IS a certain type of music, and our fans might say: `You know what girls? We WANT you to stand there and just sing', we want people to see there's not just one side to The Honeyz."
Their story reads like a fairytale with, aside from the occasional hiccup, the obligatory fairytale ending.
Hammersmith-born Celena was singing Disney songs in Paris when she bumped into half- North African, half French Naima Belkhiati. The duo formed a group and set sail for London - where they met one Heavenli Abdi.
Abdi was already one step ahead in the game, being signed to First Avenue management and record company.
The trio joined forces and signed a deal with Mercury. In 1998, Finally Found propelled the threesome into the top 10. The Honeyz were born.
In April last year, however, Heavenli quit the group, supposedly to spend more time with her boyfriend, former Coronation Street hunk Matthew Marsden. She has since claimed she left because she was unhappy.
Celena is still waiting for an apology.
"Being in a band is like a relationship. You get claustrophobic. But we were left in the lurch.
"That was the hardest bit. It wasn't the fact that we were going to miss her. It was: `She's done this to us. Where do we go from here?' We didn't just want to put anyone in the group. The reason the three of us were together was we WERE The Honeyz; we were all friends. Like a family...
"I've not spoken to her since. I feel like she owes me an apology. I still can't believe it. I just thank God for Mariama; it was the work of the Lord."
Whether Heavenli does a Geri Halliwell, and goes on to launch a solo project is of no concern to Celena: "I think she's done me a favour because I've become a lot more wise now about friendship. People can turn round and hurt you at the worst moments.
"I don't have any regrets about her leaving. We're so much stronger as people right now.
"But I would be very shocked if she was recording because she always was a very shy person. She was quite nervous. But if she is, and I think it's a crap record, I will say I don't like it."
Celena Cherry isn't the only one thanking God. Heavenli's departure paved the way for one-time Solid Harmonie singer Mariama Goodman to replace the Heavenli one.
No longer the new girl, 22-year-old Mariama had just one day to learn the girls' hits before singing live on national radio and has become a fixture.
"The recording side isn't that much fun, I don't like the sound of my own voice - but there's always something I'm not happy with," she says.
Her favourite parts of the job are performing live - and showbiz bashes.
"We have a lot of wild nights," she grins, twanging the cherry red rubber dress she poured herself into earlier in the day. "Sometimes you are obliged to go to these parties because there's Press there, but we know if it's going to be a good party by theguest list."
Liam Gallagher and Meg Matthews, I suggest. "Westlife," she replies.
Won't Take It Lying Down (Mercury Records) is released on February 21
Pictures: Graham Trott
Make-up: Christopher Ardolf
Hair: Earl Simms
Styling: Frank Akinsete
Clothes: Sky, LA; Skin 2 and FU Baby, London; Levi
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| Title Annotation: | Features |
|---|---|
| Author: | Spavin, Vicky |
| Publication: | Daily Record (Glasgow, Scotland) |
| Date: | Feb 12, 2000 |
| Words: | 1106 |
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