AIL Meets… Len

When Len released Steal My Sunshine in 1999, little did the group (brother and sister Marc and Sharon Costanzo) know that it would go onto be an international phenomenon. Fifteen years on, Steal My Sunshine is being re-released by independent British label Alcopop Records, to celebrate their 100th release. We talked to Marc Costanzo to find out how he felt about the song and its huge summer appeal.

Hi Marc! How does it feel to have Alcopop! Records releasing Steal My Sunshine into the world again this summer?
Feels awesome!! What makes it so perfect is that it’s coming out on a label that I love with people who have good memories of it.

Can you tell us a little about how you wrote the song? And in particular what “Sharon, I love youuu!” was all about?
Well, it wasn’t really a written song. It was more like it just happened. I had lyrics written on my leg from this long insane night at this outdoor rave in the woods. Came home and my boy was playing a record called “More, More, More“ and I heard this little bridge that plays near the end. Just looped it there and then on my MPC. It’s such a catchy beat that you can’t really help but do something on it. So over the next few days I just kept that loop on repeat and wrote the lyrics while cooking dinner or whatever. My sister lived upstairs in the house and I remember her coming down and really wanting to sing on it. So I finished the lyrics (that were all about that night and how I felt) and recorded it all in a night. I remember Sharon recording her own vocals herself and used a broom to push that record. Was that kinda thing.

The “Sharon I love you!“ is Brendan Canning (who is also the one who played the “More, More, More“ record in those wee hours) just telling Sharon he loves her! We were trying to get her to laugh.

Unbelievable that it’s been 15 years since it came out! We recently had a disagreement at a party with someone who turned it off too soon. Is it weird for you that this one song spoke to so many people of fun, sun and parties?
Haha! Ya, that happens. Next time just give the person who’s shouting at you to turn it off a few shots of something and they’ll be fine!

The song has a life of its own. It was made in my bedroom under a bunk bed on an old beat up multi-track. I just did what I had to do and sent it out into the world. I love that it makes people happy (or mad like your boy at the party ha-ha). That song put a backpack on years ago and decided to go on a fun loving sun trip of its own and do its own thing. But we’re still good buddies.

Our research tells us that Steal My Sunshine was rated number 33 in a Rolling Stone list of the best summer songs of all time. What would be your number one?
Really?? 33 is insane!! Gotta look at what other songs are on there! Man, so many cool summer tracks. Maybe Roy Ayres “Everyone Love the Sunshine”. Every time I hear that record it makes me wanna light a mup and lie on the beach.

Steal My Sunshine got a lot of attention after being featured in the movie Go! If you could duet the song with any actor who would it be and why?
Will Ferrell or Helen Mirren. Why? It would be awesome!

Was the sudden fame that came with the single strange? How did you get back to normal after what must have been a crazy time?
Ya. For us it was really strange. I mean, the song wasn’t really promoted or anything, it just blew up one day. A station called Kroq got a hold of the track on the down low and was just supposed to play it on a small show. Next thing you know, a few weeks later, it was getting played across the US. Was a trip. I remember suddenly hearing it coming from cars driving by everywhere. We were like “Is this for real???” So we got off our fat asses and started doing some interviews and playing a few shows but couldn’t catch up to how big it had become. Not sure if we just weren’t ready or we just felt like it wouldn’t make a difference. Within 6 months we basically just turned the tour bus around (after maybe 15 shows??) and went home and went back to regular life. It was kinda strange though because for years I couldn’t go anywhere without people staring at me. Not a bad thing but just weird if you’re a regular person living a regular life. Was fun as hell though. I can’t say we didn’t take advantage of the good times.

Did you tour London?
We never played a show there. Just played TOTP a few times. Once for “Steal My Sunshine” and once for a song called “ Cryptik Souls Crew”. Kinda weird we didn’t but not surprising knowing us.

I’ve been to London since a whole bunch doing other projects and business. My mom’s from Liverpool, so we’ve been traveling to the UK since we were babies. I prefer the country really but as a city you can def get in some good trouble - so many good memories that I can barely remember. It’s lame but one of my fav times was sitting in Hyde Park listening to bands play while having a beer and some snacks. I had a place right near there. Not many cities have giant park concerts like that. And you can actually crack open a beer and chill right in the park. For us Canadians, that’s some good chit!

Would you consider performing the song live again as Len if the opportunity arose (we’d be there!)?
Sure, but it seems like we’re too lazy to put it all together and play. I’d rather hang out than practice. Ha-ha. Guess that’s what got us in trouble to begin with. I may go to Alcopopalooza and grab a mic and belt it out if I have a few pints in me. I sang it at a karaoke last month and was hilarious. I actually love singing it. Doesn’t even seem like my song.


Released by Alcopop! Records, Steal My Sunshine is available now on iTunes (“impact date 16th June to coincide with World Cup optimism”) and in various other formats (sunglasses, t-shirts, cassette) at www.ilovealcopop.co.uk