Janette Williams’ Journey: From Abba Tributes to Abba Voyage

When Janette Williams, a drummer, experienced a moment of surprise during her audition for the Abba Voyage band, she encountered Benny Andersson, a member of the renowned Swedish musical ensemble. The 40-year-old musician, who hails from Wootton by Woodstock in Oxfordshire, described performing the songs before their composer as a “surreal experience.” She shared with the BBC, “In that moment you just feel like nothing will ever matter as much as my playing right now… but I loved every second.” Currently, she performs as a member of the live band for the London production, which showcases digital renditions of the group. This show incorporates innovative technology to replicate Abba’s appearance during their peak in the 1970s. For the creation of this show, the band members wore motion capture suits for a duration of five weeks, while 160 cameras recorded their physical movements and facial expressions. Ms Williams is a member of the live band that provides musical accompaniment for the group nightly. Her musical career includes performances in numerous bands and productions, such as Fame and Six, a musical centered on the wives of Henry VIII. Additionally, she has performed at notable venues like Abbey Road and Glastonbury. Despite her extensive experience, she stated that she still perceives the “enormity” of the occasion during her Abba Voyage audition. She elaborated, “Especially knowing Abba as a band and growing up with them, it felt surreal but also just incredible.” Upon receiving news that her audition for the position was successful and she had secured the role, she recounted that she “laughed and cried and just jumped around.” She added, “Every emotion you could feel, I was feeling in that moment.” She described it as, “It was just beautiful. It was just amazing.” Reflecting on her subsequent involvement with Abba Voyage, she mentioned that she “can’t really ever call it work – it’s a dream job.” She stated, “I never say that I’m going to work, I just say I’m going to play a show. It’s a wonderful place to work.” Ms Williams’ parents were also musicians, performing as a duo in working men’s clubs. She recalled, “They used to gig Abba songs while my mum was pregnant with me so I was onstage, listening and kind of dancing along to Abba.” Her initial experience performing these songs herself involved drumming on stage with her family band, comprising her parents, younger brother, and sister. She stated, “I was probably 14 to 15 maybe when we started playing gigs. We did Mamma Mia and Super Trouper and Take A Chance on Me.” Although various musical instruments were available in her home, she ultimately felt drawn to the drums. She recounted, “When I first sat on the drum kit I just thought, ‘This is home. This feels like what I should be doing’.” She added, “It just felt quite natural.” By the age of 15, Ms Williams attained Grade 8 in drums and also acquired the skill to teach the instrument. Concurrently, she pursued legal studies, but when she eventually opted to forgo a legal career for professional musicianship, she acknowledged that her parents “loved it.” She affirmed, “They couldn’t have been more supportive.” Ms Williams indicated that she has largely achieved her career aspirations. She explained, “Abba is so iconic, I feel like you couldn’t go further than Abba.” However, she promptly added, “The Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury is certainly a bucket list sort of gig to play, and if that was with Abba, then that would be more than iconic.” Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding their approach to external linking is available.