Gillian Anderson in the British-Irish crime drama The Fall. Photo / Supplied
Gillian Anderson in the British-Irish crime drama The Fall. Photo / Supplied
When a relatively unknown Auckland band wrote a song about actress Gillian Anderson, the last thing they expected was that she'd ever hear it - let alone share it on Twitter.
But shortly after Wax Chattels' song Gillian premiered in August, singer/bassist Amanda Cheng tweeted the X Files actress on a whim, linking her to the song's premiere and a short interview with the band on undertheradar.
The next day, Cheng got the surprise of her life: Anderson had shared the song with her 586,000 followers.
Anderson had shared a link on her Twitter and Instagram to the song and written: "Thanks @waxchattels! Life goal: quietly devastate human race." She was loosely quoting Wax Chattel's interview with undertheradar, in which Cheng had said: "The lyrics reference her in X-Files, The Fall and Hannibal; there are many moments in each of those shows where she quietly devastates everyone else in the scene."
Cheng says she was floored by Anderson's response.
"I was shocked; I was freaking out. I screenshotted it and then sent it to [bandmates Peter Ruddell and Tom Leggett] and they were like, 'Oh my god, what's happened? That explains all the notifications I've been ignoring this long!'
"I was just blown away. She must get so much fan mail, and the amount of fans going on about how great she was in response to that tweet was amazing as well. Everyone was like, 'You already do devastate us!'"
Gillian Anderson in a scene from The Fall. Photo / Supplied
Anderson has a feverish fan following, which she has maintained from her breakout success as Agent Dana Scully in the cult show The X Files - and Cheng says a number of fans have reached out to them to thank them for the song.
"We've had people from overseas message us saying, 'Can you send us the lyrics? Because English isn't my first language and I'd love to know what the lyrics are about.' People are tweeting things like, 'Thanks for giving us a soundtrack to daydream to her about!'
"I was like, this is incredible - I assumed people were massive fans of her, and there are fan tumblrs and stuff, but there are just so many fans, it blows my mind."
Wax Chattels performing at The Kings Arms earlier this year. Photo / Connor Crawford Photography
Cheng wrote the song with Ruddell (who sings and plays organ) after they looked to film and television for lyrical inspiration and realised they shared a mutual love for the actress.
"She's just got that really nonchalant and badass vibe about her that just seems so effortless," says Cheng. "She's one of those really strong women who have been on television a long time, and she speaks out for a lot of really great causes as well, which is why I'm stoked that she's actually heard our song and seems to have reacted to it well."
Gillian Anderson as Agent Dana Scully and David Duchovny as Agent Fox Mulder in The X Files. Photo / Supplied
Wax Chattels have a debut album on the horizon, and are embarking on a nationwide tour this month, with their Auckland show acting as a fundraiser for their Asia tour in October.
Wax Chattels - New Zealand tour
Friday September 8 - The Bach, Tauranga Saturday September 9 - MOON, Wellington Friday September 15 - Nivara Lounge, Hamilton Saturday September 16 - Whammy + Backroom, Auckland
