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The soulful musician talks – and sings – to Jennifer Shelton about fatherhood, meeting his heroes and playing for royalty.
James Morrison is an expressive interviewee. By the time we’ve finished chatting prior to his gig at Newmarket Nights, I’ve been sung to, had my leg pulled and heard an amusing impersonation of Prince Charles.
All this from the soulful, sensitive-sounding singer-songwriter who looks like butter wouldn’t melt. . .
Four years on since the success of his soaring ballad, You Give Me Something, the 25-year-old from Rugby has become an established name in the folk-pop industry, with his fragile, timeless voice one of the most distinctive around. He has picked up a BRIT award, seen two albums hit the Number One spot and collaborated with some of the hottest names in the music world.
Last year, his single Broken Strings, which he worked on with Nelly Furtado, continued his successful streak by becoming his best-selling single to date. And I get my first taste of the Morrison humour when I ask how the two singers got along.
“She hated me, she didn’t like me at all,” he says, seriously at first. “I was in her face all the time. . . No, she was really cool. I didn’t really know what to expect to be honest, I’ve never worked with someone of that high a calibre, so I was quite nervous and worried she’d be like, “Who the f*** is James Morrison?!” and say no. So it was cool when she said she’d love to sing that song.
“She was really down to earth and funny and sexy – everything you want Nelly Furtado to be, really.”
When we chat, James is just about to perform with none other than his hero, Stevie Wonder, at this year’s Hard Rock Calling festival in Hyde Park.
“That’ll be awesome,” he says. “But I always find it weird mixing reality with dreams – it could all go horribly wrong! I could say, oh, I’d love to work with Stevie, but then what if he doesn’t like what we write or something. . .”
Growing up on a healthy diet of Stevie Wonder, Van Morrison and Otis Redding, from an early age James was picking out tunes on his guitar.
After years of busking in his home town – interspersed with a less-than-successful music course at school (more on that later) – James began playing at open mic nights, where he was discovered and swiftly signed by Polydor Records.
James will be belting out his hits on stage at Newmarket Racecourse next week and is looking forward to being part of the party.
“I love playing live, I’m just excited to be getting out there with my band,” he enthuses. “I think all musicians like playing live – it’s great when the crowds are all singing your songs and they’re with you 100 per cent and it’s a beautiful day. . . all of that is amazing.
“But I think for me, it’s those little special moments that come along when you play sometimes, where the hairs on your arms go up. That’s the thing I enjoy.”
Still, four years in the business haven’t quite cured the singer of the odd pre-show attack of the nerves.
“I get really nervous before I go on stage,” he admits. “So I spend 10 minutes just calming myself down, slowing my heartbeat down so I’m not going on stage like ‘ba-boom! ba-boom!’. And I play some tunes beforehand so I’ve got some good music in my head.”
A particularly daunting moment came along for James when, in 2006, aged just 21, he performed at the Royal Variety Performance in front of the Queen.
And it proved particularly nerve-wracking, he tells me, as some of his band forgot their instruments on the night.
“It was playback,” he explains, “which means that though I was singing live the band wasn’t live, and some of the guys forgot their instruments. . . I remember the bassist playing along with a spade, but nobody noticed! But it was a good experience. I had a load of dancers with me with feather boas and things, so it was fun to do,” he smiles.
So did he meet any of the royals?
“Yeah, I met Prince Charles and Camilla, and that was pretty weird. I felt really uncomfortable,” he laughs, “cause I don’t like being an ass-kiss, but I don’t like not being nice either, so what do you say?
“In the end, he (Prince Charles) said to me: ‘Do you write your own songs?’ and I said: ‘Yeah, yeah, I do!’, then he was like: ‘Did you write that one?’ and I was like, ‘Yes, I did!’, and he said, ‘Oh, – it’s very good!’
He laughs at the memory, and possibly at the mock-Prince Charles accent we’ve just encountered.
James might be rubbing shoulders with royals and musical legends alike, but there are some who failed to predict this star’s ascent.
After studying for a Music A Level at school, the young musician came away with just a U grade. What was that about, James?
“I know! What were they on about? Only joking – I dunno why I got a U really, I think it was because I wasn’t very good at the theory side. I didn’t enjoy it or get what it was about.
“I thought, why can’t you just listen to it and then play it? I learnt to play by ear. But I quite like it, I’m really pleased I got a U,” he laughs. “It’s just funny to me.”
James is now the proud father of a little girl, Elsie – the first born to James and his long-term girlfriend Gill. Has she inspired any of his songs, I wonder?
“Definitely,” he says. “I wrote a song called The Awakening which was about me feeling like I’ve woken up for the first time after having a kid, thinking, ‘now I know what’s it’s all about’.
“I try not to make it too obvious though, I think it’s cringy if you do. I don’t want to be like: ‘I LOVE MY DAUGHTER SO MUCH!’ he sings, loudly; “I just try and do it in a subtle way, you know?
“She really responds to music though,” he adds. “She’s a good little dancer. I’ve played her a few of my new songs just to see what she does, and if she dances to it, then she likes it. Otherwise she’ll say “No, No!” if she doesn’t like it. So if she dances along then it’s a good sign!”
With a young family and a great career doing what he loves most, James is full of pride – and astonishment – at how far he’s come in just a few years.
“I couldn’t have guessed that I’d be where I am today,” he emphasises. “I’ve always sang, and it’s always been what I’ve wanted to do, but I thought it would take a lot longer.
And I never thought it would get to the point where I’m working with Nelly Furtado! It still blows my mind sometimes.”
By Jennifer Shelton
