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Jamie Woon Interview
RnB/Hip Hop | Wednesday 17th August 2011 | Osh
The British singer/songwriter has made a massive impact on the RnB scene this year with his versatile approach to collaborations and production style. We met up with him to see what he’s got in store for the next few months...
“My new single, ‘Shoulda’, is about regret. It is about forgiveness and the difficulty of it, and how regret and guilt get muddled up together.”
2011 has been your year, how has the journey been for you?
The whole thing was really unexpected, everything just happened at the right time. I had some very healthy feedback from Radio 1; Gilles Peterson and a load of other DJs were liking my stuff! So yeah, everything just clicked at the right time.
How did you become interested in music?
Well my Mum is an Irish folk singer...she sang for commercials and other things so I’ve always been around music. I’ve always really enjoyed singing. I got well into Brit Pop when I was a teenager, went to BRIT School and here I am now.
‘Night air’, a well-received track from your album, was co-produced with Burial. How did you meet him and what was it like working with him?
Well I sent him a personal message on Myspace saying that I really liked his stuff. We also have a few mutual friends so we got in the studio where he helped me smooth out some ideas I had musically. We get on well, we’ve always said that we would make a collaborative project one day but I just have to find the time! I trust his advice on my music. He’s a real nice guy, man.
What is your favourite remix of one of your tunes?
There are some really cool versions of my songs, remixes that sound completely different from the originals. I really like the Hudson Mowhark’s version of ‘Night Air’ and Ramadanman’s version is great too!
We’ll be checking those out! What do you think of Ed Sheeran’s cover of your song ‘Warfaring Stranger’? (Check the video out on YouTube!)
It’s actually an old folk song from back in the 1700s. Famous musicians such as Johnny Cash and Joni Mitchel have covered it too; Ed’s version is great.
Your next single is called ‘Shoulda.’ What’s it about?
Regret. About two people talking openly about the struggle of a relationship who want to repair it but who are at a standstill; it is about forgiveness and the difficulty of it, and how regret and guilt get muddled up together. I’m sure it’s a track that resonates with many people who have gone through the same thing.
What artists are you listening to at the moment?
Ohh, there are a couple of artists I like. I really liked Big Boi’s last album - “Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty.” I can’t wait for J-Lives next album. I also enjoy Jono Macleary’s music, he’s got a new album out called “There Is” and he’s playing on the tour.
How did you get into looping?
I went to a gig and saw this guy called Reggie Watts do his thing. He’s a comedian and a singer, he blew me away and that’s where it started...
What item can you not live without on tour?
Ummm, WiFi. I know it’s a bit geeky but there’s nothing worse than not being able to get online when I’m sending other artists songs and ideas. Other than that, you gotta have some classic films.
Do you still get nerves? How do you deal with them?
Sometimes I do. I just listen to the noise from the crowd and appreciate it. I embrace the nerves, get up on stage and before I know it I don’t have time for nerves.
What are you most excited about on the festival scene this summer?
I’m really looking forward to performing at the European festivals because I haven’t been to them before!
So here’s a scenerio: you are exiled from your home and thrown onto a desert island. What 3 people (dead or alive) would you bring?
I would take Richard Pryor for the jokes. Monica Bellucci and Michael Palin to make everybody get along!
Lastly, if you were invisible for a day, what would you do?
Let me think...I would go round tipping everybody’s hats off!
www.jamiewoon.com
myspace.com/jamiewoon
@jamiewoon
“My new single, ‘Shoulda’, is about regret. It is about forgiveness and the difficulty of it, and how regret and guilt get muddled up together.”
2011 has been your year, how has the journey been for you?
The whole thing was really unexpected, everything just happened at the right time. I had some very healthy feedback from Radio 1; Gilles Peterson and a load of other DJs were liking my stuff! So yeah, everything just clicked at the right time.
How did you become interested in music?
Well my Mum is an Irish folk singer...she sang for commercials and other things so I’ve always been around music. I’ve always really enjoyed singing. I got well into Brit Pop when I was a teenager, went to BRIT School and here I am now.
‘Night air’, a well-received track from your album, was co-produced with Burial. How did you meet him and what was it like working with him?
Well I sent him a personal message on Myspace saying that I really liked his stuff. We also have a few mutual friends so we got in the studio where he helped me smooth out some ideas I had musically. We get on well, we’ve always said that we would make a collaborative project one day but I just have to find the time! I trust his advice on my music. He’s a real nice guy, man.
What is your favourite remix of one of your tunes?
There are some really cool versions of my songs, remixes that sound completely different from the originals. I really like the Hudson Mowhark’s version of ‘Night Air’ and Ramadanman’s version is great too!
We’ll be checking those out! What do you think of Ed Sheeran’s cover of your song ‘Warfaring Stranger’? (Check the video out on YouTube!)
It’s actually an old folk song from back in the 1700s. Famous musicians such as Johnny Cash and Joni Mitchel have covered it too; Ed’s version is great.
Your next single is called ‘Shoulda.’ What’s it about?
Regret. About two people talking openly about the struggle of a relationship who want to repair it but who are at a standstill; it is about forgiveness and the difficulty of it, and how regret and guilt get muddled up together. I’m sure it’s a track that resonates with many people who have gone through the same thing.
What artists are you listening to at the moment?
Ohh, there are a couple of artists I like. I really liked Big Boi’s last album - “Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty.” I can’t wait for J-Lives next album. I also enjoy Jono Macleary’s music, he’s got a new album out called “There Is” and he’s playing on the tour.
How did you get into looping?
I went to a gig and saw this guy called Reggie Watts do his thing. He’s a comedian and a singer, he blew me away and that’s where it started...
What item can you not live without on tour?
Ummm, WiFi. I know it’s a bit geeky but there’s nothing worse than not being able to get online when I’m sending other artists songs and ideas. Other than that, you gotta have some classic films.
Do you still get nerves? How do you deal with them?
Sometimes I do. I just listen to the noise from the crowd and appreciate it. I embrace the nerves, get up on stage and before I know it I don’t have time for nerves.
What are you most excited about on the festival scene this summer?
I’m really looking forward to performing at the European festivals because I haven’t been to them before!
So here’s a scenerio: you are exiled from your home and thrown onto a desert island. What 3 people (dead or alive) would you bring?
I would take Richard Pryor for the jokes. Monica Bellucci and Michael Palin to make everybody get along!
Lastly, if you were invisible for a day, what would you do?
Let me think...I would go round tipping everybody’s hats off!
www.jamiewoon.com
myspace.com/jamiewoon
@jamiewoon
