WILL YOUNG

WILL

ACTIVIST, AUTHOR, SINGER, SONGWRITER, RADIO PRESENTER, DJ AND PERFORMER. WILL CHATS TO US ABOUT HIS UPCOMING ALBUM ‘CRYING ON THE BATHROOM FLOOR’ (OUT 6TH AUGUST), AND SERIES OF INTIMATE LIVE SHOWS, COMMENCING ON 1ST SEPTEMBER, WHERE HE WILL BE PERFORMING SEVERAL OF THE NEW TRACKS ALONGSIDE CLASSIC SONGS ACOUSTICALLY, AND CHATTING WITH AUDIENCES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

I THOUGHT WE COULD PLAY A GAME OF ‘WOULD YOU RATHER’ BEFORE, TO BREAK THE ICE.

TV OR CINEMA? Cinema.

CHOCOLATE OR CRISPS? Chocolate

. BOXERS OR BRIEFS? Oh, what is the difference? Briefs.

SUMMER OR WINTER? Summer.

HANDS OR FEET? Feet.

TRIMMED OR AU NATUREL? Au naturel.

AND LAST QUESTION. SNOG, MARRY, AVOID. LET’S USE THE THREE JUDGES OF POP IDOL. SIMON COWELL, PETE WATERMAN, AND NEIL FOX. WHO IS GETTING THE SNOG, WHO’S MARRYING, AND WHO’S BEING AVOIDED?

It’s absolutely impossible. Avoid Simon Cowell. Snog Foxy. Marry Pete Waterman.

IT IS JUST OVER TWO YEARS FROM WE LAST CHATTED, AND I REMEMBER THEN YOU WERE SUNNING YOURSELF AT HOME WITH YOUR SAUSAGE DOG. I FEEL WE ARE STUCK IN A TIME WARP, AND I’M IMAGINING YOU ARE DOING THE SAME THIS DAY LOL.

Very sadly, no, because my sausage dog got run over and killed about three weeks ago. I know, it is awful. But anyway, life goes on.

FOR THE FIRST QUESTION THAT WENT DOWN LIKE A LEAD BALLOON.

It’s alright, you weren’t to know.

WE NEED TO ADDRESS OUR FRIEND COVID. ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK TO NORMAL, WHATEVER ‘NORMAL’ MAY BE?

I mean, I sort of feel like I’m back at normality really. I sort of have a problem with the normality thing, but I don’t know why, so I’m just kind of analysing it in myself. This is what I think, everyone can make their own normal, I think that sometimes, one can feel that one should be doing stuff that other people are doing, I think one of the things is, for me, being given permission to not see people, and not feel like I have to be doing things particularly as someone who’s older and single. I think there can be a pressure that can then leak into a sort of shame attack. For me, this is, ‘Oh, what am I doing in on a Friday night?’ or ‘What am I doing?’ And, actually, it’s fine. Because I’ve been given permission to, let’s face it, stay in on Friday night. So, I’m deliberately keeping that mindset.

Yeah, so my normal is, I just create my normal. So, actually, in answer to your question. No, I don’t want to go back to how it was two years ago.

YOU ARE ONE OF THOSE SINGERS WHO HAS A RECOGNISABLE TONE/ VOICE. DO YOU THINK THAT IS A HELP OR HINDRANCE IN THE INDUSTRY?

A massive help. Because it’s nice if people can recognise me. That’s brilliant. Because then there’s, there’s an identification. I don’t want to be struggling to think, ‘Who’s that singing that?’ You know? So yeah, if you have an identifiable voice, I think it’s one of the big pluses to get on in the industry.

DEFINITELY. IS SINGING AND PERFORMANCE SOMETHING NATURAL FOR YOU, OR DO YOU NEED REHEARSALS, WARM UPS, VOCAL COACHES, ETC.?

No, I’m really lazy. I just get on with it. No, I just get on with it deliberately. I mean, maybe. I do do warm ups. But I think I try and deliberately don’t stress about it, because then stress is the thing that can be the worst thing to your voice. Because your vocal cords tighten, and your shoulders go up. And, I always say when I’m doing teaching is, ‘The more relaxed you can be, the better your singing’s gonna be.’

WHAT SKILLS HAVE YOU LEARNED THAT PASS ON TO AN ASPIRING SINGER?

It has to be about the enjoyment because if you’re enjoying it, then other people are going to enjoy your performance. If you’re not enjoying it, then it’s difficult to expect others to do that or, it’s a lot harder.

IN 2020, AND 2021, X FACTOR HAS BEEN CANCELLED. AS SOMEONE WHO GOT THEIR BREAK ON A TALENT SHOW, DO YOU THINK SHOWS LIKE THIS ARE BECOMING REDUNDANT, OR SHOULD THEY STILL BE PRODUCED TO OFFER PEOPLE OPPORTUNITIES?

Well, there are two different questions. So, are they becoming redundant? The answer is, I don’t know. I honestly don’t know. Should they still be there to offer people an opportunity? I think anyone, any opportunity, is great for an aspiring band, singer. I think the key thing is to be looked after and have a duty of care. I think that’s been made apparent. Recently, I would imagine that, probably, more stories are going to come out. It’s no bad thing

to look back and go, ‘How was I treated then? ‘I mean, I was very lucky, because I really was treated very well on Pop Idol.

DO YOU THINK THEN THE TWO SHOWS, POP IDOL AND X FACTOR, WERE THE SAME? OR WERE YOU JUST LUCKY, BECAUSE IT WAS THE FIRST?

Well, you’ve got to see the difference, haven’t you? There’s one key difference between Pop Idol and X Factor. The key difference being that one was created by Simon Fuller, and one was created by Simon Cowell and just look at the way the two men are and draw your own conclusion. It’s kind of obvious.

WHEN WE LAST SPOKE, YOU MENTIONED HOW YOU’D LOVE TO COLLABORATE WITH BJORK, ANYONE IN THE CHARTS ATM YOU’D LOVE TO WORK WITH?

Yeah, I love Bjork, I actually messaged her the other day. I love Laura Mvula, I’ve always loved her, I just think she’s brilliant. She’s a real artist and she hasn’t always had the easiest time. And she’s always stuck to who she is, and I really respect that. She doesn’t go chasing hits. And they’re just the type of artists that I like. Whenever she’s putting something out, I always think she’s doing it because she wants to. There are different types of artists. People that chase hits, and that’s fine. But it must be exhausting, and then, there are people like her, who are just so true to themselves, and just put stuff out, and go ‘I hope you like it’.

ON 25TH JUNE YOU’LL BE DOING A YOUTUBE PRIDE EVENT. CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT IT?

Oh, yeah. I’ve just shot that. I can’t say. I’m not allowed to.

ARE YOU GONNA BE SINGING? ARE YOU HOSTING? CAN YOU SAY ANYTHING?

I can’t. I’m not allowed to, contractually, you will have to tune in to see.

ALBUM, ‘CRYING ON THE BATHROOM FLOOR,’ WHICH IS OUT 6TH AUGUST. YOU AND RICHARD X WORKING TOGETHER AGAIN. WHAT IS IT ABOUT WORKING WITH RICHARD THAT YOU ENJOY?

I just think he’s just got such good taste, and I think that’s a huge part, if not the most important part really, of collaborating with someone. I just think he’s got brilliant taste. I think he’s exquisite in the way that he produces things. He’s very, really

HOW DID IT FEEL WHEN YOU HEARD FIRST SINGLE, ‘DANIEL’ A COVER OF THE BAT FOR LASHES SONG, WAS RECORD OF THE WEEK, AND STRAIGHT ON THE A-LIST AT BBC RADIO 2?

Oh, it’s amazing. It actually is amazing. I don’t know, actually. I was gonna say, particularly with someone else’s songs, I feel like it’s a lot harder to get to do a cover of someone else’s song. But I suppose you do get that validation. That I wish I didn’t have, perhaps, the part of

focused on the tiniest details. That maybe no one would notice. And I think that, and what I love about that, is that I know that he’s taking the best care with the music. He wants it to be the best for people to listen to. And I just think that’s brilliant. Because then I sit there and I’m selling my music. Whatever that means nowadays. I mean, not really selling at all. And I know, I can stand by it and go, ‘Yeah, and this guy’s done it, and he’s bloody brilliant and cares about it as much as I do.’ I don’t know how he does it. I feel like he’s my secret weapon. I feel like I’m so pleased that he hasn’t moved to LA.

DANIEL, OBVIOUSLY WAS THE FIRST SONG. I THINK IT WAS WITH ME IN MIND.

Of course. Absolutely. me that wanted that, or needed that. But then, on the other hand, it means it shows, ‘Oh good. I’m not going crazy’.

I’m glad I stuck to my guns, and said, ‘This should be the first single, there were discussions about what would be the first single. And it’s nice when, as an artist, you say, ‘No, this really should be the first single against maybe things that seem more obvious.

And so, I didn’t feel like, ‘Hahaha, right’. Well, I did feel a little bit like that, actually. Sorry, I did. But I also think, ‘Oh good.’ Not just, ‘Hahaha, I’m right.’ But also like, ‘I’m glad I’m not wrong. And mad.’

I THINK IT’S A GREAT SOUND AND PEOPLE ARE GOING TO REALLY ENJOY

IT WHEN THEY GET TO LISTEN TO IT. IT SOUNDS COMPLETELY YOURS, ALTHOUGH IT’S A COVERS ALBUM. WAS A COVERS ALBUM SOMETHING YOU HAD BEEN PLANNING, OR WAS IT SUGGESTED TO YOU?

It wasn’t a suggestion. But, getting Richard to do it was, I think now, the only way I could have done it.

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THEN, I SUPPOSE, IF YOU HADN’T HAVE.

Yeah, I think so. It just wouldn’t have worked. And so, I think if I’d done an album which was me and an orchestra or something, which is absolutely fine, but it wouldn’t have felt right. At this time and it was just a really good marriage. And, to be honest, I was just glad that he was free to do it.

I’VE BEEN FORTUNATE TO HAVE A SNEAKY LISTEN. IT IS GREAT. ATM I’M DRAWN TO ‘MISSING’, AND ‘I FOLLOW RIVERS’. DO YOU HAVE A PERSONAL FAVOURITE, OR DOES IT CONSTANTLY CHANGE?

I love ‘I Follow Rivers’. It’s so different, I’ve always loved that song. And I just think, ‘It’s genius.’

IT ACTUALLY TOOK ME A MINUTE, WHEN I WAS LISTENING, TO REALISE THAT IT WAS A COVER.

Yeah, but that’s what’s so good. That’s what’s so great about doing covers. Because I sort of want that. I want someone to go, ‘Oh, who is this?’ I think it’s almost more respectful to really try and do your own version of it.

SO, WERE YOU FAMILIAR WITH ALL THE TRACKS, OR WERE THERE SOME RECOMMENDED TO YOU?

I wasn’t familiar with the Cam song, Till There’s Nothing Left, she was a little bit slightly outside, she’s probably the most leftfield. Not in terms of left field artists but left field in terms of a link to the other artists, she sits in a different field. And when I heard the song, I just think, it’s such a brilliant pop song, and I just couldn’t not do it, so, that one came out of the blue, it’s actually one of my favourites. But I don’t know if it was because there was something about it? I think it’s a bloody brilliant pop song.

I READ YOU REACHED OUT TO ALL 10 ARTISTS. HAVE ANY OF THEM WRITTEN BACK COMMENTING ON YOUR TAKE OF THEIR SONG?

Yes, I’ve heard back from London Grammar. I’ve heard back from Natasha Khan and Clare Maguire. We’ve been chatting quite a lot, because she’s got dachshunds, and she’s a lovely person. I mean, they’re all lovely. So, it is nice to hear back. I didn’t expect to, but I did want to be respectful.

I think it’s really important, and I just think it’s good manners and I think it just shows that you care. And I just think it’s good. It’s just a nice little way of saying, ‘I really love your work’ and who doesn’t like hearing that? I don’t need to hear back from the people. But it’s always nice to hear that someone likes your work.

IN SEPTEMBER YOU HAVE AN INTIMATE TOUR PLANNED. SIX DATES HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED, AND TICKETS ARE ON SALE. WILL MORE DATES BE ADDED, OR IS THIS IT? WE WONDER IF/WHEN YOU’LL BE BACK TO BELFAST OR DUBLIN?

I know, but this isn’t a tour. It’s literally five or six shows. The tour, the big tour’s next year, because that will be the 20th anniversary of Pop Idol. I hope to be back over then.

IT’S GIGS FOR A WEEK, WHAT ARE THE PLANS AFTER THAT?

Well, I’ve got to finish the next record. I’m working on that now, I want that to come out next year for the 20th anniversary. So, I’ve been writing that and I’m writing a couple of books. I just sit and smoke at my kitchen table. I’m literally Dot Cotton. It’s awful. In a pinny. And there’s some acting stuff. And then, something I’m working on that I hope is going to happen.

WHAT ARE THE BOOKS ABOUT?

It’s been an idea for a long time. In fact, to be honest the two books have been ideas for ages. So, they haven’t just come out of the blue. And then another idea that’s just starting now. It’s to do with mental health. In fact, a couple of things to do with mental health, that I’ve also wanted to have done for a long time. And I think the stars have just been aligning at the moment, for some reason. Maybe Nelly the dachshund has been rushing around in Heaven going, ‘Right. I’m going to help you with a few things.’

AW, THAT’S SO CUTE TO THINK THAT. WILL LISTEN, IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU’VE GOT LOADS PLANNED AHEAD, YOU’VE GOT ALL THE SUPPORT BEHIND YOU, AND WE CANNOT WAIT TO SEE WHAT YOU GET UP TO NEXT. THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME WITH US. WISHING YOU EVERY SUCCESS WITH THE ALBUM AND GIGS AND ALL YOUR FUTURE PROJECTS.

It’s nice to talk to you again. Take care.

CRYING ON THE BATHROOM FLOOR’ IS OUT VIA COOKING VINYL ON 6TH AUGUST AND CAN BE PRE-ORDERED NOW VIA WILL’S WEBSITE WWW. WILLYOUNG.CO.UK

INTERVIEW WITH DANIEL MAY.