Tony Cowell
Simon Webbe sold 16m albums with boyband Blue. Here, he talks about his struggle with depression and how love turned his life around…
As a member of Blue, Simon Webbe had the world at his feet. But life hasn’t all been plain sailing – the 39-year-old has struggled with depression and even contemplated suicide.
But now, with the woman of his dreams by his side, a wedding to organise and plans to start a family, Simon is happier than ever. It’s no wonder his new album is called Smile…
Tell me about the album – your first in 10 years…
I co-wrote all the songs on it, and when I say that, I want to put my fist in the air, because that’s a big achievement for me. It’s a very personal album about the way I feel now. It’s influenced mainly by my fiancée [Ayshen Kemal].
You’ve said you needed to evolve as an artist – has that happened?
Yes, because to evolve as an artist, I realised I first had to evolve as a person. I’d spent quite a lot of time out of the game, so I needed to spend time with myself, to become hungry for success again.
Where does the inspiration for the single Nothing Without You come from?
[Laughs] Well, that was my engagement song. I wrote that with Ayshen in mind, and I sang it to her on the day we got engaged. I wrote it after we had an argument about something silly. The argument lasted about 10 minutes, then it was forgotten. So the title of that song tells its own story.
You clearly have great chemistry together. Are you happy?
Definitely, and we both want the same things. Ayshen is 37 now, she’s ready to have children. I’m 39, and want to start a family again [Simon has a daughter, Alanah, 20, from his relationship with ex Nicola Jones]. We’re very passionate and can’t keep our hands off each other. We’ve been together now for 18 months, and it feels like the first genuine relationship I’ve had.
Have you set a date for the wedding?
Not yet, but it will be next summer. We’re looking at venues right now. We want to try for a baby as soon as possible, so Ayshen can still fit into her wedding dress!
I heard you were worried that you’d end up a lonely bachelor – is that true?
Yes, it was. I spent three years on my own before I decided to ask Ayshen out. I was happy being single, but I knew in my heart something was missing. I knew I had to change, and learn to grow up.
In 2014, you appeared on Strictly – and revealed your battle with depression. Was that hard to admit?
At the time, no, because I felt something was holding me back – I wasn’t myself during the show. I did seek help for it in the end, but it was mainly my bandmates [in Blue] who
helped pull me through. I didn’t leave the house for weeks on end, except to buy bread or milk. I hated who I was and started questioning my whole life. I remember staring at myself in the mirror – I was really depressed. I never attempted suicide, but I often thought about it. Mental illness is a huge and difficult problem.
You’ve acted in the past – what’s the master plan? Is it music first?
It’s family first, then music. I do want to do more acting, and I want to try out in America, but I’ve found the woman of my dreams and don’t want to take her away from her own family yet. I also have a fantastic set of friends in Blue, and we’re recording a new album. I think Blue still has a lot to offer.
As a band, Blue have been together for 17 years. How do you look back on those early days?
It was so much fun, and still is. I always wanted to be in a boyband, because I felt I wasn’t strong enough to be a solo singer. In the beginning, we were young, rich and reckless, travelling the world and having fun. But those boys always had my back, so I’m very grateful to them – and that’s why we are still together today. We still talk every day.
Your solo album is called
Smile – how you did you choose that title?
I would go to a restaurant, and see a bunch of girls all sitting opposite each other on their phones. Not connecting with each other, just frowning at their phones. It just struck me that people don’t smile enough. I know there are a lot of bad things happening in the world right now, but we must keep smiling – hence the album title.
Will you go on tour with the new album?
If the fans demand it – yes, I will. Otherwise, I’ll always play my songs with Blue when we tour. Either way, I’m so happy with life right now.
Simon’s single, Nothing Without You, is released on 25 August. His album, Smile, is out in October