Tony Cowell speaks to singer James Morrison
James Morrison rocketed to fame in 2006, at the tender age of just 21. With massive hits like You Give Me Something and Broken Strings, he sold over seven million records. After a tough few years facing turmoil in his family life, he’s back with a new album. James, now 34, opens up about why demons forced him to disappear from showbiz – coming to terms with the death of his alcoholic father, and the heartache of losing two babies with his partner, Gill.
You’re back to your soul roots with new album You’re Stronger Than You Know, aren’t you?
I am, yes. I feel this is the sweet spot for me, because I’m singing about some quite emotional stuff on this album. Some of the songs are like personal memories, but I tried to avoid the negative stuff. I have been through some difficult stuff in my personal life, but I didn’t want the album to necessarily reflect all of it.
You were out of the spotlight for a few years – has that been hard?
In some ways, yes. It’s hard watching other male solo artists coming through and stealing my slot, as it were! But I’d expect that, really. I would be a fool to think otherwise. But actually, I am really pleased to be back. I’ve worked hard on the new music.
You’ve said your bad times have made you more positive – in what way?
When you go through difficult times, whether it’s losing a parent or a problem birth of a baby, it becomes very full-on, so songwriting allows me to reflect on that and try to bring a positive edge to it all. I suppose it’s my way of dealing with it. It was the same when I was a kid – making music was my way of escaping from the tough times I had growing up. We didn’t have much money and my dad was often away, but I always had my guitar – and my mum would be listening to records by people like Joan Armatrading or Tracy Chapman – that inspired me.
You lost your dad, Paul, to alcoholism in 2010 – did that change your outlook on life?
In many ways, yes. He was a difficult man, and he wasn’t a great dad – but it was tough to lose him, because it came as such a big wake-up call for me.
You and your partner, Gill, sadly lost two babies before giving birth to daughter Ada Rose last year. How did you get through such difficult times?
We’ve had to support each other, really. Though there were times when it got so hard, we seemed to turn away from each other as well. But I think
that’s normal when you are both going through something difficult – you sometimes need to be alone. Some of those moments are reflected in some of these new songs. In a longterm relationship, sometimes you have to work hard to keep each other happy. So it’s good to write about that, get it out.
Ada Rose was born 13 weeks premature. How is she doing?
Yeah, she’s a right little rascal now. She’s a tough cookie, and definitely a fighter or she wouldn’t be here. She must be, to have got through all that. Looking at her now, you would never believe she had such a hard start. She’s a beautiful little girl and really sturdy – she’s come on leaps and bounds.
Early on in your career [in 2007] you won a Brit award. How do you look back on that time?
I was very young and very nervous back then! It was a very crazy period and I was doing too much. I wasn’t prepared for what happened so fast – I was only 21. Winning the Brit wasn’t the high point in my life – and, weirdly, I feel I’m in the best place now that I’ve ever been, because I can now write and perform the sort of music that I want to. I’m glad I’m older.
Did you find fame difficult to live with?
Yes, because I didn’t know how to handle it. Nobody around me was willing to help, either. I would come out of playing a gig and see all these people waiting for me and I thought they were fans – but they were press. One minute I was a nobody and then, suddenly, everyone wanted to talk to me. Fame is a difficult thing to deal with when you don’t really know what it is.
At the height of your fame you performed with Stevie Wonder – and at the Concert For Diana among others. You must have great memories...
Of course, they’re great memories and I will always treasure those moments. You shouldn’t forget the good times you had. But it’s also the little things too, like playing a concert in South Africa and meeting a guy after the concert who had been shot in the leg during a riot. I will always remember talking to him – it’s those little moments that tend to stay with you.
l You’re Stronger Than You Know is out now. For tour dates and tickets, see james morrisonmusic.com