GEORGE LOOKS AHEAD TO ’19
making noise and don’t know if anybody will hear it, then all of a sudden I’m playing massive shows around the world.”
That first album was largely inspired by George visiting Europe – and Staying At Tamara’s had a similar genesis.
He says: “I got the ideas for the first album travelling for two years but the last thing I wanted to do was travel like that this time.
“I found somebody on the internet renting out their spare room and lived with a stranger for a month in Barcelona and all of the songs came from this trip.
“Each day I would leave the apartment, take a walk, take in the sights, have lunch and write down all that I was experiencing.”
Incredibly his host Tamara didn’t know she had a pop star staying at her home. George laughs: “I didn’t see much of her, she worked Monday to Friday. I got recognised once, Tamara didn’t know who I was, none of her friends did.
“That month in her apartment was the longest I’d been in one place for two years so I really had this feeling with the key to her flat I had the key to this whole new city to explore.” The LP includes Shotgun which became George’s first No1 hit, but he thinks part of its success is down to wind.
He says: “Shotgun was the last song that came from the trip and it sums up the whole feeling – a relaxed happy summer time album.
“I got this email saying: ‘There’s this meme going around saying that you burped.’
“But it’s just me saying the word ‘well’ – everyone was checking out to see if I burp.”
This year George also started an acclaimed podcast where he interviews popstar friends featuring everyone from Elton John to Ed Sheeran. He says: “The success is down to not making a big deal about it. I’ve had offers for TV shows but the beauty of the podcast is it’s not a TV show.”
Next year George’s success continues with a huge arena tour including a date at London’s iconic O2 Arena.
He adds: “It makes me a bit nervous, we went to suss it out and they kindly let me walk on the roof of the O2. I watched a One Direction DVD where they were playing the O2, and I was like: ‘God that’s scary.’”
Nerves aside, he plans to make it one big party for his fans, saying: “I’m focusing on making it a performance rather than a gig.
“I mean, it is a gig. People won’t forget that. But it’s more about how you make it ‘a show’.”
Another part of his success is down to family and he takes older sister Jessica and younger brother Ethan, aka support act Ten Tonnes, on the road with him.
George says: “It’s a crazy life we live on tour so it’s amazing to be able to share it with people I love.
“Our younger brother Ten Tonnes supported us on the last tour so it’s a real family affair on the road.”
Don’t be surprised if a couple of BRIT awards come George’s way in February too.