‘I’M ENJOYING THE FREEDOM OF MAKING MY OWN MUSIC’
BUSTED’S JAMES BOURNE OPENS UP TO OK! ABOUT STRIKING OUT ON HIS OWN
It’s not every day you get to see inside a singer’s recording studio, but that’s exactly what OK! is treated to when we catch up with James Bourne. “I write all my songs here,” says the Busted star as he gives us a tour of his stylish Los Angeles home.
The 37-year-old songwriter, who will release his debut solo album Safe Journey Home later this month, splits his time between the UK and LA, but he spent lockdown at his home in Cornwall with his girlfriend, vlogger Emily Canham, 23, and her dog Cody.
Here, James tells OK! about the inspiration behind his album, what his Busted bandmates think of his new music, and why you’ll never catch him on a reality show…
What inspired Safe Journey Home?
It’s inspired by my life, travelling to the various places I’ve lived and going back to those places. I’ve lived in a lot of different parts of America, including New York, Nashville and Los Angeles. I feel like I’ve had so many different experiences on my own that I wouldn’t necessarily share on a Busted album. As I’ve got older, I’m at the point where I’m enjoying the freedom of releasing my own music. It’s a nice change. It would irk me when I’d see my Spotify page with nothing on it. I’ve had a few years where I’ve just written for other people and it’s not very fulfilling. The most fulfilling is when you’re doing it for yourself.
Did your girlfriend Emily inspire any of the songs?
It’s funny because she’s always said, “Which one is inspired by me?” But we actually keep what we do quite separate. I know a lot of couples share everything online but I don’t really care to do that. She is very successful and I would worry about messing that up! She’s a lot smarter than me. A big reason why I came back to the UK was so we could spend lockdown in my house together. So far we haven’t really addressed her coming out here but we speak every day if we’re not in the same place.
What do your Busted bandmates, Matt Willis and Charlie Simpson, think of your new music?
I played Matt a few songs and Charlie heard the single and tweeted about it, which was nice. They both seemed to really love it and they’ve said some really nice things. Eric Clapton wrote me an amazing note about the lead single, Everyone Is My Friend, which was pretty cool. A lot of people said the song reminded them of him.
Do Busted have any future plan?
I’d definitely like to give my own music the space it deserves, but I love the band and I’m really proud of it and I definitely wouldn’t say no to another adventure. I’m just on a different adventure right now. You just don’t get the room to express yourself like that when you’re in a band, so I’m enjoying that side of things.
Would you ever consider a reality show like Strictly Come Dancing?
It’s just never appealed to me. I don’t think I’m above it or too cool for it, I just don’t want to wear sequins on Saturday night TV. But anyone who does, good on them! In terms of the jungle, I’d rather go to a jungle properly than have someone dialling a phone and it meaning I have to eat a cockroach. It feels like being guinea pigs for home entertainment. I don’t want to lose track of who I am. I’m a singersongwriter and it’s given me an unbelievable life and I just don’t understand why I would choose to f**k with that.
I’ve never really cared about staying relevant.