MY LIST Emmanuel Sonubi
HE was recently nominated for an Edinburgh Fringe Comedy Award, and now Emmanuel Sonubi is embarking on his biggest tour of the UK so far. He is looking forward to playing dates in Yorkshire, with the first in Leeds in April.
I’m currently reading: Reading is one of the things that I very much enjoy, and I’m always returning to the Harry Potter books, which I think are a great introduction for youngsters, but which also work for so many other age groups – she’s a very clever writer, is Ms Rowling, very clever indeed. The genre I read most is biography and autobiography, and, in a lot of ways, it’s a kind of research – I like documentaries on television, and when I watch one on a particular person who I find interesting (it can be for any reason at all), then I want to find out more about them. So I seek out a few books on them, some biographies, and if there’s one around, an autobiography. Then I get on with the reading, and I always discover that, while someone has one particular slant or view on the person, another author has a totally different “take” on the subject.
I’ve been listening to:
It’s more of a question of what I don’t listen to. On the way to every gig that I do, I put the music up loud – it’s generally rap, and often Eminem, because he’s got pretty good diction (and diction is very important to me), and he’s an “old school” rapper – and I do a vocal warm-up as I go along. It must be bizarre if anyone else catches me as I go along. I like anything from Michael Bolton to Tupak, classic rock, hip-hop, pop, you name it, and I’ve also been known to indulge in a soundtrack to a musical, like Annie. It’s a bit of happenstance, if you like, I’ll go for whatever might come to hand.
On TV, I’ve been watching: Yellowstone, the series which airs on the Paramount channel. It’s a beautifully constructed drama, with a stellar performance from Kevin Costner as John Dutton, the veteran rancher. It’s set in Montana, and the scenery is just stunning. There’s hasn’t been a decent documentary for a while, but I live in hope.
The live performance I’d recommend is:
I was doing a gig at the Apollo, in London, and this guy was on the bill, a comic who was new to me, called Jake Lambert. He was just wonderful – cracking one-liners, right on target, and one after another. He’s only in his early thirties, and he’s going to go places, you mark my words. I once was the support act for John Bishop, and watching that man work the room was just amazing, perfect timing all the way. Being lucky enough to be his warm-up was, I thought, my opportunity to prove myself, and I like to think that I did just that. I grew up on comics like Steve Martin, Eddie Murphy, Martin Short, all very different in their styles, but all very funny men.
My next box set will be (or my last boxed set was…):
An American series called black-ish, which ran for about eight series, I believe. It’s all about a black family in a rather upper-class neighbourhood, and how they get on in and with the community – and themselves. It was captivating, and I could really relate to a lot of the action. When I get my hands on that one, I’m going to binge-watch it, for sure.
The app I couldn’t be without is:
Instagram – I have about 23,000 followers, which is very nice, and the number is slowly building, for which I am grateful. It’s a great way to stay in touch, and also to see what others are doing. And Citymapper is invaluable because it gives me all the vital information that I need to get around towns and cities which may me unfamiliar to me. It’s got trains, bus routes, taxis, the lot.
I don’t use any apps to find out decent restaurants and pubs, I rely more on word-of-mouth recommendations. But then anywhere that serves a decent pint of Guinness is okay by me, that’s my tipple of choice.
What is right at the top of your “to do” bucket list?:
You know, I’m a pretty contented kind of guy, and I’ve achieved so many of the things that I wanted to. I’ve also been lucky to do a lot of travelling, and the audiences have always been appreciative because I talk about people and situations that they recognise. I’m a pretty good observer, I think – I’m always watching people when I’m travelling around – I don’t mean to, but I do pick up on mannerisms and attitudes, things like that. Actually, there’s one place
I’d love to play, and that would indeed be the cherry on the cake. The London Palladium. Now, that would be so cool…
Emmanuel Sonubi will be performing at the Old Woollen Mill, Leeds, on April 10; Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield, May 31; and Bradford Studio, June 1.