Jamie Lawson — A Round Of Questions

In 2021 you went on the road across the UK with Deacon Blue. What was that experience like given the lengthy enforced hiatus for live music? Any highlights/memories for that tour?

It was great to watch Deacon Blue when I could. To hear Twist And Shout, Chocolate Girl and Dignity etc. They are a brilliant band. All the parts are there and there’s no playing to track. And they’re still writing great songs so it was very inspirational. It felt really special to be back again and singing and remembering what it is about singing that I love, finding those special moments and living inside them for a short time. Unfortunately due to Covid, I had to miss a lot of the tour.

In May 2022 you will be embarking on a UK tour entitled ‘An Acoustic Round Tour’ with four other singer-songwriters. How did this tour come together and had you met each other or worked together before this was devised?

I’ve known and been a fan of Gemma Hayes for years now. Richard Walters came on tour with me for a few shows a while back and we’ve done some writing together too. I haven’t met Laura Zocca yet but I love her songs so I’m really looking forward to the whole thing. The tour came together through my manager Tim Smith who had the idea. We started suggesting names to each other and seeing what might work best. All three artists were on my very first list.

Are there any plans to record any of the shows on the tour for a possible future release?

I think so yes, possibly an EP.

Sometimes it is said that you should not write songs when you are in love. What are your thoughts on that notion?

Who says that?! I’ve never heard that said and would never suggest it. Being in love is a great place to write from. Who wouldn’t want to write about? Though I did once write the lyric “I’ve resisted the urge to tell the whole world ‘cause what news is a boy in love with a girl?” Maybe that fits in with what your talking about?

When you are writing a song do you have a set process e.g. lyrics first for example?

No, no set process. Try and turn my brain off as much as possible and let something subconscious through, then work from there. More often than not music and words come along at roughly the same time, one instructing the other where to go next.

One of my favourite songs of yours is ‘Cold In Ohio’ which I first saw you perform at Fopp Music store in Covent Garden quite a few years ago now. What was the inspiration for that song?

Thank you very much. It’s one of my favourites too. I wrote that with the brilliant Kim Richey. It came from watching Kim play in London. On the way back to the tube station with friends someone asked Kim, “Is it cold in Ohio?” to which she replied, “Yes, very.” That’s it right there, that was the inspiration. It wasn’t much but immediately the line and melody came into my head, ‘It’s cold in Ohio so I’m not going there.” I really liked the idea of mentioning somewhere and then saying you weren’t going. Usually it’s always the other way round. A few days later Kim came round to my house, I played her the idea and she liked it so we worked on it together. Kim wrote one of my favourite lines ever in that song: “Love is always shifting sand, not much to believe in.” That’s such a brilliant way of describing love.

Do you have any favoured stage guitars? Or any guitar pedals/gadgets you particularly enjoy using?

I play a Martin mostly, it’s the least bright guitar I’ve found. I don’t like shiny sounding guitars, I find them quite harsh. I’m after something subtler. I have no pedals apart from a tuner peddle, which is a lifesaver at times and allows you to talk to the audience and tune at the same time.

Do you find it quite difficult choosing a setlist for shows given the amount of material you have?

I suppose so. You always want new ones in there but you know people aren’t familiar with them yet so it’s a case of getting the balance right.

How do you look after your voice?

Not brilliantly, but I try and do some warm-ups most days I sing a fair amount around the house too.

Out of interest, are you a fan of Richard Marx? If so, do you have a favourite song or album of his?

Not overly, but as I get older I have a newfound respect for a lot of those songs I thought were too schmaltzy first time round. Hazard is brilliant.

What makes Jamie Lawson happy and what makes him angry?

Oh, this is an easy one, sleep, and not enough sleep.

AN ACOUSTIC ROUND TOUR DATES 2022

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