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Home, James - and don't spare the audience
With two successful albums under his belt, the former officer will end a world tour with the Dubai Jazz Festival next year.
- By Kelly Crane, Staff Reporter
- Published: 22:50 November 8, 2008
- James Blunt is famous for showing his human side through his music.
- Image Credit: Gulf News
With two successful albums under his belt, the former officer will end a world tour with the Dubai Jazz Festival next year.
James Blunt is famous for showing his human side through his music, and it was no exception in an exclusive interview to announce his first concert in Dubai.
"Now I'm just depending on people turning up," laughed the singer songwriter and two time Brit Award-winner.
"I am lucky enough now to be able to guide where a concert goes in terms of tempo and energy, because it has been perfected over months of touring. So I am just hoping the fans in Dubai will get on board and feed off our enthusiasm and excitement."
And tabloid! can exclusively reveal Dubai will bring a 14-month world tour to an exciting climax and end.
Blunt says he is ready to bring his new sound to the UAE — along with a taste of the Blunt days gone by — when he headlines the Skywards Dubai International Jazz Festival next year, which takes place from February 19 to 26.
"It's such a professional show. The band is a group of phenomenal musicians and I am lucky to be playing alongside them. We have played at some fabulous venues all over the world and we're looking forward to coming to Dubai in February."
Often criticised for his "slash-your-wrists-style" ballads and emotional "mush" — thanks to hits like You're Beautiful and Goodbye My Lover — the former British Army officer says the music has naturally evolved with the addition of such a talented group.
"I think it's only natural to admit the style of the music has changed now that there are more of us. I guess I have lost my naive innocence, and have a different edge now. I consider myself so lucky."
Blunt's band joined him prior to the recording of his new album, All the Lost Souls, which sold 65,000 copies in its first week, and was certified gold in the UK after only four days. Each musician was selected after being highly recommended by people close to the English-born singer.
The drummer was personally recommended by the music legend Sir Elton John. "Elton is someone who has helped me and my career to no end. I played at his wedding, which was a wonderful honour and experience. He suggested a young drummer and I didn't think twice. We've been together ever since.
"I wouldn't look back and I certainly wouldn't trade any of them for anyone."
Not forced, it appears a change in style is something which was always on the cards for Blunt.
The song 1973, the first single from All the Lost Souls, was inspired by his nights out at the nightclub Pacha, which opened in Ibiza in that year.
The song became a huge hit, reaching number one on the World Singles Top 40 chart, and the top of the Billboard European Hot 100 Singles chart.
"DJ Pete Tong remixed the song 1973 and played the track during his set at Pacha, which was great. I am definitely experimenting with different styles of music.
"I have also worked with the French rapper Sinik to produce something using elements of I'll Take Everything. It became a top three hit."
Blunt was an officer in the Life Guards, a reconnaissance regiment of the British Army before he headed down the music path. He served in Kosovo during the 1999 conflict, before leaving in 2002 to pick up his guitar.
"Music gives us a human perspective about our shared hopes and fears as conscious people. That is what I try and get across."
With a permanent residence on the Spanish Balearic Island of Ibiza, Blunt says it's one of the places he can "escape the world and write in peace".
"It gives me a chance to just be."
But given the chance to relax and it's a direct route to his local London pub which really hits the spot.
"Touring has been great fun — a party every night, in fact. But one of the first things I plan to do when I finish is head straight to my local to see my mates.
"We are good old-fashioned touring with 10 guys in a bus and it has been interesting at times. Still — I wouldn't change a thing."
Blunt at the Dubai Jazz Festival
So what can Dubai expect next year? While James Blunt says the expected 15,000-strong crowd at Dubai Media City can look forward to many of the songs which have made him famous, he added people are certain to be in for a surprise.
"One of the things about touring which has been really fun, apart from obviously sharing a tour bus with 10 guys, is taking the audience by surprise.
"The majority expect a man on stage with a guitar, and the show is far from that. It has been great seeing the shock on the faces in front of you when they realise how up-beat and strong the performance actually is."
'I'll take everything'
Some of the awards James Blunt has received, include an MTV Europe Music Award for Best New Act, Brit Awards for Best Pop Act and Best Male Vocalist, an MTV Australia Video Music Award for Song of the Year (for You're Beautiful), MTV Video Music Awards for Best Male Video and Best Cinematography, and a Teen Choice Award for Choice Music Male Artist.
An officer and a humanitarian
James Blunt was introduced to the work of Médecins sans Frontieres (MSF) — Doctors Without Borders, a humanitarian aid group best known for its emergency medical care in conflict-torn regions — while serving in Kosovo. He has supported MSF since then.
Tickets
For tickets, visit www.dubaijazzfest.com
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