If you were wondering how Olly Murs fares in the love department, you should know that the romancing doesn’t stop when it comes to the Heart Skips a Beat star. Making his way to our neck of the woods to perform at Dubai Emirates Airline Jazz Festival on none other than Valentine’s Day, the 29-year-old — who’s currently off the market — says he’ll likely be celebrating the hallmark holiday either early or late, despite how “commercial” it can be.
“If you’re with someone and you’ve got a partner, you should embrace it all year round [and] you should be able to take your partner — or the person that you’re with — anywhere,” he told tabloid! over the phone. “You should be out to do it every day, every week and every year.”
The singer is gearing up for a big few months ahead, smooth moves and wooing aside. He took my call between having his hair cut and dashing off to the studio to write for his fourth album — “We’re just in the early stages, it’ll be released this year” — something he says he’s had more time for since leaving the world of presenting in 2013.
Murs, who was the runner-up on the UK’s X Factor in 2009, co-hosted the spin-off show The Xtra Factor for the two following seasons. Now, he’s shifting his focus back onto music.
“I’m looking for a summer single again,” the pop star confided. His last big hit Troublemaker debuted at No.1 on the UK Singles Chart.
Adventurous
“[I’m] being creative and adventurous, coming up with different ideas and different productions, always trying to think outside of the box for myself as an artist, and trying to be something different on every album. It’s gonna be different, it’s gonna be good.”
If you’re wondering how the record will set itself apart from his previous releases, Olly Murs (2010), In Case You Didn’t Know (2011) and Right Place Right Time (2012), the singer has hinted at the possibility of a few collaboration firsts for him.
“There are definitely things in the pipeline — I’ve never done anything with a woman before, I’ve never done a duet on an album. That’s something that I’m looking forward to potentially doing as well, so we’ll see!”
Despite the enthusiasm to jump headfirst into his new music, it’s been a tough year for Murs, something he’s become quite accustomed to as a man on-the-go. He says it would’ve been great to do the Xtra Factor for one more season, but he has “no plans to return at all at the moment.”
“Just trying to keep one job at a time. It’s hard sometimes; you’ve got loads of different jobs coming in for different things. I’m just concentrating on what I’m doing now and that’s writing the next album and looking forward to this gig in Dubai.”
Media-savvy
Murs may have retired his TV hosting gig, but he’s clearly taken away a set of media-savvy skills from his years as an interviewer. He fields questions with ease and offers just enough details to keep you wondering — for instance, all he had to say about spending time with the likes of One Direction, The Wanted (who will be performing at JazzFest on the same day as Murs) and Robbie Williams were that they were all “top guys” — although he did share it would be a shame to see The Wanted give up the ghost after this tour, as announced in January.
But if you want to hear him let his guard down and share a chuckle, ask him how he feels about turning the big three-zero this May 14.
“I can’t wait! It’s gonna be great — I’ve never been a big fan of birthdays, they’ve never been something I’m excited about, but this one, you know, it’s a big year, it’s a big birthday,” he said. “I still feel very young and vibrant and I don’t feel old at all. It’s gonna be interesting hitting 30, but I’m looking forward to it.”
Murs shares the day with his twin brother, Ben, who he’s been known to have a troubled relationship with. Overall, however, he seems to be in good spirits over the milestone age.
“For me, this year is taking a step forward and just taking myself even further. I’ve had a great three or four years — I’m on the fourth album, every album’s been better than the last. I’m hoping that this fourth album’s gonna be the biggest album that I’ve done. 2014 — I couldn’t wait for it to begin, and I can’t wait for it to start.”
