Does he belong in the pop scene? Is he a jazz musician? In any case, the British singer and multi-instrumentalist Jamie Cullum inspires with wit and virtuosity. He is currently catching up on his three-postponed tour.
Jamie Cullum is a virtuoso musician who doesn’t fit into any category.
He had to postpone his tour three times because of Corona. And suddenly performing is no longer a matter of course for Jamie Cullum. The British jazz-pop singer and multi-instrumentalist found it pretty nerve-wracking when he recently got stage fright and was on stage again. «One wonders whether one still remembers how the whole thing works; and how will the audience behave?”
In the interview, the 42-year-old Brit (who will be appearing in the Samsung Hall in Zurich/Dübendorf on May 24) does not hide his concerns. Fortunately, however, he quickly found that the audience was dying to hear live music. “The reunion with the fans was a euphoric experience!” But he could understand her emotions well. Because he also goes to concerts himself to enjoy the live atmosphere. Apparently, Cullum was very happy to be able to stay at home longer thanks to the pandemic. He sees himself first as a father and husband and only secondarily as a musician.
Too much information
When Jamie Cullum talks about his children and his wife, author Sophie Dahl (Roald Dahl’s granddaughter), he seems to evoke a family idyll. This is as reassuring as it is surprising, as he revealed himself as a depressed person in “The Age Of Anxiety”, one of the central songs of his last album “Taller” (2019). But there are differences between private and public life.
In view of illness and war he is more concerned than ever. And he doesn’t think the fear will ever completely go away. This also has to do with today’s information overload. In order to be able to function as an artist, he sometimes has to withdraw from the flow of information and try to be offline as often as possible.
The thoughtful lyrics on Taller marked a turning point in Cullum’s career. The musician, who once studied English literature, became known for his musical virtuosity and less for his lyrics. But now it was words that formed the starting point of his artistic work. “I thought if I focused on the lyrics first, the music would come naturally.”
Jamie Cullum proves his musical talent again and again in cover versions. He also presents the video series “Song Society”, in which he rearranges and interprets well-known songs within a single hour – under the motto “Love and live with mistakes!”. Music doesn’t have to be perfect – that’s its quintessence, so to speak. But does he succeed in transferring this attitude to his life? “Sometimes, not enough, but I do my best!” He’s good at laughing. But doesn’t one have to be Jamie Cullum to pick up tried and true songs in an hour? Now he mischievously admits that he himself has cheated over time.
At the beginning of Jamie Cullum’s career, British radio found it difficult to categorize the young musician. One would think that his talent would now be recognized regardless of external factors. But Jamie Cullum still doesn’t quite seem to fit into today’s media landscape. In any case, you can’t put him in a drawer, which makes the big breakthrough more difficult. But he doesn’t even think about that anymore, says the pianist and singer with a grin.
After all, Jamie Cullum has established himself as a music connoisseur and smart presenter in the media. He serves as a judge for the prestigious Mercury Music Prize and has had his own weekly BBC jazz program for several years. Here he also talks to artists who otherwise rarely give interviews – such as Clint Eastwood, Billy Joel, Paul Simon or Kate Bush.
Technique of songwriting
Before the interview with Kate Bush he was quite nervous – but the pop singer could not have been nicer and more objective. When talking to great artists, he often has the impression that he is talking to craftsmen. “As soon as you get them to talk about their work, they talk like someone who makes chairs.” They didn’t tell anything abstract, little ideal, but instead they described soberly how they approached a song. “Without wanting to compare myself to them, I can only say that I can empathize with this species.”
Over the course of his career, Jamie Cullum has not only spoken to a wide range of musicians, he has also worked with a wide variety of artists: from Pharrell Williams to Norah Jones and Katie Melua to Amy Winehouse. When asked if any of these stars are particularly important to him, he immediately talks about working with hip-hop and R’n’B producer Pharrell Williams, with whom he recorded the song “In My Mind”. Has. “He had a crappy keyboard and made these incredible sounds, and I sat there and watched him work and felt inspired.”