Katie Melua and her husband James Toseland split in 2020. Now she talks about the end of the relationship and how it affects her music.
Katie Melua (36) became world famous with hits like "Nine Million Bicycles" (2005) and "The Closest Thing To Crazy" (2004). Her new album with the simple title "Album No. 8", which she will release on Friday (October 16), is, among other things, about love and its sometimes negative sides. Katie Melua experienced this firsthand in 2020, because the singer separated from her husband James Toseland (40) after eight years of marriage. In an interview with the news agency spot on news, she talks about the end of the relationship, the high and low points of her career and the impact the corona crisis is currently having on her life.
Your album is a lot about love, including the song "A Love Like That". How has love affected your life?
Katie Melua: Like so many people, she's influenced me in my daily struggle: being torn between what you love to do and the time you prefer to spend with the people you love. That ends with an inner conflict because you just want to give everything for life.
It is your eighth studio album. How do you look back on your career?
Melua: I look back with a lot of positivity. Lately I've been back to doing the things I love. For example Georgia, my family, that my brother Zurab now plays in my band, to spend time with my father. My love for Georgia is expressed in the song "Leaving The Mountain". When I started my career, I had the impression that my work and my family had to be separate. It was incredible to be able to close this gap now.
Your song "Nine Million Bicycles" is one of your biggest hits. Can you still hear the song?
Melua: I'm so proud to introduce this song to the world. When I sing it live, I notice the effect it has, especially on lovers. They become much more loving with each other. He really showed me how powerful songs can be. I hope that I can always maintain this connection in songs in the future as a songwriter and in record production.
How did this song change your life?
Melua: The song gave me the opportunity to travel around. I was told how many people know him. The fact that there is a song that is distributed all over the world and has been noticed everywhere is incredible. A friend I work with once told me that he had been to Kenya and people in a remote village there knew this song. I find that just overwhelming.
You have been in the music business for over 15 years. What highs and lows were there during this time?
Melua: I think my low point was a severe mental breakdown. It really showed me that I need to enjoy what I do, that I need to take care of myself and take time with my family to make sure I am distributing my energy properly. Six years ago it was also very difficult to part with my long-time employee Mike Batt, as I had to take on a lot of responsibility to look after a team and my crew on my own.
But getting through these situations was incredibly fulfilling. I used these experiences to learn how to do something I wholeheartedly believe in and to build a really strong team and work with some of the best in the industry on both a creative and a business side. It also meant that I was finally able to record an album that is the most honest about how I see the world and my life.
You recently separated from your husband, James Toseland. Did this decision affect your music?
Melua: It was impossible not to influence them. Fortunately we have a lot of respect for each other and it was a friendly breakup. We remained good friends. For me music is the place where I can explore something and be very honest. Everything that goes on in my life is processed in it.
Are you ready for a new love?
Melua: At the moment I have an insane schedule and just enjoy being part of this great album campaign.
How has your daily life changed due to the Corona crisis?
Melua: I was used to moving around a lot, traveling was a big part of my working life. Now that Corona is bringing everything to a standstill, it's completely different. I also mixed my album shortly before the pandemic hit – but then I had to adapt and we had to finish mixing it virtually.
What long-term effects do you think the Corona crisis will have on the music industry?
Melua: The crisis gave us time to reflect and pause, especially in the live industry. The tour manager I work with creates a code of conduct with her staff. I think the crisis shows us that we cannot rely on just one part of the industry as a source of income. The live industry has become the biggest provider of the music industry and now we need to be more diverse. We have to accept big changes in this environment.