James Blunt: "With music I reveal what I otherwise don't show"

It has been almost 15 years since James Blunt released his smash hit "You're Beautiful".released. And he is still holding his own at the top of various charts today.Not least thanks to the support of Ed Sheeran. Together with the high-flyer, Blunt worked on new music in Verbier VS.

James Blunt is probably the most ridiculed musician of modern times. Nevertheless, his success remains constant and he fills the halls not only in Europe. And he doesn't take himself too seriously. Before his concert at the Hallenstadion in Zurich last November, we meet a cheerful, good-humored Brit with no trace of nervousness. In his dressing room in the Hallenstadion, he drops one line after another, sometimes you don't even know what he's serious about and what he's joking about. The singer is attached to Switzerland anyway. He feels just as much at home in the Valais mountain village of Verbier as he does in Ibiza. Party and sea in one place, skiing and snow in the other. In an interview with event, he revealed how he still feels about his native England, what he drinks on the slopes, what his collaboration with Ed Sheeran was like and what he thinks of electronic music.

event: James, have you ever been to Schaffhausen?
James Blunt: No, why?

In two hours your performance at Stars in Town in Schaffhausen will be announced.
Really? My manager didn't tell me that! What's it like there?

It's a festival in the old town of Schaffhausen. It's similar to Moon&Stars in Locarno. You're also playing there this year.
And I've also played there before. It's still one of my favorite venues, if only because of the setting. It's beautiful, all the old houses with the lighting. That was fun!

With your restaurant in Verbier, you have a deep connection to Switzerland anyway.
Yes, I commute between Ibiza and Verbier. Originally, the British army sent me to Verbier to ski there for four seasons.

Why does the British army send people to Verbier to ski?
There are different positions in the army and some soldiers are sent to different places to train their skiing skills. It brings a lot of positives to the team and has an adventurous feel to it. If you've been to war and then come to the mountains, it's good for the mind and the body. And at the end, different teams that have trained in different regions compete against each other. I always try to explain it and struggle to justify it, but it's just great.

And then you decided to set up a place to stay there.
Exactly. They've now even named a ski lift after me, which is a bit absurd. And I have a restaurant at the top station.

What's it like for you to ride your ski lift?
As long as it doesn't break down, I'm happy.

Is there a sign?
Yes, it has my name on it. Next year I'm going to install speakers to play my music. That way we can reduce the queues (laughs).

Ed Sheeran has also visited you in Verbier.
Yes, we went to Verbier for a week and I taught him how to ski. He's never skied before, but he's very brave and tries everything. By the end of the ski week, he had skied down most of the slopes. In the evenings, we wrote new music together.

What was it like writing music with him?
It was great fun. He's a very fast, but also easy-going composer. We'd sit there, write a few songs and have a drink. It's fun because we have no time pressure and it's very easy for both of us to write about what we're feeling in a situation like that.

Did you go to après-ski?
I have my own restaurant, La Vache, so we usually went there to eat and drink. And of course we also walked around the village, which is beautiful.

What do you drink after a day of skiing?
I'm British, so I'll drink anything (laughs). I usually start with a beer or a wine, and a Williamine is also great late at night.

In the USA, you were a support act for Ed Sheeran. What was that like?
I did that for four months. I played 40 minutes at every concert and had two hours off before Ed. That means I had a two-hour head start to drink. It was great, I think touring with a friend like Ed is probably one of the best things I've ever done.

You're a funny guy. Ever thought of becoming a comedian?
I think my music is funny enough.

As well as Verbier, you also have a residence in Ibiza. Are you the party type?
Yes, that's why I bought the house in Ibiza, I like clubs. I even have one at the end of my garden.

How often do you go partying?
When I'm there, very often. Seven days a week.

Someone there is a big fan of electronic music. Who is your favorite DJ?
Robin Schulz is really great. And I also really like the German DJ Sven Väth. By the way, a friend of mine is the Swiss DJ Luciano.

How did the collaboration between you and Robin Schulz come about?
I spent two years writing over a hundred songs for my latest album. One of them was "OK". I didn't like the song and my record company thought it would be a hit. So we recorded it - and I still didn't like it. And I didn't put it on the album.

But now it's on there after all?
Exactly. Robin Schulz approached me and played me the remix of the track, which we then released together. It became a worldwide hit, you heard it everywhere on the radio. And somehow I got to grips with the song, we play it with the band at the very end of concerts. That's always a highlight. Thank you, Robin Schulz!

What is important to you when writing songs?
I express emotions in music that I wouldn't otherwise express. If I went to a pub with you right now, I would have problems talking about my feelings. I'd find sex, football, drugs and beer more exciting. So I try to fill my songs with the emotions that I don't usually show.

People have joked on Twitter that the new album by One Direction member Niall Horan is very similar to your music. Does that annoy you?
On the contrary. He seems like a cool, successful guy. And when someone compares him to me, it's a great honor for me.

Where do you feel at home?
London is great, but life there is not so nice in many ways. I think I like the mix between Switzerland and the Mediterranean. In Switzerland, I love the mountains, the air, the lakes, the winter and the snow. And in Ibiza I love the sea, the sand and the sun. That's why I commute between these two extremes, because it's much nicer that way.

How often are you in Switzerland anyway?
It depends on how much I tour. I have a lot of gigs coming up at the moment. That's why I sometimes have to sneak off to Verbier so that I can spend a weekend or two there.

MIAMI, FL - AUGUST 30: James Blunt performs on stage at American Airlines Arena on August 30, 2017 in Miami, Florida. Photo © Jason Koerner/Getty Images

Verbier le 8.12.2012 James Blunt, Restaurant " La vache " 2500 mètres aux Attelas sur le domaine de Verbier. Photo © Isabelle Favre

JAMES BLUNT
Various festivals 2018
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