Jamie Lidell - Interview au Montreux Jazz Festival

Students.ch : Did you have the time to visit the city ?
Jamie Lidell : Not really no. Although, we did arrive early to do a few things. But I love the crazy bubble univers of Montreux. It’s very strange. Every time I come to Switzerland I am marked on how strange it is. The air, the quality of the air. It’s lovely.

Students.ch : You are in one of the most famous festival of the world. How does it feel about performing here?
Jamie Lidell : I feel like we have a great stage, a great set of artists on our stage today. I feel like it’s really appropriate. I’ve been making this for a long time. I already played in the Miles Davis Hall and also in the Montreux Jazz Café here. It’s always a treat to come back here. It is one of those festivals where it is very much about music. There’s not so many left, you know. A lot of festivals are about making money and you feel like you’re going through a machine. Here, they give you a nice sound check, they treat you with respect. I think that makes you really want to make a good performance. We’re here to make music. It’s nice to be reminded of that. This festival definitely makes you realize that. I mean the legacy of it. It’s just exciting !

Students.ch : There are rumours stating that Prince will be in the audience tonight and you are going to be his opening act on the 10th of July. How do you feel about that ?
Jamie Lidell : That’s right ! Yeah well it’s a total honour for me. It’s hard not to see Prince as mythical ! Of course he wakes up in the morning, bush his teeth. He does human things. I idolised him when I was a kid. I pretty much wanted to be Prince. So it’s funny to have someone that really was an idol of mine so close. I have never met the man. He turned up in a show of ours in LA and now maybe here today. He’s a fan of Janelle Monaé. He loves her. For me, I get nervous thinking about that. In the same time I can’t help being excited too, you know. It’s a funny combination. Like a roller coaster. You want the excitement but it’s going to make you scream. I don’t know, maybe I’ll just meet him and scream in it’s face or maybe throw up in his face.

Students.ch : Maybe he’ll go on stage with you…
Jamie Lidell : He’ll probably grab the mic and say “hey son”. I’ll be like “Can I sit in that chair and watch for a while?!” But yeah who knows. In any case I’m open to it.

Students.ch : Did you prepare something special for us tonight ?
Jamie Lidell : I am going to play songs that we don’t always play. I’ve been rehearsing a little bit with the band in Belgium. It’s kind of a new band. I had a band to star the tour and I expended it further. We’ve only actually done two shows with the full band so we’re very young. I think that’s great. We have a lot of energy and enthusiasm. We really wanna go for it tonight. We had a lot of chances to warm up and this is the first show where we’re really going to come out. Show the power. Enjoy ! I just wanna enjoy !

Students.ch : How would you describe your music ?
Jamie Lidell : I am a sort of soul scientist I guess. People have called me that and I kind of relate to that. I love the science of electronic instruments, making electronic music, using technology. That’s my up point. I grew up thinking of music like that. At the same time, I love singing. I love soul music. Why ? I don’t know but I really love it. I’ve loved Prince while growing up. I love funk. So somewhere between craftwork and Prince. In the meantime, I’ve been taking other influences on the way. My new album “Compass” is really like Tom Waits.

Students.ch : And it’s really different from the previous one.
Jamie Lidell : Yeah it’s pretty different. Something connects the two albums. It’s more of a full picture of who I am. As opposed to a portrait in a good suit. You know what I mean ? You’re not always a nice outfit in life. Sometimes you feel a little bit more vulnerable. And sometimes in making music it’s nice to show those sides of yourself. It’s important. Even if it’s maybe not as popular. Not everyone may wants to see a picture of you in your pyjama. But I think it’s important.

Students.ch : It’s nice to see something different.
Jamie Lidell : Yeah. It’s more generous.

Students.ch : You said Prince was one of your influence. Are there other artists?
Jamie Lidell : Sure ! Growing up, I listened to other thing. It’s interesting. We’re playing in the Miles Davis Hall and one thing, which always stayed with me when I wass growing up was jazz. Even now, when I think about music, the way I make music and the way I love music. It has a lot to do with improvising and finding a way. I think I learned that by listening to a lot of jazz. Not really thinking why did they do it like that but just listening to it so many times I could sing that stuff. When I hear Coltrane I found I could sing and express myself. Because of listening to so much of that music and loving it. It’s a bit like being in a kitchen and really loving the way people are cooking and doing a lot of that. After a while you grab some ingredients and try. Jazz was always one of those things that is really encouraging.While growing up one of my favourite music was the Muppet Show. I moved to America when I was about 6 or 7 years old. Music was so good in that show and I never heard things like that in England. I remember watching that show and singing along. It’s crazy where you get your influences from. TV, computer games, jazz music, Prince, Miles Davis, Coltrane…So much style. In the end, so much style.

Students.ch : How do you jump from that to doing electronic music, like you did with Cristian Vogel ?
Jamie Lidell : Yeah, well it’s true. Well think about me growing up in England. In the 80’s there was so much of electronic music. The electronic pop music was hiting in the light when I grew up. I turned up the radio and it was like (Jamie starts to sing) “Don’t you want me baby”. All of those things where coming together. It was an exciting time. And then obviously the rave scene happened in the end of the 80’s. That was the perfect time for me to start going clubbing. I was 16-17. It was just perfect. I was prime candidate for going out and raving. I got completely swept away by this huge wave of acid house and techno. I wanted to make that music. So I’m a quite mixed up kid I guess. I think that a lot of people growing up in the 80’s are like that. It was a lot of music coming together! Even if you just look at people like, I don’t know, Janet Jackson! There are drum machines in her productions! Big drum machines! A big mess of things! That was the 80’s too!

Students.ch : Well we’re coming to the end of our time. Thanks you very much!
Jamie Lidell : Thank you !

Jamie Lidell - Site Officiel
Jamie Lidell - Myspace
Photo - Montreux Jazz Festival