Interview

JS

What prompted the change of the band?

NW

Well there are a few factors, I’m on a journey so musically if I’m pushing myself, I want everyone else pushing themselves, so I need to surround myself with people I aspire to and work hard to be on their level.

JS

That comes across, its seems to breathe new life in to your classic material.

NW

It’s the MD and a collective which is great, makes it interesting, I love, it, they take what I’ve done and give it a new lease of life which I love.

JS

I noticed that your backing vocalist also take a lot of lime light.

NW

We’re a team on this stage and I want them to express themselves vocally because all backing singers are singers, so its nice for them to be able to open up and do what they can do, we’re all sharing the stage there’s no one bigger than the other and that’s what I love. Everyone is in an individual musician, everyone’s chasing a dream, whatever the dream may be, I’ve never wanted to be a backing singer that’s just something I’ve never wanted to do so I appreciate backing singers more than what I do because I couldn’t stand there and .....I like to see them and they never know when I’m coming to them and I like that, I like that off the cuff spontaneity.

It's taken me a little while to understand what my lane is, I know my lane and I like it and I’m driving down it and I’m not changing lanes...

JS

You have a rare kind of sound almost an old kind of vibe would you describe that as British Soul?

NW

Someone said to me what is your music, how would I describe it and I said its like modern soul with an old twist, and well I'm an old soul I like old songs so to bring it to the 21st century its got that 21st century twist and that’s where the guitarist Toni Remi come in and Nick Cohen the bass player and they give it that little bit of an edge it didn’t have before and also its taken me a little while to understand what my lane is, I know my lane and I like it and I’m driving down it and I’m not changing lanes, I’m not changing motorways, I’m sticking on an A road, I’m an A road singer, you like that analogy?. I’m an A road singer sticking to the road, I’m not a B-Road, I’m an A-Road.

JS

Are you going to take us to the motorway?

NW

No I don’t like the motorway, that’s pop, see that! That's pop, no am not doing that..... (Hahahaha)

JS

We see you have your band and your entourage do you feel its your responsibility to push this music?

NW

Yes I have to work and if you don’t work hard, you’re not going to get anywhere anyway and I want people to see my work ethic, to believe in what I’m doing, whys anyone going to invest or come and watch if they think I’ve been handed it on a plate. I’m certainly not being handed it on a plate. Let me tell you, do you wanna know about my day?, I’m joking hahaha No you’ve got to work hard, my mum taught me that. If you don’t work hard you don’t get anything I’m not prepared to sit back.