Thanks to Julie.

 

A long way from Harry's Bar Will's still willing to please

 

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IT TURNS out that Will Young is on the verge of landing the musician's holy grail — making it in America.

 

Not that modest Will, a former Exeter University politics student who still has a home near Bodmin Moor, is letting on.

 

Will was speaking from a balcony in Los Angeles to promote a concert in Newton Abbot this summer.

 

If his mind was on bigger things, such as the imminent performance of Leave Right Now on American Idol in front of 23 million viewers, he wasn't letting it show.

 

 

"We got in last night," said Will, having a play fight with his PA over the telephone signal.

 

"The sun is coming up on a beautiful morning. I'm already sweating. It's nice. I'm slightly jet-lagged.

 

"I don't really know how it's going to go yet because I haven't really done much out here. I'm doing a bit now, so we'll just have to wait and see.

 

"If it works, then that's great and if not, I get to sit in the sun."

 

As it turns out, there probably won't be much sunbathing.

 

On a night that was supposed to be all about the two finalists, Lee DeWyze and Crystal Bowersox, the American press wrote largely about the British star's performance.

 

Making it big in America is the ultimate goal for many British singers.

 

It's a long way from appearing at the Exeter Northcott in Oklahoma! and serving up enchiladas in Harry's Bar.

 

"Enchiladas and fajitas, brilliant," he said.

 

"I was a bit of a crap waiter actually. You were meant to do the starters and the puddings and, basically one night they told me don't bother, just be charming to people.

 

"Exeter does seem a world away sometimes, you have moments in life when it seems bizarre — it is a bit like being in a film."

 

Will says he owes a great deal to his time in Devon and at Exeter University, an environment that encouraged him to sing and eventually audition for Pop Idol, the programme that would change his life.

 

It was while living in Well Street with three housemates during his final year that he filled out his Pop Idol form, posting it in the box on the corner.

 

"Uni was brilliant for me, it was an amazing change in my life," he said.

 

"I left public school and suddenly got to know a whole different bunch of people who were just fantastic. And I started singing.

 

"That was something I wanted to do that I hadn't done before. And there was the charity ball. I think that's when I really started to do lots of stuff. I really went to town there.

 

"I just remember going down to campus and doing anything I could to avoid doing some work. I would meet up with someone and suggest we'd go for a coffee instead. I loved having a good gossip with anyone. It was a great time, it really was. I didn't get the best degree but I learnt a lot."

 

Will moved out when he finished his exams in the summer of 2001. He started Pop Idol two months later and went on to win.

 

By December 2002 he was to lead the charge in a style of television competition which was to dominate networks worldwide.

 

And unlike others, Will has managed to build on the fame and keep his sense of humour.

 

"I always wanted to do this. I was very passionate about it from a young age and had a very strong sense that it was what I wanted to do," he said.

 

"I do think that everyone needs a bit of good luck because so often things hang on a knife edge," he added.

 

"That's what happened to me right at the beginning at Pop Idol. Just getting put through all the time was lucky. "

 

He added: "For longevity, you've got to enjoy it. There's being brave, doing different things. And also it is a case of having the right people around you. Not taking them for granted. You've got to work on your craft as well."

 

Four multi-platinum albums later and live performances everywhere from Glastonbury to Powderham Castle, Will has performed in all types of settings.

 

He has diversified too, recently focusing on his passion for jazz.

 

"I do tend to plan my career," he said.

 

"I think about things that I want to come up. Especially in the past couple of years, I think that I am doing stuff that I really, really love.

 

"I've been doing a documentary for the new film that Ralph Fiennes has been directing but then I have been doing my jazz gigs, I've got a song with Groove Armada and there are these summer gigs. That's when I am really happy, when I am doing lots of different things.

 

"I am definitely a planner, I have two-year plans. I think that is really important because then you aim for things.

 

"If I hit one out of five of things that I'd really like to do, then I am happy.

 

"With the Groove Armada thing, I've wanted to do that for the past five years so sometimes it is just a case of waiting for things to come together."

 

Despite the success and now having performed for a decade, Will said nerves still play a part.

 

"I get really nervous for one-off things because you can't get into a rhythm. When I haven't done it for a while I panic.

 

"Then I quickly realise that it's fine. I do get nervous, but I think that is fine.

 

"You've got to work at your craft and keep on top of your game. Every performance matters. If you do one bad performance, that can be a major chink in the armour.

 

"That's definitely the way I see it. You just can't give a bad performance.

 

"You've got to push yourself and try to take yourself to higher heights. An actor friend of mine said that you should always be aiming for the Oscar or Emmy with your performance. You might never get it, but you should be aiming for it anyway."

 

Back from LA, Will will be focusing on a summer of UK concerts that include the South Devon Festival at Newton Abbot Racecourse on July 24.

 

Joining him will be Adrian Edmondson and his daughter Ella, The Wurzels, Joey the Lips, The Demon Barber Road Show, The Diamond Geezers and Soul Funktio.

 

"Funnily enough, the first ever solo gig I did was in Devon," Will recalled.

 

"What is great about the outdoor gigs is that you can do all the old songs and mix it up a bit — do all the old covers and some of the new songs too.

 

"I've been working up in London on them, so you can throw those in too.

 

"Outdoor gigs leave you a bit freer to explore things musically. So obviously there will be all the old songs, but also we can have fun and find some really interesting covers."

 

He added: "If I get some spare time I'll probably go down to Cornwall where I've got a place. I'm not sure if we are at the end of a run or at the beginning. It would be nice to head down if I can.

 

"I love it there. I went surfing the other day. I'm really bad at it. It wasn't cold, after the initial brain freeze."

 

Will said that he still gets stopped when heading out from his Cornwall home, signing autographs in some pretty unusual locations.

 

"This really nice kid came up recently on his surf board and I signed an autograph for his sister who works in the local shop.

 

"He swam over and was really sweet and then another kid came up. I think there is an element that if you are out there doing what you are doing, in my case just trying to stay afloat, then people respect that. They understand that you have the same feelings that they do. I don't go down when it's so busy."

 

After his American performance, Leave Right Now went straight to number 21 on iTunes.

 

It looks like it may be time for another media frenzy, this time across the Pond.

 

Catch him at the South Devon Festival this summer before serving enchiladas in Devon seems an even longer way off.

 

JONPAUL HEDGE

 

http://www.thisisdevon.co.uk/arts/long-way..._medium=twitter

"I don't really know how it's going to go yet because I haven't really done much out here. I'm doing a bit now, so we'll just have to wait and see.

 

"If it works, then that's great and if not, I get to sit in the sun."

 

Good for him - as he said before he won't weep and wail if it doesn't work out. It does seem to have worked so lets hope he'll build on it.

 

Thanks TT - good to read the whole interview.

Lovely interview - thanks TT.

 

"Funnily enough, the first ever solo gig I did was in Devon," Will recalled.

 

How well I remember that. A group of us, including Jane from OS, traipsing around Exeter, and going into the local newspaper office, trying to get copies, and me going back later to buy, I think for 50p, the large advertisement they had in the window. Then it was off to the gig. :yahoo: Stumbling on the run across the field to be at the front - but others ran faster - so I was about 4 rows back, although I had been at the front of the queue. :rolleyes: I could go on and on. A wonderful weekend that was. :D

Edited June 4, 201015 yr by chrysalis

Great interview there, thanks for posting it up TT, they always get the dates wrong don't they?

By December 2002 he was to lead the charge in a style of television competition which was to dominate networks worldwide.

it was December 2001.

Thanks for Posting TT..A Great Article..A Great Read.. :D

 

Dot. :)

I loved that..thanks for bringing it over TT

"I do tend to plan my career," he said.

How many others are just lead by the hand? :lol: