Posted July 16, 201114 yr http://www.musicweek.com/story.asp?section...1045973&c=1 Will Young takes confident leap into second decade with Echoes 16 July, 2011 Will Young By Stephen Jones It is 10 years ago ago this month that Will Young took part in his first audition for Pop Idol, the groundbreaking show which paved the way for a generation of solo artists of contrasting success and longevity. And given the varying careers of those reality show contestants, who followed in his footsteps, it is in some ways incredible that Young, now on Sony’s RCA but essentially still signed to the same 19 Recordings/XIX Management deal he won via winning the series, is not only still releasing records but about to further challenge the public’s perception of him as an artist. Because for his new record, against the current pop vogue of working with a multitude of producers, Young has nurtured a new relationship with one dance producer, Richard X – a collaboration which would have been almost unthinkable a decade ago – to deliver an electronic-sounding body of work he has largely co-written himself. Echoes (released August 22) is an infectious, haunting piece pop/dance confidence, over which Young’s crisp, identifiable vocal both delicately and elegantly reclines; it will encourage repeated listen. In short, it will be one of the pop albums of the year. Talking with 32-year-old Young, a man whose independent way of thinking was revealed early on in the auditions when he famously stood up to A&R turned judge Simon Cowell, it is clear that he is as fervently excited about being in the business a decade on and – with eight million albums sales under his belt – in charge and creatively pushing the limits for his fifth studio album and follow-up to The Hits best of in 2009. “I don’t feel like I have been on a break. I have done four or five tours, summer shows, festivals and theatre – but someone came up to me the other week and said, ‘You look like Olly Murs’ and I said to my friend, ‘I’ve got to get this record out quickly.’ “I didn’t think The Hits would do that well – I was most pleased Changes was number one/two on the airplay chart, because I wrote it – and it’s given me the impetus to do this record. It’s been bubbling for two years,” he said. Further buoyed by how well his performance of Groove Armada’s History was received on Friday Night With Jonathan Ross last April – “people reacting without putting their hands up in horror” – Young set about choosing writers including Armada’s Andy Cato, Kish Mauve and Pascal Gabriel. The collaborations were variously set up by former XIX Management manager Jo McCormack and his A&R at Sony, Mike Pickering, with incoming Sony president of music division Nick Gatfield also having had input on the finished record. Stand-out numbers include the Bronski Beat-reminiscent track Losing Myself; haunting ballad Silent Valentine; Come On which would sit happily on the recent Take That album, heartfelt pop ballad Lie Next To Me; and first single, pop/dance-edged number Jealousy (released August 21) co-written with Kish Mauve who penned Kylie Minogue’s All The Lovers. Jealousy will be released as a single on Saturday, August 21, unusually the day the album comes out with RCA senior marketing manager Poppy Stanton noting, “We just felt we needed all the focus and attention on that week.” WILL YOUNG The collaboration with Richard X (see below) came about after Terri Hall – then knowing she was joining Young’s management team at Simon Fuller’s XIX Management in December – met with him for coffee last summer and got chatting about records they had brought recently. Young had been particularly enamoured with the recent album by former Beta Band frontman Steve Mason, which Richard X had produced. Hall said, “We hadn’t met before but I had always liked Will Young because he was an artist who marches to the beat ofhis own drum. We were talking about the music he loves... and it was an interesting chat, abou talbums from The Coral to The Beta Band and then Steve’s solo record and about the purity of the vocal, so I came away and called Richard to see if he would like to collaborate.” Young added, “I really wanted to get the voice and the performance closer to how it is live and I really liked what Richard did with Steve Mason... if I went with someone obvious it would take away from what I wanted to do. So I wrote Richard a note.” Recording began in March at the producer’s favourite Miloco Studios’ The Pool and Engine Room. On working with Richard X, Pickering, who has worked with Young since last studio album Let It Go, explained, “Will has good taste. He’s a natural singer. All you have got to do is get him in the right mood for singing. Most of the discussion is at the songwriting phase – he’s the sort of person who writes 30 songs and you choose the best. "But more so than any other album this is Will’s album – he’s had much greater input, written an album rather than written a collection of songs.” And Young could not be happier with the finished result. “I could make more obvious pop records – but I love it,” he said. “It’s the sort of record I have wanted to make for such a long time. I think it’s all about timing. In the pop music mainstream, which is what I am, you can’t go from A-Z . The Groove Armada record was a stepping stone. Jealousy is a brave step.” And Echoes is not so much a step but a leap into the next decade for Will Young. CAST LIST - LABEL – RCA A&R – Mike Pickering MANAGEMENT - Simon Fuller & Terri Hall, XIX Management, Lawyer - Charles Law, Simons Muirhead & Burton AGENT - Emma Banks, CAA PROMOTER – Live Nation, Marketing – Poppy Stanton,RCA NATIONAL PRESS – William Rice, Purple PR TV – Annette Millar, RCA, Digital – Ebony Rhiney-James, RCA NATIONAL RADIO – John Keane and Nick Goree, RCA REGIONAL RADIO – Lynn Swindlehurst, Laura Hendeson & Lee Morrison, RCA RICHARD X COLLABORATION - It is typical of Will Young that Richard X first heard that he wanted to work with him when he received a hand-written letter from the artist in the post. The dance producer, aka Richard Philips, smiled, “It’s something Will does. [The letter]was about how much he enjoyed the Steve Mason record; there’s an atmosphere about the record and the way the voice is treated, simple but not overblown, which he liked.” Whereas Philips is used to cowriting most of his productions, Young’s songs were already completed when they met. “He’d been writing for a year and had a bulk of songs but what was great was he had a clear idea. He’s in a place he knows what he likes. He’d been working with people he got on well with. "It hadn’t been a merry-go-round of writers but he had honed in on people he wanted to work with. “I had a dance history in production, which is where he wanted to go and in a ‘one producer’ direction, which is rare. Normally I co-write, but they were already written and I was happy to produce them. I think it’s really good. "We’ve been so close to it and driven mad with detail but we’re enjoying the songs as much as we started. It’s quite different for Will, but still Will.” Edited July 16, 201114 yr by Sunday
July 16, 201114 yr Wow thanks Sunday. :dance: There's no doubt that Will has been the major decision maker in this album. Echoes (released August 22) is an infectious, haunting piece pop/dance confidence, over which Young’s crisp, identifiable vocal both delicately and elegantly reclines; it will encourage repeated listen. In short, it will be one of the pop albums of the year Brilliant to hear MW give this album the same accolade as Popjustice. :yahoo: Edited July 16, 201114 yr by truly talented
July 16, 201114 yr Oh i did enjoy reading that..thanks Sunday.. :dance: So many things to comment on.... Echoes (released August 22) is an infectious, haunting piece pop/dance confidence, over which Young’s crisp, identifiable vocal both delicately and elegantly reclines; it will encourage repeated listen. In short, it will be one of the pop albums of the year. This isn't the first time we've heard this comment..it's wonderful that Will's new work is getting so much praise. it is clear that he is as fervently excited about being in the business a decade on and – with eight million albums sales under his belt – in charge and creatively pushing the limits for his fifth studio album and follow-up to The Hits best of in 2009. more so than any other album this is Will’s album – he’s had much greater input, written an album rather than written a collection of songs.” Yes..no doubt Will is in charge of his career. And this comment from Richard is my Favorite. It’s quite different for Will, but still Will.” :wub:
July 16, 201114 yr There's really no need to say anything further. MW have only enforced everything we have thought all along - dismissing the haterz and naysayers in favour of believing in Will and his ability. On working with Richard X, Pickering, who has worked with Young since last studio album Let It Go, explained, “Will has good taste. He’s a natural singer. All you have got to do is get him in the right mood for singing. Most of the discussion is at the songwriting phase – he’s the sort of person who writes 30 songs and you choose the best.I remember Morcheeba saying in a radio interview a few years ago how prolific and very very talented he is. He's really no different now than how he has always been - people are just believing in him and his abilities and giving him credit for the talent he possesses. It’s quite different for Will, but still Will.” This echoes what I said when some of our peeps on Baby D were a bit :unsure: Thanks Sunday - fabulous read :wub: Edited July 16, 201114 yr by munchkin
July 16, 201114 yr I've read this over a few times..i just love it. Sunday is that interview in the actual Mag please?
July 16, 201114 yr Thankyou Sunday, what a fabulous read!! :D Jacqui xx. Edited July 16, 201114 yr by Jazzmin
July 16, 201114 yr Hi Bev, great to be here and lovely to read the Music Week article...god I'm so hoping he'll have one of the albums of the year!! Jacqui xx.
July 17, 201114 yr Thanks sunday :cheer: Jealousy is awesome and I just can't wait to hear the others :wub: These reviews have been so brilliant makes me feel quite emotional.
July 17, 201114 yr Author I've read this over a few times..i just love it. Sunday is that interview in the actual Mag please? Its on their website now and it should be in this weeks edition .
July 17, 201114 yr Its on their website now and it should be in this weeks edition . Thank you Sunday..it's a must have. :dance: A blogger in Sweden has a link to the interview and Jealousy and this is what he says about Will. Music Week's Stephen Jones has done an excellent interview with Will Young is up to date with the album Echoes and single Jealousy is one of the best songs right now on my play list. HERE you can read Jones interview with the guy who has one of the pop world's most beautiful voices. :wub: http://translate.googleusercontent.com/tra...--4M7VlWw4FHxyw
July 17, 201114 yr the guy who has one of the pop world's most beautiful voices. So very true. :wub: :wub: I'm wondering if MW have only heard the sampler, selecting the same standouts as Popjustice. Makes me excited to think there'll be other gems on the album to be discovered. :w00t:
July 17, 201114 yr Nice to see you jazzmin & jacqui. You are always welcome even when normal service resumes over the road.
July 17, 201114 yr Tweet from Music Week,.. MusicWeekNewsMusic Week Great traffic on Will Young interview - check out now. http://t.co/fp5sWwq 9 minutes ago
July 17, 201114 yr Nice to see you jazzmin & jacqui. You are always welcome even when normal service resumes over the road. Thanks Gill I love your forum. Even if I don't post I pop in every day
July 18, 201114 yr Author MW Mag Little pic on the front page http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y208/sunday20/frontpagemw18.jpg http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y208/sunday20/mwechoes187.jpg http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y208/sunday20/mwechoes1872.jpg
July 18, 201114 yr Oh that's nice Sunday. Is he bare-chested in that lower picture - can't quite make it out :D
July 18, 201114 yr Author Oh that's nice Sunday. Is he bare-chested in that lower picture - can't quite make it out :D It's a tie I think :lol:
July 18, 201114 yr It's a tie I think :lol: Yes it looks like a tie when you enlarge it. Thanks Sunday. Lovely to keep. :D
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