INTERVIEW
He may have come a close second in the BBC’s Fame Academy 2 eight years go, but Alistair Griffin is gunning for a top spot with his new album, ’Albion Sky’.
A self-confessed perfectionist, the North Yorkshire based musician has spent the last seven years honing his songwriting skills and is now looking forward to sharing it with the world.
Since finishing Fame Academy Alistair has released a top 20 album ’Bring it On’ and performed alongside the likes of Phil Collins and his on-screen mentor Robin Gibb.
He received critical acclaim for his tongue-in-cheek adaptation of Leonard Cohen’s ‘Hallelujah’ which he dedicated to the former Middlesbrough football striker Mark Viduka and has written for numerous artists including Cascada.
The first single - ‘Just Drive’ - from his new album has already gained national recognition as the chosen soundtrack for the BBC’s F1 montage of the 2010 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
We managed to steal fifteen minutes with Alistair prior to the single’s official release next month (June) to discuss his new offering, the pros and cons of televised talent shows and his little known talent for making homemade lemon curd.
Music News: Tell us what you’ve been doing since your debut album ’Bring It On’ released in 2004?
Alistair: Writing another one in short. I’ve spent a lot of time in my studio writing material both for the forthcoming album and for other people. I wrote a song for Cascada which appeared on her album last year and a few other acts in Holland and Germany, where I’ve also had a few hits myself. More recently I’ve really focused on the writing side of things and getting everything as I want them for this album. It’s taken a fair time, but it’s been really important to me to get it right.
Music News: Songwriting has clearly been a huge focus for you over the last seven years, how do you develop such skills and what helps you to focus?
Alistair: It’s hard to answer as I think everyone works differently. For me it’s about keeping at it, consistently writing and pushing myself to write something different everyday. I’m based in North Yorkshire and have a studio out in the sticks where I often go to do a lot of my writing. I also escape to Robin Hood’s Bay in Whitby, where I often feel inspired.
Music News: Who are your musical influences?
Alistair: I think to write music you have to listen to a lot of different music, especially if you write for other people. I listen to a lot of the classic songwriters such as The Beatles and in particular The White Album. I also listen to Bob Dylan and more recently have started listening to Leonard Cohen. I equally listen to anthemic big chorus writers such as Noel Gallagher and Brandon Flowers. I think the more you listen to the more you develop.
Music News: We’ve heard ‘Just Drive’ and it has already been widely received, what can people expect from the new album ‘Albion Sky’ in its entirety?
Alistair: ‘Just Drive’ is a big chorus, upbeat feel good track and was a lot of fun to write and make. The rest of the album has a lot more depth and features some more acoustic and folky numbers combined with some upbeat dance tracks. There are also some Killer-esque type songs on there too, so it’s a real mix of what I like and am influenced by.
I’ve spent a lot of time on this second album and I think it’s only natural as a songwriter to compare yourself with whatever’s big in a mainstream way at the time, be it Brandon Flowers or Noel Gallagher. It’s got to be as good as, if not better in order to make it and I think every good musician and songwriter is always conscious of that.
Music News: I know it’s a long time ago now, but how do you think Fame Academy helped you on your route to becoming a performer and songwriter?
Alistair: It helped open some doors that would otherwise have been closed to me, but equally closed quite a few which may have something to do with why it has taken me so long to come back from it all.
Fame Academy was a bizarre, surreal and wonderful experience. I think it’s fair to say it was a bit of a double-edged sword in terms of how it shaped my future musically. It was a good experience and taught me a great deal about the music industry while also giving me the exposure I needed and was desperately failing to obtain going it alone for all the years previously.
Music News: Do you keep in touch with anyone from the show?
Alistair: Yes I still keep in touch with James Fox and also Carolynne Good who is also living up North so we catch up every now and again.
Music News: Having been through a gruelling televised talent contest such as Fame Academy yourself, what words of wisdom would you give to any musicians considering taking part in similar shows such as X Factor?
Alistair: Hmm it’s a hard one to answer, I don’t know that I’m in a position to give any words of wisdom on it. What I would say is that the music industry is getting tougher and tougher by the day, it’s actually shrinking. I’ve witnessed a huge amount of change in the ten years I’ve been working in music. If you’re a singer with a good voice and you want a shot, go for it! The conventional way, that is doing the pubs, and social clubs for years and years doesn’t always pay off and something like Fame Academy or the X Factor could give you the exposure you need. That said if you don’t win the show, you’re going to struggle and for some it can be like starting all over again. In short I think it’s one way of doing it if the other way hasn’t quite worked for you.
Music News: When you’re not writing and singing Alistair, what do you most like to do in your spare time?
Alistair: I play a lot of sport (laughs) the band is going to laugh at me for saying that but I do, I love sport. We always have a cricket bat and ball wherever we perform so that we can have a quick game or session before we go on. I also really love comedy and wrote a song for a Radio 4 show which I performed with Rory Bremner.
I was born in Whitby and still live about 50 miles from my family so I head home quite often and catch up with them and have a pint with my mate Dave Mould, who’s one to watch and will soon be a superstar himself I’m sure.
I also make the finest lemon curd, which I will be giving out to fans (laughs) I usually take about 50 jars with me to shows to share with the crowd.
Music News: If there was one person (male or female) that you could duet with who would it be and why?
Alistair: Ah I often get stuck on this question. I think right now it would have to be Adele. She is definitely the lady of the moment and I actually think we’d make a really good double act. If not her, I think it would be Lady Gaga for the sheer performance value.