Last week, Jake Bugg joined The Evening Show with Dan O'Connell on Radio X.
12 years after breaking onto the scene, singer-songwriter Jake Bugg admitted to Dan O’Connell on Radio X last night that he ‘still gets nervous’ before taking to the stage to perform. Speaking to Dan at length, Jake also revealed that he ‘loved every minute’ of touring with UK indie icons Liam Gallagher and John Squire, and that he feels his single ‘Trouble Town’ has seen a surprising resurgence thanks to the success of TV drama Happy Valley.
DOC: “Have you thought about what you’d be doing if you weren’t a musician?”
JB: “Yeah, that’s a very tough question. I’ve thought about that a little bit, to be honest, and I think I’d still be doing what I’m doing, even if it was just playing in front of two people every night. I don’t know what else I’d really be qualified for, to be honest. It was either football, which was never going to happen, or doing music. I always said to myself when I was a young age, whatever level that is you’re doing music at, I just felt like it was for me and I’d be doing it anyway.”
DOC: “So the tour is happening in November. Do you still get nervous? Are you past that?”
JB: “Yeah, nah, I still get nervous, absolutely. I still get a bit of nerves, sometimes more days than others. But I’ve really enjoyed playing recently as well, especially with some new songs in the set, that always makes it nice and refreshing and exciting.”
DOC: “Is there somewhere specific you always like playing? Is there somewhere you like returning to? Where’s kindest to Jake Bugg?”
JB: “Where’s kindest? Everywhere has been kind of kind. We played the Barrowland with Liam and John on their tour, so we’re going back their in November for our own show, so really looking forward to that. That’s always a great gig up there as well. Yeah, looking forward to everywhere we’re going on that tour, can’t wait!”
Jake Bugg says he ‘loved every minute’ of touring with Liam Gallagher and John Squire
DOC: “I wondered if we could just talk quickly about the tour that you’ve just finished with Liam Gallagher and John Squire. What was that like?”
JB: “Yeah, it was great. It was absolutely brilliant. And obviously, Liam seemed great and to watch John play on stage every night was just an absolute pleasure, and he’s an amazing guitar player. Yeah, absolutely loved every minute of it.”
DOC: “Where there any shenanigans, anything to report from backstage?”
JB: “There were a couple of nights out, but nothing too crazy. I think everyone was trying to be as professional as we could be to a point, to a point! Yeah, it was a brilliant tour, absolutely loved it, and it was great to come out in front of their crowd every night and play.”
DOC: “I guess it’s an easy question, and based off the fact that we’ve just talked about, you know, it’s 12 years since you started in the game, and then you’ve just come off this tour with Liam and John – has there been anybody on the way who has acted as a mentor for you? Someone you’ve gone to speak about things?”
JB: “Yeah, there’s a couple of people. And I think it’s really important to have those people, especially in this industry. There can be times when you doubt yourself and things aren’t going so well. I tell you one person who has really helped me through the years – it’s probably Mike D from the Beastie Boys. He’s a great guy, and obviously I’ve had the pleasure of working with him in the past and he’s someone I’ve had the pleasure of staying in contact with. He’s done it all, and so whenever there’s anything that’s on my mind or I kind of just want to speak about, he’s a great person to do that.”
DOC: “Have you got one piece of advice that Mike’s passed onto you that you could pass onto somebody else?”
JB: “That’s a tough one. I’ve always had a few too many beers when I see him, to be honest! Not in particular, I can’t think of anything, but it’s just kind of anything really. The career that those guys had, there’s ups and downs for everybody. And just to have someone to speak about is incredible.”
Jake Bugg says that Happy Valley hit ‘Trouble Town’ has had a ‘resurgence’ due to the TV programmes success, and people still approach him about it
DOC: “I also wanted to quickly touch on Happy Valley, because I know lots of people have discovered you through that. Has that been a blessing or a curse?”
JB: “Funnily enough, I actually did the other week. Someone came up to me, ‘are you the guy that wrote the song for Happy Valley?’ and I’d never had that one before. But it’s great. Because it’s an old song, the fact that it’s had this kind of resurgence through the TV programme in a way, it’s kind of taken on a different meaning as well, and it’s put it to a different audience. And yeah, it’s great, it gives the song a new life, and also it’s become more popular when we play it live as well, so it’s been great.”
