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In the past 10 years, British vocalist Jamie Lidell has created some of the darkest, most challenging music under the name Super Collider. But his 2005 album Multiply and the recently released JIM are different - featuring some of the happiest, most optimistic pop music around; a blend of Stevie Wonder soul and accessible modern R'n'B-tinged pop; Jamiroquai with critical kudos attached.
The 34-year-old Lidell has been very busy promoting his new album with two months of live shows in Europe, and he's now preparing to do the same in America. Luckily for him, he's no longer a stranger to the American market thanks to some tracks from Multiply being used in the hit television show Grey's Anatomy and for a series of commercials promoting the retail giant Target. And even though he's sure plenty of people will never hear the mind-bending sound of Super Collider, Lidell is fine with that. He says he never expects anyone to work through his entire catalogue, anyway.
"It still amazes me that people come to shows," he admits. "You know, just the idea that someone pays their money and turns up to see little old me doing my thing. That's really cool. I never get tired of performing for people who want to see me sing." The American shows are a blast for Lidell and his band because "the road trip is so huge and you really feel like you are living the dream", he says. Speaking of living the dream, I ask Lidell about his commitment to open a series of shows for Elton John but make the mistake of stating it as a one-word question: nervous?
"Oh, I shouldn't imagine Elton will be nervous," Lidell responds with a cheeky laugh. "He should be an old pro by now." While admitting it will be great to play with Elton - "I've never met a sir before, never partied with a knight" - he is relaxed about whether he will discover a new audience as a result.
"I guess that's part of it, sure, but for me it's just about going up there to the stage and giving it a go and trying to do my best. Yes, it will be a slightly bigger venue than I could fill on my own," he wryly understates, "but I think we'll have a great time and the band will be well road-tested by then. The only thing I'm worried about is Elton outlasting me. He's twice my age and he seems to have more energy than me. I get exhausted watching his shows. He really is a legend."
In terms of influence, Lidell leans toward the soul-funk sound of Sly Stone. "It has baffled me a bit that so many people have said that JIM sounds like Motown. But then, I guess they are talking about Stevie Wonder perhaps. Especially his stuff from the 1960s. If that's the case, well, you can't go wrong really, can you? That's about as good as it gets. Stevie and Sly - they're the guys for me."
For Lidell, music is fluid, the concept of creation is to keep moving. He's adamant that Multiply and JIM are not examples of him going mainstream and selling out. He believes there is a great challenge in writing an upbeat song that is actually honest and has something to say. "I'm basically an optimistic fellow with a range of emotions and lately I have been feeling happy," he says. "I have been trying to focus on my good side. But I don't know what will come next. You'll have to wait and see."
Giveaway
We've giving away 10 copies of Jamie Lidell's CD JIM. To be in to win, email your name, address and phone details to: view@heraldonsunday.co.nz (with Jim in the subject line). Or put the same details on the back of an envelope and send to: JIM Giveaway, View magazine, Herald on Sunday, PO Box 3290, Auckland. Entries close 1pm Monday, July 21. Winners' names published in View, July 27.
* JIM is out now in stores.
