Boo Hewerdine Interview

A singer/songwriter as talented as Boo Hewerdine is a rare sight indeed. A singer/songwriter as talented as Boo Hewerdine and more deserving of massive worldwide acclaim is inconceivable. As frontman for The Bible his voice soared with heartfelt emotions moving all but the cash registers. Subsequently he has carved out a successful solo career and worked with the likes of Eddi Reader, Darden Smith and Danny Wilson. His songs have been recorded by KD Lang, Natalie Imbruglia, Paul Young, Suggs, and McAlmont, as well as collaborating with Neill MacColl on several film scores, including 'Fever Pitch' and 'Twentyfourseven'. Throughout all he has written staggeringly gorgeous songs that, have quite literally moved people to tears, and coaxed the word ‘genius' from many lips. So it was with a sense of pleasurable inferiority that Music News pulled up a chair with Boo at the 100 Club during his sound check prior to his live performance.

M-N: Are you looking forward to tonight?

Yeah, I think so, I feel a bit queasy, just got back from Japan playing with Eddi [Reader]. Had a wonderful time.

M-N: You've collaborated with many people who are you working with now?

Funny word collaborated it sounds like something people did in the Second World War or something. I do pop things with Natalie Imbruglia, Alex Parkes, and still see Neil MacColl occasionally. It's quite nice to do it like that rather than be in a group together. We did a gig together at the South Bank not so long ago [read review here].

M-N: Many years ago we saw you play at the Mean Fiddler acoustic room in Harlesden with Neil MacColl and there seemed to be a certain amount of friction between the two of you. He looked either drunk or extremely pissed off.

Boo: He was probably drunk, we always were.

M-N: Darden Smith made an appearance that night too.

Boo: Yeah, he was just over in London recently, but I didn't get the chance to speak to him. We're still good mates we talk at least once a month.

M-N: You're a big supporter of the Cambridge Folk Festival, why?

Boo: I love it. This year will be the first time I've missed it in about 20 years, coz I'm away, I used to go as a school kid. Mind you we played so bad last year I don't think they would have us back [laughs].

M-N: You held a songwriters workshop recently what is it and how did it come about?

Boo: I do that a lot, I did some in Denmark recently, I can't remember how that came about? Oh, it was someone I met at a gig in Glasgow. I really enjoy doing them. You can't teach people everything but some people go on to get deals and some people just stare at you blankly and don't know what you're going on about. A lot of the stuff I know is drawn from meeting people at gigs they'll say something and it just sticks in your mind.

M-N: The songwriting element was that a conscious thing you wanted to do? How did that happen?

Boo: Before I joined a band I used to make up songs for other bands in Cambridge, I remember the first time I heard someone play my song, it was a huge thrill. I like doing both things. I still wanna get a CD that's got my song on it. But it's very separate, I suppose it's what makes a living for me. I could just about make a living from this [turns pointing to the stage]. There are very few songs I write for other people that I sing myself accept for Eddi. I've got a 16 year-old daughter so she gets very excited when anything I've done gets on TV.

M-N: So you've written for Natalie Imbruglia too, how does that work?

We just recorded three songs together last week it worked really well.

M-N: Does she play the guitar as well or write the lyrics?

Boo: Melodies mainly but we just do it together. I really liked one of the songs we called it ‘What's The Good In Goodbye' but the name keeps changing.

M-N: On which of these occasions would you have been most happy? When The Bible hit the charts with Honey Be Good, when Eddi Reader got into the top 10 with Patience Of Angels, or when Cry was released karaoke version?

Boo: Probably the karaoke version, I collect my own records. I haven't bought that one yet but I will. My favourite one was a ballroom dancing version of Patience of Angels, some sort of Viennese Waltz, a great comedy moment.

M-N: Honney Be Good was particular favourite of ours, what does it mean to you?

I remember when it was released we rang up and apparently it's midweek chart position was No. 3, and we had a few nice days there, but when the real chart came out it was nowhere.

M-N: A travesty! So it never even charted?

Boo: No, everything always went went wrong for us, it was brilliant.

M-N: What's your favourite Bible track?

Boo: A song called Buzz Aldrin, I like that album best. It's the only album of mine that I ever listen too, really happy with that one.

M-N: And best solo song?

Boo: I loved the last record, but I've got a big box and just chuck them in there and never listen to them again.

M-N: There must be some tracks that you think I really nailed that one good and proper?

Boo: Yeah, I like the first track of the last album called Kite, I'm really happy with that one.

M-N: 16 Miles is one you've continuously played live, what does it mean to you?

Boo: I wrote it when we were in America. We were driving about and I saw this sign that said 16 Miles to Loveland, and I just thought it was quite good.

M-N: Was it about someone in particular?

Boo: Yeah, it was a song to my ex-girlfriends sister.

M-N: Wasn't one of the lines ‘I remember the first time I came in you'? [Laughs]

Boo: Poetic licence. It's really about grabbing opportunities and that.

M-N: What about Honey Be Good, is it about leaving your girlfriend?

Boo: Yeah, just go off and have a good life.

M-N: Nick Hornby once wrote of you, ‘If I could write books that sounded like this, I'd be … maybe not happy, but very very fulfilled.' Do you like his books?

Boo: Yeah I do like his books, he used to come along and watch us all the time. He put us in that 31 Songs book. If I could write books like him then I'd be rich.

M-N: Your songs traverse a range of sentiments and desperate emotions, on a personal level are you happy with life?

Boo: Yeah I'm happy at the moment but I've had a strange couple of years. Writing songs and misery don't always go hand in hand. I had a bit of a dry patch these last couple of years, doesn't really work like that. Songs come from different places just a little instant you remember from when you where a kid, you know, you store them up. They're not autobiographical.

M-N: Can you clear something up for us. Did you produce anything for The Corrs?

Boo: Yeah, I was sitting at home playing Nintendo with my son and the record company rang asking if I wanted to produce The Corrs. I said yeah alright [laughs]. It was a free give-away with Pepsi or something. They were really nice people.

M-N: What out there grabs your attention now?

Boo: Lots of things, currently A Girl Called Eddie, Kings Of Leon, Sigor Ros.

M-N: What would you like on your epitaph? Would you like someone to build the Taj Mahal?

Boo: [Laughs] I like Spike Milligan's one, ‘I told you I was ill'. [Laughs] I don't know, no idea, doesn't really matter does it.

M-N: Would you still like to chart now?

Boo: Oh yeah, absolutely, I'm still as ambitious as I ever was. It's still what I want, but I'll be surprised if it ever happens. But you never know, you really never know.

Boo Hewerdine's latest solo album 'Anon' is available now.

To read that nights review click here.