„I think this album feels like coming home, which none of the other albums felt like. The others albums felt like I was kind of travelling through.”
Jack Savoretti tells me when we talk about his new album “Before the Storm” that will be released on the 4th of June. “Before the Storm”, as a symbol of anticipating something bigger, is full of beautiful musical moments by the 28-year old London based singer-songwriter.
The perfect song to him is like a painted picture, a captured moment, a perfect photograph and listening to his new releases and also his old albums his music certainly does make you feel like you are captured in a moment of memories and dreams. I love the fact that he just needs his voice and a guitar to cast a spell over his listeners. His musical travel has taken him from his beginnings of constant writing from an early age on, to later picking up the guitar to put music to his words, onto releasing successful albums and having his music on TV shows like One Tree Hill, Grey´s Anatomy and The Vampire Diaries – just to mention a few of his thrilling moments. Right now he has just returned to the UK from this German tour, where he continues to play a list of concerts. Nevertheless he found some time to talk to me about his music, his life and what makes him happy…
Hello dear Jack, thank you so much for taking some time to talk to me. I was told you have just been doing the soundcheck- did everything go well?
Hello, yes thanks all went well. Now the show has to go well too.
You are playing at the Great Escape Festival in Brighton later on…
Yeah, at the Komedia Bar in Brighton.
Are you still get excited when going on stage?
Yeah, sure if I wasn´t excited I wouldn’t do it.
Btw unfortunately I missed your Berlin concert a couple of days ago. I hope you are coming back soon…
I hope so too. I loved Berlin.
Ah really, cool. Because actually I heard from some other bands that Berlin and Hamburg are the more difficult cities to take over the audience. Did you feel the same way?
No, coming from London, everything else is easier. Berlin was nice. London is probably one of the toughest crowds in the world. They are spoilt for choice. I love Hamburg. It is one of my favourite places to play in Germany.
You know some people say that Germans are a bit reserved so sometimes it is a bit harder for the artist..
They are very civilized. But I wouldn’t say cold, only very civilized and well behaved. laughs.
So let´s talk about your new album „Before the Storm“ It is coming out on the 4th of June, so really soon now! You must be very excited about this! Are you also a bit anxious about the critics or are you not worried about that in general?
Actually this time I don’t read any. Because if you read the good you believe the good. If you read the bad you believe the bad. But anyway they are just doing their job, that´s how I see it. Anyway it is a shame, because sometimes that can really get in your way and it can interfere with how you feel because of their opinion, which is just one person´s opinion. But otherwise I don’t really mind.
Well, I think your songs are very beautiful. To me your music sounds dreamy, romantic. So I wanted to ask you how much of yourself is in your songs? Are you a romantic dreamer?
Well, I think everything in the songs is genuine. Either I have seen it or I have seen someone else live it. Even if its made up you can use your imagination to get to the most romantic. But I think all music is romantic, I don’t think just mine. I think even the Sex Pistols can be romantic.
I initially wanted to ask you the question of what inspires you, but you have answered that in so many interviews already. ..
Laughs. Yeah, true. Everthing. I get inspired by everything.
You produced this album with Martin Terefe – how was it to work together?
It was mainly with him and a team called the Suppliers. The Suppliers are the main brain behind this album.
So who are The Suppliers – is that your band?
No, my band is called the Dirty Romantics. But The Suppliers are my kind of Inhouse Band but also like the Inhouse production team.
It´s your third album over a period of 5 years – how would you describe your musical and personal development during this time?
I think this album feels like coming home, which none of the other albums felt like. The others albums felt like I was kind of travelling through. And there was also the industry, where I still had to figure out what I like about it and what I don’t, – like when you go to a new town. On this album it feels like coming home. It feels solid and I just feel like I know a lot more what I am doing now.
Even though so the album is called “Before the Storm” – which in a way doesn´t sound too settled to me. So why did you chose this title?
Well, the title is like an anticipation. This album feels like it is anticipating something bigger. It just gives me the feeling of the calm before the storm.
You also recorded a song with Sienna Miller ( Hate&Love) – how did this come about and how was it work with her?
She is a friend. I met her a couple of years ago in a club where she was singing Nancy Sinatra by herself a capella. And it was amazing. And I actually realized, wow she could sing. A couple of years later I wrote this duet and I just thought she would be the perfect person to bring this into life- and she was.
In an interview some years ago about your last album you said that “ I think melancholy is my biggest influence. “ Is that still the same now?
I think so.. I mean music is melancholic to me, so the minute I hear any notes or any rhythm it always takes me somewhere or it takes me back somewhere. So yeah I think melancholy is still a crucial part. I wouldn’t do this if I wouldn’t feel melancholically.
Well, I was actually wondering about this melancholy, because you always come across very happy and cheerful…
Yes, I am a very happy person. laughs
Sure and obviously everyone has different sides to his personality…
Yeah, I just have my moments, but not all the time. But I am not singing all the time either. laughs
But when you write your songs, you get inspired by this melancholy.
Yeah, definitely. Or whenever I have a melancholically moment, usually the best thing is to pick up a guitar and do something with it rather than just get sad.
I also read that you once said that “while you are not old and cynical it might be a good time to write songs” So what are your plans for when you are old and cynical? Still writing songs anyway?
Laughs. I am gonna live off my songs. And live on a dessert island somewhere and be old and cynical.
So do you really think you will get old and cynical?
Yes, I probably will. I get older and I get more cynical every year. So it only goes in one direction. I am definitely not getting any younger. And very likely I will get more cynical.
But why, because of the world, because of people?
I think with age you just do. I think it is hard to keep positive when you keep losing your youth and your energy. It´s hard to stay positive. You gonna have to accept it, though become a little bit cynical. Well maybe I will be surprised but I have the feeling I am going towards this direction.
Ok, so what is a good song in your eyes?
I am happy with a song when it captures a moment. Like a photograph. It doesn’t always have to make sense. To me one of the perfect song is called The Weight by The Band. To me even if you don’t always know what it is talking about it just paints a picture, it captures a moment. Just a perfect photograph.
And now last I will ask you some typical C-Heads questions:
What makes you happy?
My daughter.
And what makes you sad?
Not seeing my daughter. And rainy days.
Well, then you should move away from London.
I know. I am trying.
But don’t come to Berlin, it is pretty similar here as well.
I know it is going to be an Island somewhere in the Mediterranean. Formentera is my dream place…
What are the 5 things you cannot live without?
My guitar. Spaghetti. Good wine. Sunshine. Sea
Can you tell us a secret about you?
I have no secrets. Laughs. I never share my secrets, I am sorry.
No worries, I thought this would be a tricky one. So, what has been the best life lesson for you so far?
Seeing what it takes to bring somebody else into this world. It makes everything else look very small.
Is there anything that you want to add? Or anything that I should have asked you?
No, that was great. Laughs.
So you concerts starts about 10 p.m.right? How are you going to prepare yourself?
We are just about to open a bottle of wine and have a plate of pasta. The only thing missing now is the sunshine and the sea.
Well, you are in Brighton so you have the sea..
Yes, true we have wine, pasta, guitar and the sea. Only the sunshine is missing…
Jack, many thanks for your time and good luck for your show tonight and the album release!
Thank you!
Interview by Sigrun Guggenberger