SPECIAL FEATURE: Craig David
- Posted on October 18, 2007 11:41 AM
- 3 comments
- By Katie Spain
Craig David. It’s a name we all know… but where the blazers has the man been for the last five years? Take on look at the UK RnB crooner and you’d be forgiven for assuming he’s spent the whole time in the gym. The man has a mighty fine set of new muscles on board and although he tries to tell me otherwise, bulging pecs don’t spring into action on their own. Funnily enough, the same goes for albums.
Mr David is in town to promote the release of his new album ‘Trust Me’ - released on November 12th. It’s been a long time coming but as the 26 year old tells us, he wanted time out to be himself and to get it right. “Its hard sometimes, I am torn between knowing that people want an album quicker and thinking, if only I had a few more months I could have done this and this…”
The album was recorded in Havana, Cuba with producer Martin Terefe (KT Tunstall, James Morrison) and writer/producer/mixer Fraser T. Smith (Craig David, Kano, Beyonce, Plan B, Jamelia). “I ended going over there which was a great experience, I had a few too many mojitos - you need to go easy on the ice because the water is not that great in Cuba… twenty mojitos later, we found out why”.
The Cuban atmosphere (and one too many cocktails) obviously worked their appropriate magic because the resulting album is a step up for Craig. His launch single ‘Hot Stuff’ samples David Bowie’s classic track ‘Let’s Dance’. The result is a catchy as hell funk-infused tune with ‘dance-floor’ written all over it.
As we get comfy on a Soho sofa, we chat about Craig's intimate gigs at London's famous Jazz venue Ronnie Scott’s. The naked eye can see that punters are in for a buffed up treat but what can fans expect sound-wise?
“These intimacies are kind of what I look forward to in these one-off shows; to be able to really react with the crowd and see that everything you say has a direct effect in what’s going on. The fact that it is a 1950’s Jazz environment with everyone sitting at tables whilst I am up on a small stage just feels really…well, you can feel the spontaneity between you, the crowd and the band, and everyone is involved. We did the opening show recently and it was just an amazing opportunity to actually get people to stand up by the time we got to the end of the show. Everyone was reserved, but there was kind of a domino effect where if one person got up then others would follow. It was great seeing everyone up at the end.”
“Sometimes it is a good thing to see (the crowd’s) faces and sometimes it’s not so good. Sometimes, you think hmm…that face is kind of scaring me! It is more intense when you can read people’s reaction to things. I love it when you someone who is quite stern and then you hit a song and a little smile comes onto their face.”
Craig is known for saying he loves getting it all stripped back (acoustically you dirty sods). It looks like punters will get a taste of acoustic Craig David during this week's gigs.
“We do a moment of acoustic. I wanted to put a few of the older tracks on to the set because I feel like people want to hear some of the hits but I have to be careful about how many I put in because you flood it and lose the fact that is me showcasing my new album. We have a few tracks in the set and then there is a acoustic section where we do some old tracks, we then finish off with 'Hot Stuff'.”
It’ll be a treat. See you in the front row Craig... if the fanatics will let us push through. We’ll make sure our lippy is on and our faces are as visually tolerable as possible. By the time ‘Let’s Dance’ echoes throughout the Jazzy venue, I doubt anyone will even care. Tighten those crisp white Adidas laces, it’s time to boogie Bowie style.
Craig David will preview songs from his ‘Trust Me’ to fans for the first time when he plays an intimate series of nights including tonight, October 18th and October 19th (Friday).
His single ‘Hot Stuff (Let’s Dance)’ is released on November 5th and fourth album ‘Trust Me’ on November 12th.
www.craigdavid.com
www.myspace.com/craigdavid
Ronnie Scott's official site
Stay tuned for the remainder of the interview where Craig answers the questions that the fans (that's you) sent in. We discuss his muscles, his mum, the album and his idea of what makes a lady 'Hot Stuff'. The video footage will be uploaded ahead of the album release.
Tags
Craig David, interview, Ronnie Scott's
Comments (3)
Nick
Love it, good job Katie :)
Bring on Part II
Posted on October 18, 2007 12:43 PM
CHAANAH
Wicked interview Katie.. can't wait for part 2!!!
Posted on October 19, 2007 5:51 AM
Juanita Simms
when is craig david coming back to germany
Posted on February 23, 2008 6:58 PM
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