INTERVIEW: Jonathan Ansell
- Posted on February 15, 2008 3:28 PM
- 0 comments
Interview by Katie Spain
We all have our favourite movie scenes of all time... the shower scene from Psycho, Marilyn Monroe's fashion mishap in The Seven Year Itch, Uma Thurman and John Travolta gyrating in ... and Paris Hilton's death in that abysmal excuse for cinema. But do you ever stop to think about the best tunes from the films you love? One man who takes this one step further is former G4 high tenor Jonathan Ansell. After the band split, Jonathan hit the solo road and landed himself a one-million-pound, 5 album deal with Universal Classics and Jazz (UCJ). His first solo album with UCJ, Tenor at the Movies sees Jonathan belt out his pick of the musical bunch.
We caught up with the doe-eyed lad to chat about Willy Wonka, Orlando Bloom, song selection, touring and fishing. "No honestly... it was THIS big!"
It’s been quite a long time since you competed in the X-Factor… and since G4 – how is solo life treating you?
It’s treating me very well. The new record company and management have been so supportive. The whole experience of having been through X-Factor and G4 has made me feel comfortable and secure. I am really enjoying it.
Your first album will be released on Feb 18th… ‘Tenor at the Movies’ – what made you go for an album of film tunes?
It was Universal’s idea and we all just ran with it. It is such a clever concept; it was slightly different as was the direction. Not having the clichéd tracks on their as well and maybe a bit more focus, it was really exciting. The tracks that we ended up using have really given it a bit of a place and identity, a progression for me vocally and a uniqueness in the market as well.
Was the tune selection process a lengthy task?
It was a very lengthy task. We spent a lot of time watching a lot of movies and listening to a lot of albums, past and present. We really focused on making sure tha the tracks we did choose were integral to the plat in the movie and had a real poignancy both in and out of it. For some of the tracks that are known in a movie for just having a tune, we found a lyric that gives the turns it into a song and transforms it, giving it progression, which has been great fun too.
Do you have a favourite tune from the album?
I really like the Here’s to the Heroes track. It has the melody to Dancing With Wolves which I love and it is really well done. I think it is so lovely when the main character dancing with the wolf. The writing of the orchestration and the transformation of it is incredible. It is definitely my favourite.
You’ve secured a five album deal with Universal Classics and Jazz – will the next one be originals?
I would love to experiment as far as I can musically. Obviously, to have your own original track would definitely be incredible but at the moment we are focusing on this one, one at a time! I’m hoping that not long after this, we will be back in meetings discussing the possible concept for the second one. It would be incredible to have a few original tracks on there though, definitely.
Can we expect a tour any time soon?
I would love to tour soon. I am out of the loop in terms of where management are with that. I’m really looking forward to a tour this year; it is the best part of the job and it gives me the most excitement. I absolutely adore being up on stage for a live performance.
What is your favourite movie of all time?
I absolutely adore Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. The original was just great. I connected with it strongly as a child. I think I watched it everyday for a few years of my life! Unfortunately, the tracks didn’t seem to fit the concept of the album so I had to steer clear of that.
Did you like the recent Johnny Depp version?
Yeah, I was lucky enough to be at the premiere. It was a bit darker than the original and a bit more twisted though. I jus think that the original had a lovely naivety to it. It had a timeless nature to it that I really connected to as a child. I think when you connect with a film; the re-make is always really hard to bond with.
They are making a Hollywood version of Mamma Mia. As a musical person yourself, are you fan of musical format in film?
It’s just an incredible extension of the actors and screenplay. Having scenes where people are singing in amongst it is a great medium. I think that is why movies like The Sound Of Music are adored. I think it is definitely a great way for movies to progress.
If a film was made about you, who would you want to play the character of yourself?
That is such a killer question. I kind of have an answer but it’s just so hard to answer! I trained at the same college as Orlando Bloom. He has had phenomenal success through film and so it would be a great honour if he were to play me!
The musical road hasn’t been an easy one for you… you were picked on at school right? I bet they’re wishing they had those baby blues and blond locks now! Was it a struggle at times?
Definitely; singing isn’t the coolest thing to do when I was a young boy! Especially when your voice hasn’t broken and you are signing like a girl. Although it is the most beautiful tone a boy can produce, your peers just can’t connect. It was very odd for quite a long time at school and I think the fact that I was playing on the rugby team at the same time that I was on stage singing angelically. I think it just confused a lot of people. I was lucky that I worked my way though that and now I get to have a career and earn a living. I think it has rounded me as a person.
It is interesting that you mentioned rugby; I was going to ask you what you do to relax. I see you competed in the London triathlon too. Is running something you do for fun or charity?
Running definitely isn’t fun for me but I get a huge satisfaction in achieving distances and times. I would love to do it again this year for Breast Cancer care who I ran, swam and cycled for last year. I love the combination of all three disciplines. I spent many, many hours in the pool and cycling with commuters in and out of London. Running came quite recently to me when we started training for the London marathon which I then twisted my ankle and couldn’t do. Running is more of a means to an end though and a great way of keeping in shape.
I hear that you like to do a spot of fishing too. Where is your favourite fishing spot in the UK?
I was bought up in Bognor Regis, my parents still live there actually, and still now, I go fishing their when I have time. At night, it is quite quiet there and you can still catch a few!
Do you tell the truth about the size of the fish that you caught when you get home?
Well, I actually have a disposable camera that I take with me as evidence as it is a common thing to slightly exaggerate. If you catch one that is big enough to generally want to tell people about, you can take it home! It is always great to walk back with them for your family. It is such a satisfying feeling to eat your own catch.
As for that amazing voice, how do you preserve it? Any special methods?
I’m always anxious to not be too precious with my voice. I think it is good to have an element of resilience. I’m not precautious all the time. Before performances, I try to avoid too many dairy products. I definitely abuse it to an extent; I do talk in loud pubs and clubs and I have air conditioned hotel rooms, all the things that people say you should have! It’s a balance I think. It has never let me down yet?
With Valentines just gone, I want to know what the most romantic thing you have ever done is.
I surprised my girlfriend of two years with a trip to Venice. We had a lovely hotel. She kept nagging me to sing to her all the time, I felt so weird and awkward doing it. So when we were on a gondola with her, in Venice, in the sun, I apologised to the gondolier for my Italian and then sung to her. It was really magical and an incredibly romantic and moving moment.
That’s a tough one to top! Do you still wake up every morning and love what you do?
I absolutely adore what I do. It is an incredible honour and privilege to be able to do something that you love. I have been singing since I was a boy and now I have a career in it. To get up in the morning and know that I’m a singer, it’s incredible. It’s great to wake up and remind yourself of that.
If you weren’t singing, what would you be doing in life?
I have been singing professionally for quite a few years. In the latter part of college, I was a freelancer and was singing and performing all over the place. It is very difficult to imagine anything else but I have to say I love cooking so a career as a chef would be my second option I guess!
Do you sing in the shower?
Generally when I am panicking about a new song performance! There is always a great sound in bathrooms; everyone knows that so I definitely do that!
What is the most memorable gig you have ever been to as an audience member?
I have to say when we were fortunate enough to be invited to the 1000th performance of We Will Rock You. Brian May and Roger Taylor were there and they performed Bohemian Rhapsody. In the guitar solo, Brian May appeared in a smoke filled hole in the stage and then came up on another set at the back. To see Queen performing such an amazing track…it completely blew me away and I am embarrassed to say that I was moved by the whole thing.
Tenor at the Movies, is due for release on 18th February 2008.
Related links:
Jonathan Ansell on Seatwave.
Jonathan Ansell's MySpace.
Jonathan Ansell's official site.
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