In His Own Words: James Blunt

The singer, songwriter and sentimentalist speaks with That's before his Afterlove tour across Shanghai and Beijing this month.

On the origins of his hit song, ‘You’re Beautiful’: It came about when I saw my ex-girlfriend on the subway with her new boyfriend, who I didn’t know existed. We caught each other’s gaze and in that moment lived a lifetime together. But we didn’t do anything about it, and haven’t seen each other since.

It’s amazing that I can write a personal song like ‘You’re Beautiful’ and other people can relate to it. How a listener interprets a song is up to them.

You need to live shallow moments in order to write deep songs. It sounds contradictory, but life’s full of contradictions, isn’t it?

On his old friend Carrie Fisher: I stayed at her house while I recorded my first two albums. She put a cardboard cut-out of herself outside my room to protect me at night.

I recorded ‘Goodbye My Lover’ in Carrie Fisher’s bathroom. She had a good piano in there, so why not?

My dissertation at Bristol University was about pop idols. Ninety percent of the music business is hair and make-up. I forgot my hairbrush, so I have to focus on the remaining 10 percent – music.

When I was 14 years old, I started playing the electric guitar and writing songs. That’s when I knew I’d become a musician.

Ninety percent of what you read about me in the newspapers is an exaggeration. It’s a shame that the people we pay to tell us the truth are the biggest liars.

I can’t go to sleep if there’s music playing, because I find I have to listen to it.

I was locked away in a studio for 14 months making my third album, Some Kind of Trouble.

If I had to recommend one song from Some Kind of Trouble, I’d say ‘Stay the Night.’ It’s a song about having fun with your friends and not wanting the night to end.

On his Shanghai debut back in 2009: The welcome was warm, the audience was enthusiastic and the city was exciting to visit. I’m looking forward to coming again.

Music will always be one of the most important things in my life.

Shanghai: Apr 4, 8pm, RMB280-1,280. Mercedes-Benz Arena, see event listing, buy tickets.
Beijing: Apr 6, 10pm, RMB280-1,280. Cadillac Arena, see event listing, buy tickets.