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"I'm so tired of repeating myself, beating myself up, gonna take a trip and multiply"
As far as mission statements go, Jamie Lidell would be hard pushed to beat the chorus of his new single, the title track from his critically acclaimed second album 'Multiply'. In 2000, he stepped out from behind the mixing desk he and Cristian Vogel used to produce twisted techno-funk under the moniker Super_Collider, into his very own spotlight - and since then, he hasn't stood still for a second. With his debut solo set 'Muddlin' Gear', Lidell edged away from the creative cul-de-sac of beard stroking electronica; five years on, he is being hailed as the great white hope of British soul. He’s even played ‘Multiply’ with Jools Holland on ‘Later…’ for funk’s sake!
“We had a short rehearsal session in his dressing room and ran through the arrangement of the track about four times”, Jamie recalls. “That was it. Thank God my song wasn't the real heavy twisted arrangement shit!” And what was it like performing alongside the twelve-inch pianist? “I had a false start doing my first vocal but I won the crowd over nonetheless, and pulled out a solid show I'd say. Fun factor was strong, that's for sure brothers and sisters…. It was a thrill.”
Fun?!! A few years ago, no one listening to a Super_Collider noise-scape could have imagined its creator describing playing with Jools Holland as “a thrill”. But Jamie Lidell likes to defy expectations. After all, this is the man who released an LP of Motown soul and authentic funk on Warp Records, the home of Autechre and Aphex Twin. “Who hates a chameleon?” he asks. “Not our society. Isn't that right, Madonna? Basically I'm using ‘Mad’ as a role model.”
And in the reinvention stakes, Lidell more than outdoes his idol. Madonna evolves every few years in order to keep ahead of the competition, but Jamie Lidell is a true chameleon - constantly changing to adapt to his environment. On record, he is the blue-eyed brother of Prince, Al Green and Sly Stone; in the ‘Later…’ studio, he is the piano-backed cabaret singer; but performing at one of his own concerts, he is… something else.
When asked to describe his live show, Jamie falls back on a favourite quote: “I've heard it described as a ‘one man funk tornado’. That seems pretty charming so I'll stick with that.” The Lidell live experience is a whirlwind of sound created on the spot by one man, his rich soulful voice, and a factory’s worth of machinery. It’s daring, experimental… and open to disaster. Jamie remembers a show in Austin, Texas, on a recent US tour with Four Tet: “All my gear went down in an argument between my power supply and the power supplier. I was forced to light the candles and just go to the solo mic. I asked if there was help in the crowd. I needed a beat. This guy came out rocked a little beat box of 'A Little Bit More'”.
Compared to this, Lidell’s recent UK tour was a breeze. “I had a great show in Liverpool because they were totally ‘mad fer it’! Mental crowd that made me pull out all the stops!” However, Jamie concedes “all the shows had my favourite moments locked inside… it's a strong feeling when you touch a crowd with your voice and your voice alone.” Predictably for such a schizophrenic character, he finds it impossible to decide whether he prefers recording music or playing live: “Like your son or daughter, it's hard to pick a favourite. I love them both man… What do you prefer? Being on top or... being indoors or in the wild?”
Okaaaaay. Right now, Jamie’s recording in Paris. More future-soul? “Bit of a secret actually... Mum's the word.” And when does our favourite Berlin-based ex-pat plan on coming home? “Dunno. Recently it's felt good… exciting and open. That feeling of waking up in London is something unique. I'll always have a particular way of thinking about it and that makes me relax a hell of a lot!” He’s giving nothing away today folks. OK, so what next for Jamie Lidell? “Dinner and love, baby… in no particular order.”
