Music Week has heard before, namely in our interview when we named him Breakthrough Act Of The Year in 2017. Come on, you always say that…
“Exactly!” he says, breaking into laughter. “I said that about the last one. I’ll probably be proved wrong, I hope so. I just hope people enjoy the songs. I don’t really care about numbers, as long as I recoup it I’ll be alright [Laughs]. I’m sure we’ll be able to do that, because we didn’t spend loads of money.” Joking aside, Graham is concentrating on more than just sales for Life By Misadventure: he hopes it can reshape the sound of pop music itself. “I listen to the radio and think there isn’t enough of what I like, so I’d like to see a change in music as a whole,” he says. “But you have to be the change. You can’t say stuff and then not go out on a limb and do something different. I hope the album might influence a few people just to play stuff a bit more live or have interesting drums on their records, rather than just trap hats or whatever. That’s my hope, that it might change things a little bit. I’m not saying the music industry is boring or anything – I think it’s an amazing time for music – but in terms of what’s on daytime radio, I feel it could be a bit more interesting. I’d love to see a resurgence in bands, I miss that a lot. I’d like to hear more bands, more guitar music on the radio.”
Columbia’s opening gambit, All You Ever Wanted, is primed to deliver exactly that. Before he got into jungle and drum’n’ bass, Graham would gorge on his dad’s new wave records, and he’s happy to note that All You Ever Wanted reminds him of those days.
“I didn’t mean it to, but when I listen to the jangly guitar it reminds me a bit of Blondie,” he says. “I want to stand on stage at festivals and play rock’n’roll music. That side of the record also came from listening to stuff like Electric Light Orchestra, The Eagles and The Beatles and being influenced by those in terms of how you want to produce a record. How it would be performed on stage was always in my mind. I don’t want to stand there and sing piano ballads, I’ve done that for quite a while. I want to do something different now.”
Led by president Ferdy Unger-Hamilton, Columbia embraced his wishes. “Rory is quite a quiet, insular guy but he has a high bar,” says the president. “He’s quietly following his dream and knows exactly what he’s going to do. He’s really found himself on this record and he’s really enjoyed it, that’s the feeling I get.”
Unger-Hamilton – who courted Rag’N’Bone Man while at Polydor – says the new album is “staggering”.
“It’s really moving, with beautiful, personal songs that I’ve never
Rocking chair: Rag’N’Bone Man
“Worldwide success is a must. I want the world to hear these songs and to know the second chapter of Rag’N’Bone Man” FERDY UNGER-HAMILTON COLUMBIA
28 | Music Week
musicweek.com
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