Aled Jones Interview
On November 9th 2018, Aled Jones and Russell Watson, two of the world's greatest classical voices, come together to release their debut album In Harmony. The pair will take to the stage together for their first joint UK tour coming to Southend's Cliffs Pavilion on 23rd September.
Having moved in the same circles for nearly 20 years and since becoming firm friends; Aled approached Russell to collaborate for his next big project. The album features a wealth of well-loved hymns, arias, and popular songs – ranging from stunning arrangements of "Ave Maria" – to more modern classics such as “You Raise Me Up”.
Having moved in the same circles for nearly 20 years and since becoming firm friends; Aled approached Russell to collaborate for his next big project. The album features a wealth of well-loved hymns, arias, and popular songs – ranging from stunning arrangements of "Ave Maria" – to more modern classics such as “You Raise Me Up”.
Southend Theatre Scene jumped at the chance to have a chat with Aled Jones ahead of the album release on 9th November. We catch up with Aled in-between his travels from Classic FM, where he has been hosting the breakfast show, to Birmingham to host the Travel Awards.
You’re clearly a busy man, how do you fit singing into your schedule?
Aled: It’s a good question because at one point I really couldn’t. I was away doing lots of tv and stuff and the balance wasn’t right. Now, it’s perfect. I tend to be doing concerts most nights. I’ve been away in Australia on tour with my son for a month and in the old days I wouldn’t have been able to do that. Now, I would say the balance is perfect between the singing and the presenting.
When you’re away, do you have a regular practice regime to keep your voice ticking over?
Aled: Yes, it’s like an athlete, in a way. The fact is you’ve got to train the muscle. For instance, when I go on tour, for two weeks before I’m singing every day but if I haven’t got anything coming up for a couple of weeks then I don’t sing every day. I’m a believer of letting it [thevoice] relax - de-stress. In Australia I did 16 concerts in 20 days, so that’s tough going really. I’m lucky that the voice is strong in that respect. But, when I get back I tend to not sing at all because it just needs that time really just to recuperate.
Let’s talk about your collaboration with Russell, who is a tenor and of you, who I think of as a high baritone, would I be correct?
Aled: I think you’re completely right, yes. He’s a very dramatic operatic tenor, and I’m a lyrical baritone really. So when you see it on paper you’d think that no way would this ever work. But, it did and the blend is incredible!
It’s going to be very exciting to hear you two sing together because you’ve both got such recognisable styles and voices and you’re both so well known individually for the work you do. How excited are you to be singing with Russell?
Aled: I really am, I’ve never really done duets before, I’ve always been up on stage on my own and we’ve only performed together once at the launch of the album. It was lovely, you know, the fact that you’ve got somebody else to bounce off on stage and also, you know, enjoy musically as well. So far, it’s been a really great experience.
You’ve obviously both been influenced by opera in your backgrounds. Has the operatic slant had any influence on the repertoire that you’ve chosen for the tour and the album?
Aled: Well, my voice is definitely isn’t influenced by opera; Russell’s voice is very much so. To be honest with you, there were some pieces of music that would have to be on there because songs like “How Great thou Art” and “You Raise Me Up” we both do in concert independently, and there are pieces that neither of us have recorded. Like “Cinema Paradiso”, which has come out just beautifully; and you know, we want to have a bit of fun like with “Volare”. I’ve never ever sung anything like that before. I went into the studio crossing my fingers that it would be okay. It’s come out great. It’s been a lot of fun and there’s a real mixed bag on the album of really amazing medleys as well; pieces of music that neither of us had ever recorded before so yeah, it’s exciting in that respect.
You’re also known very much for your strong faith and that seems to be a massive influence on the choices for the album as well.
Aled: Well, I love singing religious music, I always have throughout my life. There are certain pieces on the album that are spiritual without a doubt. Russell was saying that when I sing this sort of music, I really come alive. I’m not an opera singer and I’m not a pop singer. I’m at my happiest when I’m doing this sort of music.
You’re clearly a busy man, how do you fit singing into your schedule?
Aled: It’s a good question because at one point I really couldn’t. I was away doing lots of tv and stuff and the balance wasn’t right. Now, it’s perfect. I tend to be doing concerts most nights. I’ve been away in Australia on tour with my son for a month and in the old days I wouldn’t have been able to do that. Now, I would say the balance is perfect between the singing and the presenting.
When you’re away, do you have a regular practice regime to keep your voice ticking over?
Aled: Yes, it’s like an athlete, in a way. The fact is you’ve got to train the muscle. For instance, when I go on tour, for two weeks before I’m singing every day but if I haven’t got anything coming up for a couple of weeks then I don’t sing every day. I’m a believer of letting it [thevoice] relax - de-stress. In Australia I did 16 concerts in 20 days, so that’s tough going really. I’m lucky that the voice is strong in that respect. But, when I get back I tend to not sing at all because it just needs that time really just to recuperate.
Let’s talk about your collaboration with Russell, who is a tenor and of you, who I think of as a high baritone, would I be correct?
Aled: I think you’re completely right, yes. He’s a very dramatic operatic tenor, and I’m a lyrical baritone really. So when you see it on paper you’d think that no way would this ever work. But, it did and the blend is incredible!
It’s going to be very exciting to hear you two sing together because you’ve both got such recognisable styles and voices and you’re both so well known individually for the work you do. How excited are you to be singing with Russell?
Aled: I really am, I’ve never really done duets before, I’ve always been up on stage on my own and we’ve only performed together once at the launch of the album. It was lovely, you know, the fact that you’ve got somebody else to bounce off on stage and also, you know, enjoy musically as well. So far, it’s been a really great experience.
You’ve obviously both been influenced by opera in your backgrounds. Has the operatic slant had any influence on the repertoire that you’ve chosen for the tour and the album?
Aled: Well, my voice is definitely isn’t influenced by opera; Russell’s voice is very much so. To be honest with you, there were some pieces of music that would have to be on there because songs like “How Great thou Art” and “You Raise Me Up” we both do in concert independently, and there are pieces that neither of us have recorded. Like “Cinema Paradiso”, which has come out just beautifully; and you know, we want to have a bit of fun like with “Volare”. I’ve never ever sung anything like that before. I went into the studio crossing my fingers that it would be okay. It’s come out great. It’s been a lot of fun and there’s a real mixed bag on the album of really amazing medleys as well; pieces of music that neither of us had ever recorded before so yeah, it’s exciting in that respect.
You’re also known very much for your strong faith and that seems to be a massive influence on the choices for the album as well.
Aled: Well, I love singing religious music, I always have throughout my life. There are certain pieces on the album that are spiritual without a doubt. Russell was saying that when I sing this sort of music, I really come alive. I’m not an opera singer and I’m not a pop singer. I’m at my happiest when I’m doing this sort of music.
You may not like this question, but has the pairing of Michael Ball and Alfie Boe been any influence on the two of you getting together at all, or is it just that you both have been friends for a long time and wanted to work together?
Aled: A bit of both, I would say. I know Michael and Alfie very well. Michael is a close neighbour of mine, actually, and I was so pleased to see how successful their album was. I suppose everyone will see the similarity of two men singing together.
The music is different though of course. Alfie and Michael’s music was a lot more musical theatre based. Ours is more classical based. Russell was saying the other day that he’s been wanting to do a duets album for years and years. So the idea was there long ago - it’s just that it’s come to fruition now.
Were you very like-minded about the choices you made for the album together?
Aled: Yeah, we were. There was no arguments, there were no cross words or heated discussions or anything like that. It was a couple of emails and done, really. We had a meet face to face and went through some stuff and yeah, it was pretty obvious. What’s lovely, as I said before, there’s a mixture of well-known and brand new. Karl Jenkins has written a song for us! That’s a real honour to have music by him.
I’m assuming that you’ve performed in Southend before?
Aled: Yes, I have, loads. I’ve played the Cliffs Pavilion loads of times in my life. This will be the biggest tour in Britain for me for a good couple of years. We always come to your neck of the woods.
Do you think yours and Russell's fan bases are similar?
Aled: People tend to come to this music now, young and old. I think our fans are quite similar and there’s been quite a lot of them getting together on social media and stuff like that, which has been nice.
Have there been any particularly memorable fan based moments?
Aled: There’s a dear fan in Australia who always gives me a bottle of nice red wine every concert she comes to - which is always a good thing! Here in the UK, to be honest with you I’m not too fussed about the gifts as long as they give us a standing ovation, I’ll be more than happy!
Just looking back on your life, Aled, you were such a famous figure as a boy, I was wondering, if you were the 12 year old Aled again would you be amazed at how far you’ve come and that you’re still singing now?
Aled: The fact is that I was so lucky to have this kind of career and to have seen some amazing places all over the world; but equally I was lucky before that, being in a Cathedral choir, singing amazing music and singing at school. You hear all the time how music’s been chucked out the curriculum.
It’s so sad, isn’t it?
Aled: It’s awful. Music is so important and music is there for the various key moments of your life, as well. It always plays a part in life, so for me I’ve been so fortunate to have the opportunity to do what I love and to make music and to sing because singing makes you feel better. So, to do that as a job is amazing.
Well, I’d like to wish you all the very best for your tour and look forward to seeing you in Southend.
Aled: Thank you very much, that’s kind of you.
Interview: Andrew Walters
Edit: Kim Tobin
Aled: A bit of both, I would say. I know Michael and Alfie very well. Michael is a close neighbour of mine, actually, and I was so pleased to see how successful their album was. I suppose everyone will see the similarity of two men singing together.
The music is different though of course. Alfie and Michael’s music was a lot more musical theatre based. Ours is more classical based. Russell was saying the other day that he’s been wanting to do a duets album for years and years. So the idea was there long ago - it’s just that it’s come to fruition now.
Were you very like-minded about the choices you made for the album together?
Aled: Yeah, we were. There was no arguments, there were no cross words or heated discussions or anything like that. It was a couple of emails and done, really. We had a meet face to face and went through some stuff and yeah, it was pretty obvious. What’s lovely, as I said before, there’s a mixture of well-known and brand new. Karl Jenkins has written a song for us! That’s a real honour to have music by him.
I’m assuming that you’ve performed in Southend before?
Aled: Yes, I have, loads. I’ve played the Cliffs Pavilion loads of times in my life. This will be the biggest tour in Britain for me for a good couple of years. We always come to your neck of the woods.
Do you think yours and Russell's fan bases are similar?
Aled: People tend to come to this music now, young and old. I think our fans are quite similar and there’s been quite a lot of them getting together on social media and stuff like that, which has been nice.
Have there been any particularly memorable fan based moments?
Aled: There’s a dear fan in Australia who always gives me a bottle of nice red wine every concert she comes to - which is always a good thing! Here in the UK, to be honest with you I’m not too fussed about the gifts as long as they give us a standing ovation, I’ll be more than happy!
Just looking back on your life, Aled, you were such a famous figure as a boy, I was wondering, if you were the 12 year old Aled again would you be amazed at how far you’ve come and that you’re still singing now?
Aled: The fact is that I was so lucky to have this kind of career and to have seen some amazing places all over the world; but equally I was lucky before that, being in a Cathedral choir, singing amazing music and singing at school. You hear all the time how music’s been chucked out the curriculum.
It’s so sad, isn’t it?
Aled: It’s awful. Music is so important and music is there for the various key moments of your life, as well. It always plays a part in life, so for me I’ve been so fortunate to have the opportunity to do what I love and to make music and to sing because singing makes you feel better. So, to do that as a job is amazing.
Well, I’d like to wish you all the very best for your tour and look forward to seeing you in Southend.
Aled: Thank you very much, that’s kind of you.
Interview: Andrew Walters
Edit: Kim Tobin
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In Harmony available to pre-order here from 9th November
ALED JONES & RUSSELL WATSON | aledandrussell.com | ALED JONES | officialaledjones.com | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram RUSSELL WATSON | russellwatson.com | Facebook | Twitter Tickets for Southend www.southendtheatres.org.uk or call box office on 01702 351135 |
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