THIS has been a milestone-filled year for singer-songwriter Jamie Lawson. Having released his eponymous number one album in October last year, 2016 was always going to be a big year for the Plymouth-born performer.
But even he couldn’t have predicted a year that's already seen him picking up an Ivor Novello award and playing at the Glastonbury festival.
In October he will play Belfast’s Waterfront Hall and Vicar Street in Dublin.
When I spoke to Lawson he had just played a headline gig at Pembroke Castle in Wales – a fortification once besieged and destroyed by Oliver Cromwell, no less – which was a momentous occasion for the talented Englishman.
"It was our biggest headline show to date – it was brilliant," he enthused.
"It was a nice setting for it too. It was quite surreal playing in a castle, and it was really good fun."
There is quite a bit of buzz around Jamie Lawson at the moment, and there generally has been since he signed to Ed Sheeran’s label, Gingerbread Man, last year.
But Lawson still shows an admirable degree of modesty despite the accolades and headline gigs.
"My lifestyle is no different and I don’t consider myself to be famous," he said.
"I don’t get recognised outside of the things I do, and I don’t feel my life has changed apart from being busy – which is a nice busyness really. I try to take it all as it comes but it’s always worth it."
Even for a modest individual it is nice to receive plaudits, and for British songwriters and composers there aren’t many greater than the Ivor Novello awards.
Lawson’s track Wasn’t Expecting That was named as the best song musically and lyrically at this year’s awards. Reflecting on his achievements, Lawson said that he is both shocked and inspired.
"It’s amazing – I’m really stunned," Lawson revealed.
""I’m really humbled by it too. I’m amazed that my song is up alongside all those other great incredible songwriters – it’s an honour.
"What’s interesting about that song and the album is that a lot of people have been brought into my music via Wasn’t Expecting That but they might start loving another song more. I think that’s very healthy and that gives me a lot of encouragement."
Lawson may be recognised as an excellent lyricist, but like any skill his talents have taken some time to perfect. The songwriter said that he had great difficulty in meeting one of his early challenges.
"I wanted to be Michael Stipe basically – I failed miserably," he laughed.
"I started writing songs when I was around 14 or 15. The main band I was listening to at the time was REM. I think Out Of Time had come out and Losing My Religion was a big song for me in terms of thinking about what songs meant."
He may not have fulfilled his dream of being a balding alternative rock star but thankfully Lawson was not disheartened. Dreams do come true, and it doesn’t take loud rock music to catapult a musician to the world’s biggest stages.
Thus, Lawson recently brought his softer sound to Glastonbury.
"I didn’t quite know how to approach it, or how to feel about it, or anything because obviously it’s massive – it’s Glastonbury, you know," he said.
"It was great; it was really great. To be one of those acts that is on the BBC iPlayer where you can go and watch the gigs, that’s massive as well."
While playing at Glastonbury the singer-songwriter almost had the opportunity to meet one of his heroes. Almost.
"I was on after Paul Heaton who I’m a huge, huge fan of, so that was surreal because he’s my hero," he explained.
"The Housemartins were one the first bands I ever got into and I was a huge the Beautiful South fan. It was just kind of odd just seeing him around, and I was too scared to go and say hello. I’ve yet to say hello to Paul Heaton."
If you didn’t catch the show, then you can hear Lawson’s performance of Someone for Everyone on Oxfam’s Glastonbury Live album which will raise funds for the charity.
"It’s an upbeat song and we had the brass section for it too so hopefully it comes out well. It’s brilliant to be a part of," he said.
This summer he is set to play a festival virtually every weekend, and after that he has a massive solo tour in October which will include headline gigs in Belfast and Dublin.
Lawson said that he is extremely excited to be back in Ireland.
"Love it, love it, love it," he gushed. "Dublin is going to be the first one of the whole tour so I’m sure we’ll be a bit nervous and anxious to be getting on with it, and I love Vicar Street.
"I’ve been to Belfast twice now and each gig has been brilliant. I absolutely loved it so I’m really looking forward to going back there.
"I know the last time Belfast was the show that sold out first, so it seems like the people of Belfast have really taken to what we’re doing."
:: Jamie Lawson plays Vicar Street in Dublin on October 4 and The Waterfront Hall on October 5. For more info, see: Jamielawsonmusic.com.
