Interview: Olly Murs

With his last single ‘Troublemaker’ featuring Flo Rida marking his fourth number one single and his second album already going plantinum, Olly Murs’ success is phenomenal, & he’s still reaching for more Stateside. Victoria Nangle talks with the reality TV success story

How’s your day been today?
“Oh, it’s been fine! I’ve been out, I’ve been working. It’s all good!”

You must really be enjoying having independent chart success separate from The X Factor…
“Yeah! Completely. Honestly, in the last three years I’ve had massive success in the UK but it’s nice to head towards Europe and across the world and have success as well. It’s great!”

Have you had any tips from your One Direction mates with regards to palying in America? They’ve had phenomenal success…
“Well, for me I’m not at that level in terms of the States. They were doing 25,000-20,000 seater arenas on their tour here and I only did three shows to 2,000-3,000 people so, you know, it’s a completely different level in terms of where we’re going. Obviously the guys here [in America] are a phenomenon. You’re probably never going to see that again. The guys are the biggest thing in the world right now and it’s just incredible what they have achieved.”

I saw you on The X Factor Tour when you came to Brighton and you really stood out from the others with your professionalism. Do you think winning the final makes such a difference these days, considering the strength of runners up One Direction and JLS?
“Yeah, I think it is. Obviously I enjoyed doing The X Factor tour and of course it was great for me. I think when it comes to winning the show, it’s all down to a bit of luck – it’s being in the right place at the right time. That’s all I can put it down to really. Leona Lewis was a massive success; Little Mix have been a big success since they’ve come off the show and have released some really good songs. James Arthur, of course, will be the next one to come out and be a success as well.

It’s being an artist that’s going to blend into the market and have success. I think I was lucky enough to be at a point where there wasn’t really a male artist doing what I was doing – and there hasn’t been really since! But Robbie [Williams], of course, is king of that.

It’s just the having room in the market. If you win the show or don’t win the show, It’s all about music as well, about writing great songs. That’s the key!”

You do seem very much the performer. Would you consider moving into musical theatre in the same way as Will Young did?
“Oh, not at all! I couldn’t do musical theatre – I just haven’t got the operatics or West End voice to do musicals. I love acting and I love performing, but you have to have such an operatic-style voice. I haven’t really got that, unfortunately.”

I hear you’re not returning to The Xtra Factor. Why is that?
“Well… If that’s what other people are saying! All I’ve said is that it’s unlikely that I’ll be doing it this year. I’m not saying 100 per cent ‘no’, just unfortunately due to work commitments and my music – music is obviously my first priority over TV – and this is why I’m doing so well at the moment. ‘Troublemaker’ is getting played across the world, all my music is getting played in different territories, so I have to be able to be here to do it. I have to work. I have to go to Germany, I have to go to Australia, I have to go to America to make it work!

Over the last few years, I’ve done The Xtra Factor and I’ve had music out, but it’s been hard to keep both jobs.

What I say for me is that Simon [Cowell]’s got a very good way of persuading people to do things. If anyone was going to get me to do it, then Simon will! I think he knows what I’m trying to do, in terms of how far my music is going, and he’s proud of what I’m doing as well. So I think that’s what it is at the moment.”

If you could learn any skill, natural or supernatural, like Neo in The Matrix goes like concrete, what skill would you like to learn?
“The art of invisibility.”

(Laughs) That’s a skill, is it?
“Yeah! I mean, if you could outwit anyone and be invisible then that would be amazing!”

What would you do with it?
“Well, I would just disappear when I want. And you know, no paps around, no papers, no working. No one would know where I was.”

So do you feel over exposed?
“I think any artist does. You’re in the public eye – it’s always work, work, work! When you’re out and about, just shopping or something, it’s hard to do it sometimes… you have to run away from paps. It’s just one of those things. I’m joking really. If I could learn a skill, I’d probably want to learn a language. If I was honest.”

That sounds like a very useful skill set, both of them!
“Yeah.”

What are you going to do for the rest of the year?
“I’m looking forward to just working hard really. We’ve got loads of touring when I get back, and I’ve got more singles coming out for this album, travelling the world… and doing different things!”

Thank you very much Olly. Hope you do get some time off and some rest!
“No, it’s fine babe, I’m good. I’m happy and I’m enjoying my job. Thanks to everyone for their support and their love. I’ll see you all soon!”

Olly Murs, The Brighton Centre, 0844 847 1515, Tuesday 5 and Wednesday 6 March 2013, 6.30pm, £32.50, www.brightoncentre.co.uk