Music: Edwyn Collins

Jeff Hemmings fires the questions

With his original band, the much loved Orange Juice, Edwyn Collins enjoyed some success particularly with the single ‘Rip It Up’, and then later on a as solo artist with the perennial favourite ‘A Girl Like You’, before succumbing to a well documented cerebral hemorrhage in 2005 which almost took his life, and left him severely disabled. But since then he has mounted an extraordinary life-affirming comeback and has a new album, Understated, plus a UK tour on the go.

Great album! You must be pleased…
“I’m delighted. I’m glad people like it. I do, of course, but I’m slightly bigheaded.”

There’s a strong Motown feel on some songs, a ‘60s feel… what draws you to those sounds?
“I can’t help it, it’s uplifting and life-affirming. My musicians are brilliant, they bring it to life.”

And I see you have decided to release the album on your own label. It seems like the natural culmination of your career that began on an independent label back in Scotland?
“You’ve got it, bang on. Back to where it started. AED [Analogue Enhanced Digital] has no backers, just good partners, great music, imagination, hard work. It’s the future and it makes sense.”

How far do you feel you have recovered from your well-documented illness back in 2005?
“It’s still work in progress. But I’m so much better. The process I use, I’ve had to adapt it. I lean on my musicians more and on Seb Lewsley, my production partner. And every day, more and more of the picture becomes stronger and clearer. It’s hard work, but it’s also a pleasure. It’s exhilarating, coming back into myself.

Has the ability to sing and perform on stage been a help?
“It’s amazing. At first I was scared as hell. I can trip up on my tongue, freeze, forget the words. I have a book, but my reading is slow, so I use it sparingly. My audiences are incredible to me.”

Orange Juice have proven to be an on-going inspiration to many bands, I can hear traces of your sound in newer bands like Fiction. Or am I wrong?
“I don’t know, it would not be for me to say. We didn’t care about inspiration, we were quite headstrong and cheeky. Like it or lump it! I do see young men with my haircut, my clothes. Good taste!”

Edwyn Collins, St George’s Church, Thursday 25 April, 7pm, £18