Teddy Thompson

Digital Spy chats to UK-born singer-songwriter Teddy Thompson about his new album, his folk-rock and British roots, as well as quizzing him on his friendship with Rufus Wainwright.

Hi, Teddy. Tell us a little bit about yourself and your musical background.
"Well, my parents are Richard and Linda Thompson, folk-rock legends, and I did the usual route – bands in school and I moved to Los Angeles when I was 18, started dipping my toe in, and I made my first record out there about six years ago. Then I moved to New York. I live there now, and I made this album over the last few years."

Do you like to take lots of time over albums?
"I’m not that bothered about taking loads of time. I made my first album in two weeks, and that was great fun. This one, I didn’t spend that long in the actual recording of it. I did it in fits and starts, started and stopped, threw it all away and started over again. It was trial and error, figuring out what to do. The actual in the studio recording was not long, just a few months. I think it was better for letting it fester – not fester, letting it breathe."

Why did you move to LA?
"I needed a change of scenery. I went there on holiday – never came back – it was a bit accidental but I suppose it was in the back of my mind. I wanted to go somewhere else. Have a different experience."

Do you think you’ll stay in the US?
"I’ve been spending a lot of time in England since the record was released. It feels like I live in New York and London, which is really great. Maybe I’ll be an international jetsetter.
My dad still lives in LA and my mum in London."

Do you think your parents influenced your style?
"A little bit. It was unavoidable to be honest. I was always more interested in American music and they’re more English musically. It’s definitely there, through their good taste and sensibilities."

You're currently touring the UK. Are you enjoying it? How are the crowds responding to you?
"They love me. It’s great. I really like it. I like England more than I did when I left. It’s become a bit of a better country in the last ten years, in the attitude of it. A bit more Americanised, which is both good and bad. At least when you order a cup of coffee they don’t give you a hard time. Everyday endeavours are a lot easier. That English no can do attitude has sort of disappeared a little bit."

Is there any one gig that's meant the most to you or been the best?
"I think the best gigs have been on this tour and the last tour in January when it was my own gigs. Playing London, playing my home town...playing at Dingwalls, it was sold out, played a couple of weeks ago to 700 people. Those have been the best ones because it feels great to come home and have all these people here to see you. It’s really rewarding."

Tell us about your relationship with Rufus Wainwright?
"We met in LA 10 years ago when he moved there. We became really good friends. He was a big help to me. He was further ahead in the game than I was at that time, he’s just brilliant and talented and it was a good time for me to meet him. He was an inspiring person to be around, doing the same things I wanted to. It’s been great to have a friend in the same boat. I look up to him a lot. He’s a really good example of how to acquit yourself."

Is that where you see yourself going?
"You want people to listen to your records. There’s some sort of line that would be difficult to cross these days. I don’t know if Rufus really makes the kind of music that’s really going to get to the very highest pop music levels. Have number one singles and stuff. That’s not what I aspire to. He’s got a good fan base, a good level of success."

Do you have any particular career goals?
"I don’t really have any particular goals. I’m very keen on the idea of the gradual build up. It’s nice to have a steady rise, keep touring with this record and come back and play bigger places. It’s a great thing to come back and play a slightly bigger venue and more people, make another album, go up another level. Get to a point where you can go where you want, give yourself some freedom. Make the albums that you want and so your fans will come and see yo and respect you. Steady rise to superstardom."

Do you think you're following in your father's footsteps in terms of the steady rise to success?
"I’m a little more mainstream than he is, but he’s certainly been an example of a good career. Certainly something to emulate and making music that you want, having a really good career. I’d much rather do this for the rest of my life and have a steady career or have a number one single tomorrow and have it go downhill from there."

Tell us about the new album Separate Ways and how you made it. Any crazy stories?
"It was fairly normal. I started making the record myself, I had no label, no producer and no money. I just started doing it in a little studio in NY and did a few things, as I said, went away and did other things, came back and listened to what I’d done, threw it all away, picked up as I went along. I got a manager who I liked, worked with a friend who later became the co-producer - Val Albetta who also produced Martha Wainwright’s record. It came about very naturally. No big story...I did recording in different places, in LA and Boston, but it was all a fairly natural progression. No hanging upside down in caves recording the sound of the bats!"

Do you see the style of the album as your permanent style, or do you think you'll branch out into something random like Teddy Thompson: thrash metal artist?
"I’ve got no idea. I hope I haven’t settled anywhere. Any kind of creativity is not settling down into a happy little space. I don’t try to be mellow or anything. I think I have quite…my voice is what it is, no matter what I’m singing, it’s always going to sound like me. There’s not too far I could go. I sound like myself. I hope that I haven’t put any boundaries on anything. I might make that thrash-metal album yet, you never know..."

Any favourites for those you've worked with?
"Everyone’s different, but it was fun for me to work with Garth Hudson. He’s from The Band. They are a massive influence, that was a big thrill. He’s completely out of his mind."

You seem like a very grounded, sensible person. What’s kept you grounded? Or am I talking rubbish and you're absolutely crazy?
"I haven’t had anything yet to seriously unground me. I don’t think I’ve reached any level of success that would make me lose my shit. To say how you would react if you were really storming the charts and had people running around after you..who's to say how any of us would deal with that. That hasn’t happened yet... but just you wait!"

Is there anyone you'd like to work with in the future?
"Dolly Parton!"

Why Dolly Parton?!
"She’s brilliant, one of my all time heroes, she’s got a voice that would make you believe in God if you didn’t already. If you’ve ever seen her sing live, it’s quite an experience. She’s number one in my book."

Any particular track you'd like to sing with her?
"Maybe I could get her to do an Everly brothers song on the next record, another hidden track."

What’s on your iPod at the moment?
"I listen to a lot of country music. I’m a big Goerge Jones, Hank Williams fan. The Streets are on my iPod at the moment. I think Mike Skinner’s amazing, an incredible writer and word player. Him and my friend Ed Harcourt’s new record. I got a copy from him, though I don't know if it's been released yet. I always have taken my influences from a lot of different kind of music. I think it’s really important for musicians and songwriters to listen to a lot of different kinds of music. Keep it open."

Best of luck with your tour and thanks for chatting, Teddy!