We sit down with our Heart Bingo Brand Ambassador, Olly Murs, to discuss his upcoming music, The Voice UK, X-Factor and much more!
Olly Murs shares stories about meeting Robbie Williams and Michael Bublé on the X-Factor and watching Sir Tom Jones Sunbathe
Who is genuinely the nicest person in show business and who helped you most in your early career?
Olly: That is a great question. I’d say two people, at the start was Robbie Williams and Michael Bublé.
I first met Robbie Williams on X Factor and we instantly became mates. You know when you just meet certain people, and you just have a connection? We just got on like a house on fire. And I think he saw a lot in my potential as I was young at the time. And I just really got on well with him. He was like a big brother to me.
And then Michael Bublé was just mind blowing. I met him back when I was on X-Factor and I was a huge fan at the time. Michael was a guest judge on X Factor, I sang a song and I could tell by his face he hated it.
Afterwards, he was like, Olly, Olly, come with me. I need to talk to you, come with me. And he pulled me aside into his dressing room and he said, I want to apologize. I am so sorry. I honestly hate the song that you sang in front of me this week, but you absolutely nailed it. And he said, you did fantastic, I loved it. And he said he said, look, we will catch up later on in the series. We did and he wanted to mentor me in the industry.
A while later, after my first single had been released, we bumped into each other at a restaurant, and he introduced me to his entire family. He is just such an amazing guy.
Michael Bublé and Robbie, both are just top people. Two of my favourites.
Speaking of X Factor. You are now a judge on another singing competition, the Voice UK. Do you ever hang out with them outside the voice and what is a night out with Will.I.Am like, if you’re allowed to tell us?
Olly: No, not really. It is really hard. I always tell this story, but it’s a funny one. One year, I was sitting with Sir Tom, Jennifer Hudson and Will.I.Am. It was the end of the night, and I asked guys what are you up to next week? Where are you off to?
Will.I.Am was like, oh my God, I’m off to China this weekend. We got this new like robot coming out. And then I have got to fly to Egypt for a gig.
What are you doing, Jennifer? She said something like, Olly I have to get back to Hollywood, as I’m doing the Aretha Franklin film, Respect.
I then ask, Sir Tom what he was doing. He said Oh, I’ve got a new album coming out so I’m in the studio this weekend. And then I’m planning on an American tour and will be going across the states.
They all ask me, what are my weekend plans. I reply with I play for my local football team and we’ve got a game. Then I might go out for some shopping or take the dog for a walk.
We all have different lives. I mean, we all get on and love music. We all come together. But actually, all our lives are completely different. Trying to get us all together in one room for a night out is just never going to be possible with everyone’s schedules.
It’s hard enough to get you together to do The Voice, I guess.
Olly: Me and Tom chat quite a bit outside of The Voice. Me and Tom live next to each other in London. Funny enough. I walked past, down his road the other day. He hasn’t got like WhatsApp message or anything like that, but walked down the road and I could see him sunbathing on the terrace of his house.
Olly Murs reveals why Harry Styles gave him his BRIT award
You have recently left your record label, haven’t you?
Olly: Yes, I have.
Was this because you wanted to write a new album or go in a different direction?
Olly: Yeah, a couple reasons behind that. I had been with Sony for 12 years. I had loads of success with them. It was like any job, sometimes you choose to leave your job and go somewhere else. It is a similar sort of thing.
I just needed a new environment for new ideas, fresh approaches to making music and trying something new.
Now I am looking at other labels and have three labels that are interested. But I have got great music that I’m excited to release.
Can you tell us anything about this new music? You said you wanted to go in a new direction. Can you drop any hints at all, obviously?
Olly: You know what? I think it is not exactly a new direction. It is more like growing up and a continuation of my style. The new album is still very much me but it has got a bit more maturity to it and a bit more grit.
Talking about new and shiny music. What about the new artists that have come out recently? Who do you like, what do you think about them? The new music style that’s coming out, are there any artists you particularly love?
Olly: I like, Kid LAROI, that is someone I really dig at the moment. I like everything and all sorts of music. I love Harry’s Styles’ new album and I love Harry. Harry gave me his first BRIT for Sign of the Times.
He couldn’t make the BRIT Awards ceremony, so I accepted it on his behalf. I jokingly said, I will take it because I’ve never won a BRIT. I didn’t think anything of it because as you walk backstage you have to give it back to one of the producers. About two weeks later a gift came to my house and I opened it. It was from Harry saying “all my love mate. Here he is”.
And it has my name in it. And of course, Harry’s name and Sign of the Times. But I am like, I have got a BRIT award from Harry Styles! Harry’s brilliant. I love his new album and his new song.
Fans of Olly can read our previous interview with Olly
