Daniel Bedingfield celebrates the 20th anniversary of his debut album with a gig at The Academy, Dublin on 21 May. We asked him the BIG questions . . .
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Bedingfield first burst onto the scene in the early noughties with a string of hits, including breakout single Gotta Get Thru This and follow-ups If You're Not The One and Never Gonna Leave Your Side.
He has co-written tracks with the likes of Pixie Lott, SecondCity and American Idol finalist David Archuleta. In 2016 he appeared on the West End stage in London as The Artilleryman in Jeff Wayne’s War of the Worlds, and he has also starred as a judge on the first series of the New Zealand X Factor.
Tell us three things about yourself . . .
I'm neurodivergent, I didn’t meet a lot of people, growing up, who’s brains worked very much like mine. I just moved to San Francisco, where most people's brains are at least in driving distance of the neighbourhood of my own. Haha. Garage and drum `n’ bass seem to have come back into fashion, which makes me really happy since I have 20 years of recorded material on hand.
How would you describe your music?
The aim of my music is a transport, first myself, and then my listener into a specific energy or vibe. The next few albums are likely to be almost exclusively, drum and bass and garage with a few cheeky ballads thrown in there. The main formula is poppy hooks and bass lines you can sing.
Who are your musical inspirations?
Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Bob Dylan, Bob Marley.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
My uncles used to throw a night spot with 20 Jamaican artists that would sing one song each. That monthly event would’ve been the first gig I actually sang at too.
What was the first record you ever bought?
Pump up the Jam by Technotronic.
What’s your favourite song right now?
Whiplash by aespa.
Favourite lyric of all time?
"I have of late - but wherefore I know not - lost all my mirth, forgone all custom of exercises; and indeed it goes so heavily with my disposition that this goodly frame, the earth, seems to me a sterile promontory; this most excellent canopy, the air, look you, this brave o’erhanging firmament, this majestical roof fretted with golden fire, why, it appears no other thing to me than a foul and pestilent congregation of vapours. What a piece of work is a man! How noble in reason! How infinite in faculty! In form and moving how express and admirable! In action how like an angel! In apprehension how like a god! The beauty of the world! The paragon of animals! And yet, to me, what is this quintessence of dust? Man delights not me; no, nor woman neither . . . " - From Hamlet by William Shakespeare.
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
I’d rather die - That’s a legit form of torture in the United States. It seems that I am doomed forever to listen to If You’re Not the One. LOL.
Where can people find your music/more information?
Spotify is as good as anywhere else (It is? - Ed).
Alan Corr
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