Charming, chatty and so happy to be coming back to Durbs, Calum Scott, Britain’s Golden Boy of music, indulges us with a virtual tour through his dressing room in Dublin, divulges his supervillain obsession and we get a little inside info on how he grooms his mo, since it is Movember after all.
When Calum set foot on Durban soil in 2018, he broke a mould with his singing and song-writing that sheds light on complex issues. His songs speak of the sublime power of surrendering to love, and as an advocate for the wellbeing of others, he returns to our shores to celebrate his sophomore album Bridges, which captures some of his most fearlessly candid and captivating work yet.
Calum says he will never forget the day he first burst into the public eye. It was Season 9 of Britain’s Got Talent (of course we were glued to our screens) and he delivered a stunning rendition of Robyn’s hit single “Dancing On My Own”. It was stripped-down and sweetly devastating and catapulted this empathetic young man into an icon.
Before his music career boomed professionally at age 26, he lived a humble, normal life.
“I had a day job and bills to pay, which have made me more grateful than I might have been had I found success at a younger age. I feel blessed and honoured to be able to travel the world and have people in each continent listen to my music, come to my shows and support me on my journey. There are plenty of moments I still have to pinch myself to be sure it’s all real,” says the 34-year-old multi-platinum singer songwriter.
The last time Calum visited South Africa as part of his first Only Human world tour, Durban was his first port of call, and much to our delight, intentionally so.
“I wanted to make an impression – that I am not an artist who only goes for the obvious cities. I mean, I headlined a festival in a city called Pekanbaru in Indonesia. They’d never had a music festival there before, ever! I am such a fan of showing audiences they are all important and loved!”
While his first time on our shores in 2018 was very short, full and packed with promo, Calum says he will never forget performing at Durban’s Botanic Gardens to a capacity crowd who left a roar of appreciation so great it still rings in his mind.
“It was an absolute dream come true. And the cherry on the cake was at the end of that long day, when I managed to sit down and eat a bunny chow with a nice glass of South African red wine! I genuinely cannot wait to reconnect with my Durban fans and this year, I’ll be sticking around a little longer! There’s going to be dancing, laughing, crying but most of all I want everyone who comes to the show to walk away feeling like they’ve had the chance to forget all about what’s going on in their own lives for the 90 minutes they spend with me.”
In a dynamic evolution of his debut album Only Human, Calum’s new album Bridges sees him pushing his songwriting into bold new directions. It’s a deeply personal journey he shares. One that has broken emotional barriers and resonated with a generation of people all looking to find hope and meaning in times of heartbreak and despair.
“From touring the world and seeing how people have been affected by my music, I realized how important it is for me to keep writing from a very honest place,” says Calum. “I’ve learned that I can take the painful things I’ve been through and create something beautiful that helps people to process their feelings, take action, become more compassionate and understanding of others, or just escape from the world for a while.”
Giving some airtime to the pandemic, Calum says he found it extremely difficult to remain level-headed during the height of it. He openly admits to being very destructive with his mental health when he loses personal contact with those nearest and dearest to him.
“I’d lost almost all my motivation for finishing my album. Thankfully my producer, Jon Maguire was there to reignite my passion and I was able to finish the album eventually. Looking back, even though the lockdown was awful, there were moments I was able to grow, adapt and overcome and the result is my new album – sharing things I’ve never shared before and taking leaps that sometimes feel terrifying, with the hope that it will bring some inspiration or reassurance to anyone who needs it.”
While Bridges sometimes journeys into emotionally heavy terrain – shedding light on such complex issues as mental health, self-worth, and loss – it also merges the magical with the beautifully ordinary, and for Calum, one of the most thrilling aspects of an album release (but this one in particular) is the opportunity to perform its songs live.
“I feel incredibly lucky to be touring again. Looking out and seeing everyone connecting with these songs I’ve written in the most tragic or beautiful moments is the closest thing to magic that I’ll ever get,” Calum says. “It never stops inspiring me to be as real and sincere in my music as I possibly can.”
What’s a typical day on tour like for Calum?
“It all depends on where in the world we are! I get up kind of leisurely, have breakfast, work out, try and do some exploring, then head back for soundcheck, do label stuff, get ready, do the show, maybe meet any friends who might have come to watch and then it’s back to the tour bus and off to the next destination!”
And just how does Calum stay cool and calm in stressful times?
“Family. Being in my hometown helps me to reset and see things more clearly. Life is a lot quieter in Yorkshire! I love snowboarding and taking it easy. I am also a huge Marvel fan and I got my nephew obsessed too. I bought him lots of superhero weapons and now all he wants to do is fight me. Obviously on the road family time is difficult but I try my best to check in on FaceTime. For some cooking is therapy. I cannot cook! I could burn water. I love all food though, especially home cooked food from my mum! And if all else fails, I just crack open a lovely bottle of red!”
He adds that exercise, eating well and getting good sleep also help keep him on track, and doing a job he absolutely loves naturally keeps his spirits very high.
“I would love to do way more for my mental health wellness – some yoga, stretching or meditation before each show going forward, to reflect, be grateful, be present … all that lovely spiritual stuff! It’s just too easy to get roped into a Netflix series and binging that for hours on end!”
And speaking of health and wellness, Calum is all for showing his support for Movember as an avid mo grower.
“I haven’t clean shaved my face since prom. I’m talking 15 or 16, so I don’t think I’d dare clean shave as I’d be lost without my beard! Besides which I just don’t think people would take me seriously if I didn’t have my facial hair! I think it gives me some seriousness and considering all my songs are emotional I think it works!”
Though he’s tried all the moisturisers, beard oils, night cleansers and elixirs, he’s only recently started using shampoo and conditioner on his beard.
“I am still trying to find my perfect routine to be honest. But what I have learnt over the years is that beard combing is a game changer. Keeping on top of the shape with a great barber (I grab a trimmer when I’m on the go) and finding products that agree with your skin and hair type and using products and services that make you feel good are essential, otherwise you might as well rock a clean face!”
Those who want to catch Calum in action shouldn’t miss the chance to book tickets to his Durban show on Friday, November 25 on the uMphafa Field at the Durban Botanic Gardens.
“I’m looking so forward to bring the magic back to Durban. After your sunny city, I hit Cape Town and Joburg and then that’s my world tour done! I just released a dance track with Kygo and Gryffin which is going down really well with my fans and theirs! There’s a lot planned for after the tour and I am very excited, so keep an eye on my socials!
Details: Tickets to Calum’s “Bridges” South African Tour are available at breakoutevents.co.za
