Saint Raymond: In Interview

Nottingham-born Callum Burrows, known better as Saint Raymond, has had one of his most exciting years yet. After releasing a string of EPs, Burrows finally released his debut top 10 charting album Young Blood in July following an array of festival appearances over the summer. Before heading out on what is to be his biggest solo tour yet, Boar Music caught up with him to see how he has reflected on the year and also to discuss his plans for album number two!

Boar Music: Starting with beginnings, originally Saint Raymond was made up with two members, what made you decide to pursue as a solo artist?

Callum: I really just wanted to have a go for it. The other guy, Elliot, is still my best mate to this day but he had a few other things going on and I just left school so wanted to actively pursue this.

BM: Speaking of the past, will original tracks like ‘She Said No’ and ‘Shadows’ ever see the light of day once more?

C: I hope so, ha! I’m glad you’ve reminded me about these, people still tweet me about ‘She Said No’! Its so strange but kind of cool.

BM: Who inspired you to get into music in the first place, and does this inspiration have a lot of influence of your own music?

C: I had a lot of music around me when I was young, growing up in a house with older siblings, who got me in to stuff like Oasis when I was very young. I even went to see them when I was about 7/8, which is a pretty cool thing to say. From then I started to fall in love with artists & bands myself and it went from there really.

BM: This year you appeared on our Top 5 Acts for 2015 list, do you think these lists, especially larger ones like the BBC Sound of Poll and MTV’s Brand New, are a good way for new artists to be discovered and get the attention they deserve?

C: I think so, especially as there are so many good artists and bands out there that you can get a little bit lost, so all these things no matter how small help to get your name out there really.

BM: In 2013 you released your first EP Escapade under Gabrielle Aplin’s label Never Fade; how did that signing come about?

C: I got to know Gabby a little bit on social media and through some mutual friends; she heard my stuff through a songwriter we both still to this day work with. She really liked it and asked if I fancied releasing my EP through Never Fade, which I immediately said yes to!

BM: From that point your career rocketed hugely, and you continued releasing EPs, at this time was a debut album always in the pipeline and did you have a clear vision of how you wanted it to sound and who you wanted to produce it?

C: It was strange because even though I always knew exactly what I wanted to sound like, the album process spanned over a long period of time; I was always having new ideas and thoughts. Because of that the decision of which producer to work with came quite later on, but it worked well!

BM: Having released 3 incredibly solid EPs prior to the album’s release, how did you narrow down what tracks you wanted to include on the record?

C: This was a decision that was pretty hard! I had my definites that I knew had to be on there but I was always writing new material so there’s some stuff I’m gutted didn’t make it on but you can’t include absolutely everything!

BM: Young Blood includes some new versions of previously released songs (‘Fall At Your Feet’, ‘Letting Go’); what made you want to re-record them? 

C: I think because when I recorded them, I was only 16 so for one thing my voice had changed. But I also wanted to bring new life to them. There’s always going to be people who prefer the originals because that’s how it works and I’m the same with artists that I’m a fan of, but I wanted to re-do everything fresh for the album and just make everything a bit bigger.

BM: How was working with Jacknife Lee on your debut Young Blood?

C: It was a lot of fun working with him, he’s produced a lot of amazing stuff, the guy is a genius and getting to work over in his studio in LA was also a lot of fun.

BM: Having toured with Ed Sheeran, how did you find the transition from playing hall venues to massive arenas around the country and would a tour like this be something you would prefer? 

C: In a way it was almost easier, because in a big arena you can’t see the audience so you can’t see reactions. Obviously I still got nervous but it was crazy not being able to see any faces or people in the audience, you don’t really think about how many thousand people are in the room.

BM: This year, you’ve also played some huge music festivals, Glastonbury in particular, what is your favourite part about playing to a crowd that potentially has never heard your stuff before?

C: I think my favourite part is the challenge of winning over people who may have just stumbled in to the tent and the challenge of them remembering you after a long weekend at a festival. It’s almost like a support gig.

BM: This November, you’re about to head out on your biggest solo tour yet – what can you fans expect? Also, does it feel different knowing that you’re now touring an album?

C: I think a big show, with a lot of fun to be had- that’s what I’m about. Obviously its different now the records out as the fans will know all the songs, which makes it even more exciting.

BM: What is your favourite track to perform live and why? 

C: Hmm that’s hard, ‘Ghosts’ is always a good one for the sing back, as is ‘Bonfires’ but there’s something I love about playing ‘As We Are Now’ on my own and having a moment where its just me, the crowd and my guitar.

BM: It appears that you have started work on your second album, at the moment how does it differ from your debut?

C: Yeah I’ve been writing it now for a few weeks so it’s early days. Sound-wise I think will develop but for me it’s just got to be bigger and better.

BM: Do you think album two will be a better representation of who you are now as an artist? Obviously, your debut was recorded over a huge span of time, and you therefore had a longer period to write about.

C: Yeah definitely, the record like you say was something I’d been writing since I was 16, and a lot has changed in the past four years or so, so now the next record is about this very moment and knowing who I am.

BM: Would collaborating with other artists be something that would interest you on this new record?

C: I definitely would like to, I love working and writing with other people.  I’ve been in touch with a few people and it definitely would interest me.

BM: What are you most looking forward to about the future?

C: Without sounding to obvious, just continuing to make music, in the future if that’s for me or for others I’m not sure, but as long as I’m still making music I’ll be happy.

Saint Raymond is heading out on tour this November, for tour dates and ticket information visit http://saintraymond.co.uk. Debut album Young Blood is out now!