Paul Young is celebrating four decades of success as a solo artist by embarking on a huge new project, featuring a tour, memoir and new album.
Forty years since his debut long-player propelled him into the big time, the hitmaker has been back in the studio working on new material that he plans to tour this year as part of his ‘Behind The Lens’ campaign, which also includes his first autobiography.
Due later this year, the LP came about when he unearthed a bunch of unfinished tracks during lockdown. “Pulling the ones I liked into a folder, I realised I had an album’s worth of material that was really good. I called it ‘Behind the Lens’ in an oblique reference to the fact it’s music from the past, like looking back at old photographs,” he tells RETROPOP’s April 2023 issue.
“Some of the files had been corrupted so we had to re-record them, others I had to re-vocal, and they take on a span of 15 to 20 years.”
The 96-venue trek kicks off this month and runs until mid-November. Rather than a straightforward gig, it’s a mixture of anecdotes, hits and a Q&A, with the musician reflecting: “It’s mostly about my musical life, when I started getting interested in music and my journey from there.
“I felt a connection with music from a very early age, from listening to the radio. I had piano lessons when I was eight or nine years old but I didn’t get on with it, although it gave me a rudimentary knowledge of music. I loved listening to songs and thinking, ‘That’s such a great song, what makes it so great?’ or, ‘Why did that song get to No. 1?’
Much of the conversation will likely focus on topics covered in his forthcoming tome – and there’s plenty to tell. But it won’t be a tell-all, gossipy tome. “Mainly because I have nothing like that to talk about,” Paul smiles. “There are other artists who’ve had their addictions and they’re very open about them.”
The father of three adds: “Talking about my private life has never sat comfortably with my kids. Plus my music life is far more interesting than my family life.”
Paul Young tours the UK from March 22. For full dates and ticket info, visit paul-young.com.
Read the full interview in the April 2023 edition of RETROPOP, out now. Order yours or subscribe via our Online Store, use our Store Finder to locate your nearest stockist, or get Digital Copies delivered direct to your devices.
