Lidell is doing the media push for his album dropping this Tuesday, and mentions the first time I met Prince. Side note: I've heard his new album and it is a must own when it is released. It will be one of the best albums of 2013.

http://metro.co.uk/2013/01/18/jamie-lidell-prince-dissed-my-suit-but-i-still-love-him-3356213/

Electro-funk musician Jamie Lidell talks to Metro about his self-titled new album, the challenge of writing a ‘normal’ song and why you should never meet your musical idols.

Restless soul and Brit electro-funk dude Jamie Lidell is easy to pick out in the low-lit lobby of a hotel in Shoreditch, east London. He’s a tall, animated figure, chatting away with a slightly transatlantic twang. Having spent stints living in Brighton, Berlin and New York, he’s more recently relocated to Nashville, where he recorded his latest album, the simply titled, irrepressibly catchy Jamie Lidell.

‘I must like being on the move,’ admits Lidell, as he orders a zingy mint tea. ‘I grew up in a small hamlet in England and all the years I spent there, I’d dream what life would be like outside.

‘My fascination with sound started early on, I just went crazy after being cooped up in a tiny environment. I left for university in Bristol when all this music such as Portishead was going on in the city and I was like: “What do I do now?”.’

Lidell’s self-titled new album is released in February (Picture: Warp Records)

What Lidell did next included running electronic club nights with Brighton DJ/producer Cristian Vogel (the pair collaborated as Super Collider) and creating his own soul-infused beats. He signed to innovative Sheffield label Warp (home of electronic pioneers including Aphex Twin and Squarepusher) for his 2005 album, Multiply, and honed his reputation as a one-man psychedelic soul revue, both richly vocal and excitingly offbeat.

‘I can blame Prince for a lot of this; he was my idol,’ grins Lidell, before launching into a sore tale of why you should never meet your heroes. ‘I was introduced to Prince backstage at the Montreux Jazz Festival a couple of years ago – he was there with Quincy Jones. Janelle Monáe, who’d opened for me on tour, was like: “Oh Jamie, you gotta meet Prince”. I was like: “Aaaah…” I was completely frozen, hopeless.

‘Prince wouldn’t acknowledge my presence or make eye contact at all but Janelle pursued it further: “You saw Jamie’s show in LA.” And Prince said: “Yeah, I would’ve remembered that suit” – he dissed my suit! Meanwhile, he was wearing a bloody yoga outfit.

‘At one point, Quincy patted Prince on the head, which was quite satisfying.’ Lidell shrugs: ‘At the time, it felt awful but looking back, it seems perfectly apt that Prince was an a***hole to me. I still love him.’
Lidell indulges his love of Prince-style funk and the classic feel of 1980s producers Jam & Lewis on the bold grooves of his latest album, including the poppy blast of tracks such as Big Love and I’m Selfish, although he also brings heavy abstract soul into play on the current single What A Shame.

Strictly speaking, Jamie Lidell isn’t his first self-titled collection –he released the acclaimed Jim in 2008 – but he insists: ‘This album is the closest I’ve come to a whole representation: it gets the electronics, the acoustic side and the pop sound crammed in there. It came from the luxury of having all these great machines and a great house in Nashville to record in.

‘I went through a phase where I tried to work out who I appeal to. As long as you fixate on that, a part of you dies.’

In contrast, Lidell’s creative ventures are definitely thriving. He’s set to embark on an international tour, complete with dazzling visuals from digital artists Flat-e Collective (who designed the ‘exploding head’ imagery for What A Shame), and a pretty savvy sense of adventure. ‘I like knowing how to recover when things go wrong,’ he says. ‘Playing live electronic music is like surfing: you’ve got to go out into the rough sea, get on the board and fall off.’

He’s also been recording with both German ‘acoustic techno’ trio Brandt Brauer Frick and house producer Tensnake.

‘I struggle to write a “normal” song – I just piece things together,’ says Lidell, good-naturedly. ‘But when someone sends me a beat that sounds good, it just flows.’

He still regards that energy as transformative. ‘When you move into a new place and it’s unfurnished and barren, you put on music and it fills the air and changes everything,’ he says. ‘You’re playing with shamanic forces; you can freak people out or you can really draw them in. For now, I’m home.’

Robert3rd said:

Lidell is doing the media push for his album dropping this Tuesday, and mentions the first time I met Prince. Side note: I've heard his new album and it is a must own when it is released. It will be one of the best albums of 2013.

http://metro.co.uk/2013/01/18/jamie-lidell-prince-dissed-my-suit-but-i-still-love-him-3356213/

Electro-funk musician Jamie Lidell talks to Metro about his self-titled new album, the challenge of writing a ‘normal’ song and why you should never meet your musical idols.

Restless soul and Brit electro-funk dude Jamie Lidell is easy to pick out in the low-lit lobby of a hotel in Shoreditch, east London. He’s a tall, animated figure, chatting away with a slightly transatlantic twang. Having spent stints living in Brighton, Berlin and New York, he’s more recently relocated to Nashville, where he recorded his latest album, the simply titled, irrepressibly catchy Jamie Lidell.

‘I must like being on the move,’ admits Lidell, as he orders a zingy mint tea. ‘I grew up in a small hamlet in England and all the years I spent there, I’d dream what life would be like outside.

‘My fascination with sound started early on, I just went crazy after being cooped up in a tiny environment. I left for university in Bristol when all this music such as Portishead was going on in the city and I was like: “What do I do now?”.’

Lidell’s self-titled new album is released in February (Picture: Warp Records)

What Lidell did next included running electronic club nights with Brighton DJ/producer Cristian Vogel (the pair collaborated as Super Collider) and creating his own soul-infused beats. He signed to innovative Sheffield label Warp (home of electronic pioneers including Aphex Twin and Squarepusher) for his 2005 album, Multiply, and honed his reputation as a one-man psychedelic soul revue, both richly vocal and excitingly offbeat.

‘I can blame Prince for a lot of this; he was my idol,’ grins Lidell, before launching into a sore tale of why you should never meet your heroes. ‘I was introduced to Prince backstage at the Montreux Jazz Festival a couple of years ago – he was there with Quincy Jones. Janelle Monáe, who’d opened for me on tour, was like: “Oh Jamie, you gotta meet Prince”. I was like: “Aaaah…” I was completely frozen, hopeless.

‘Prince wouldn’t acknowledge my presence or make eye contact at all but Janelle pursued it further: “You saw Jamie’s show in LA.” And Prince said: “Yeah, I would’ve remembered that suit” – he dissed my suit! Meanwhile, he was wearing a bloody yoga outfit.

‘At one point, Quincy patted Prince on the head, which was quite satisfying.’ Lidell shrugs: ‘At the time, it felt awful but looking back, it seems perfectly apt that Prince was an a***hole to me. I still love him.’
Lidell indulges his love of Prince-style funk and the classic feel of 1980s producers Jam & Lewis on the bold grooves of his latest album, including the poppy blast of tracks such as Big Love and I’m Selfish, although he also brings heavy abstract soul into play on the current single What A Shame.

Strictly speaking, Jamie Lidell isn’t his first self-titled collection –he released the acclaimed Jim in 2008 – but he insists: ‘This album is the closest I’ve come to a whole representation: it gets the electronics, the acoustic side and the pop sound crammed in there. It came from the luxury of having all these great machines and a great house in Nashville to record in.

‘I went through a phase where I tried to work out who I appeal to. As long as you fixate on that, a part of you dies.’

In contrast, Lidell’s creative ventures are definitely thriving. He’s set to embark on an international tour, complete with dazzling visuals from digital artists Flat-e Collective (who designed the ‘exploding head’ imagery for What A Shame), and a pretty savvy sense of adventure. ‘I like knowing how to recover when things go wrong,’ he says. ‘Playing live electronic music is like surfing: you’ve got to go out into the rough sea, get on the board and fall off.’

He’s also been recording with both German ‘acoustic techno’ trio Brandt Brauer Frick and house producer Tensnake.

‘I struggle to write a “normal” song – I just piece things together,’ says Lidell, good-naturedly. ‘But when someone sends me a beat that sounds good, it just flows.’

He still regards that energy as transformative. ‘When you move into a new place and it’s unfurnished and barren, you put on music and it fills the air and changes everything,’ he says. ‘You’re playing with shamanic forces; you can freak people out or you can really draw them in. For now, I’m home.’

Quincy must have patted his horns down

these Prince vs Q stories never get old. we can bank a few now.

great story.. jamie lidell was also a support act for prince at the werchter 2010 gig.

it was noticed back then that while prince piled praise on the other acts (larry & mint condition) he didn't once acknowledge jamie! he such a bitch

excited said:

great story.. jamie lidell was also a support act for prince at the werchter 2010 gig.

it was noticed back then that while prince piled praise on the other acts (larry & mint condition) he didn't once acknowledge jamie! he such a bitch

Maybe Prince does not dig this cat.....?

Robert3rd said:

Lidell indulges his love of Prince-style funk and the classic feel of 1980s producers Jam & Lewis on the bold grooves of his latest album

I don't understand these comparisons. He sounds like Sting.

I wish I could enjoy Jamie Lidell's music on its own, but every album or tour, his hype says "sounds like a mix of Prince and ________!!!!!!!!!!"

I am sure he is inspired by those people, but when his shit sounds more like "Mercedes Boy"... I feel like I was sold on the wrong product.

DUDE! Your shit sounds like Phil Collins and Pebbles! And you bleet like Sting!

[Edited 2/17/13 15:03pm]

Graycap23 said:

excited said:

great story.. jamie lidell was also a support act for prince at the werchter 2010 gig.

it was noticed back then that while prince piled praise on the other acts (larry & mint condition) he didn't once acknowledge jamie! he such a bitch

Maybe Prince does not dig this cat.....?

I know, right ? He don't have to dig everybody.

lawd! Prince always throwin some shade from time to time...

"please dont come to the concert!" somebody get yall cousin

Okay here is his new song. The only elements of Prince I recognize is... well.. him wearing a trenchcoat in the video.

Cinny said:

Robert3rd said:

Lidell indulges his love of Prince-style funk and the classic feel of 1980s producers Jam & Lewis on the bold grooves of his latest album

I don't understand these comparisons. He sounds like Sting.

I wish I could enjoy Jamie Lidell's music on its own, but every album or tour, his hype says "sounds like a mix of Prince and ________!!!!!!!!!!"

I am sure he is inspired by those people, but when his shit sounds more like "Mercedes Boy"... I feel like I was sold on the wrong product.

DUDE! Your shit sounds like Phil Collins and Pebbles! And you bleet like Sting!

[Edited 2/17/13 15:03pm]

Jamie Lidell is one of the baddest, most forward thinking fellas in modern music. Prince was probably intimidated.

You don't understand the Prince comparisons?

RENT'S DUE CUZZIN'!

Prince was a fool to dismiss Jamie Lidell, but then again, Jamie ain't a 21 year old girl or Larry Graham.

I don't hear "Prince-style funk".

I hear a biter trying to imitate, and failing.

I can tell you a lot of artists that sampled the beginning of "Raspberry Beret" but they wouldn't dare sell their own music/tours for over a dozen years saying SOUNDS LIKE PRINCE.

Don't you think that's pretty lame after 5 albums?

How about sings like Sting mixed with Huey Lewis?

WetDream said:

Jamie Lidell is one of the baddest, most forward thinking fellas in modern music.

My nut sack.

WetDream said:

Jamie ain't a 21 year old girl or Larry Graham.

No, he's a 40 year old who still doesn't have his own sound.

Cinny said:

jeffreymiller said:

Cinny said:

No, he's a 40 year old who still doesn't have his own sound.

Man, so much for having your own opinion on here. Now I remember why I only post every few years...

Buck up

he aight...

and he def is coping P's sound and style

Cinny said:

I wish I could enjoy Jamie Lidell's music on its own, but every album or tour, his hype says "sounds like a mix of Prince and ________!!!!!!!!!!"

I realized that my crazy rants boiled down to this statement. So, I decided today to listen to Jamie Lidell's new album (in stores today) on my own accord.

You know what? It fucking JAMS!!! And I can see how if you were trying to describe the style to someone, a person might say Prince-style funk, which I could hear much clearer on some LOUD speakers.

He is not sampling. These songs are original. His new album contains very tasteful sound choices in drum machines and synths, among other things.

His voice is nothing like Prince, but nothing like what I was saying earlier in the thread.

I think I finally appreciate Jamie Lidell's music as of today.

Sorry for being a rude cunt!!

Cinny

Cinny said:

I hear a biter trying to imitate, and failing.

This is wrong because he actually demonstrates what he knows about a lot of sounds, and adds on to it to make it NEW and HIS, which is not a failure in the least. Damn, what bug crawled up my butt that day??

Cinny said:

WetDream said:

Jamie ain't a 21 year old girl or Larry Graham.

No, he's a 40 year old who still doesn't have his own sound.

DELETE. Fuck I can be a hater when I want to be

Here's a pic from me bumping it in my Jeep.

[img:$uid]http://distilleryimage11.s3.amazonaws.com/efe64de07b0f11e28f2522000a9f148e_7.jpg[/img:$uid]

I the fuck out of Jamie Lidell.

Well I like it a lot so I don't care what anyone else says. I don't even hear the Prince comparisons apart from maybe half a second here and there that could have been from the Parade era. He's far more comparable to if Stevie Wonder had been produced by Jam & Lewis in the 80s. This is the album Justin Timberlake wishes he could make but just doesn't have the talent to come close to it.

There are some serious tunes on this album and I can't stop playing it.

[Edited 2/19/13 22:46pm]

Graycap23 said:

excited said:

great story.. jamie lidell was also a support act for prince at the werchter 2010 gig.

it was noticed back then that while prince piled praise on the other acts (larry & mint condition) he didn't once acknowledge jamie! he such a bitch

Maybe Prince does not dig this cat.....?

Or doesn't get him. His loss. Jamie is a bad mf'er. I've been postin' shit about Jamie Lidell on Prince boards forver.

johnart said:

i saw him opening for Prince twice...not my music...boring...

about the article: I think P was only joking and if he didnt liked him why would he let him open for him in 2010?? But hopefully never again....

smoothcriminal12 said:

That's quite the turnaround, Cinny.

I just had to ignore the hype, and listen w/o prej like George

Cinny said: