James' Tim Booth recalls rescuing producer Jacknife Lee's family from a rattlesnake
In the Topanga Canyon
To celebrate the release of James’ incredible sixteenth studio album ‘All the Colours of You’ today (4th June), singer Tim Booth joined Absolute Radio’s Danielle Perry from the comfort of his bedroom in Los Angeles for a chat.
The follow-up to 2018’s ‘Living in Extraordinary Times’, ‘All the Colours of You’ has been widely lauded by critics for its ambitious and anthemic songs, cinematic production from Jacknife Lee and its potent subject matter.
Appearing on Live Music Thursday with Danielle Perry, Tim Booth said James are immensely proud of ‘All the Colours of You’.
Tim enthused to Danielle: “We think we've made one of the best records we've ever made - easily, actually. And we're thrilled. We've been releasing it drip by drip to tease and to excite and to show a new sound. It's wonderful."
When asked what it was like to work with esteemed producer Jacknife Lee (U2, The Killers, Snow Patrol), Tim said it was “wonderful” and revealed that he unknowingly saved Jacknife’s family from a rattlesnake.
“We were going to make another record with Charlie Andrew who does Alt-J and Covid wouldn't allow it,” Tim explained.
“On a list of producers with Jacknife (Lee), and he lived two miles from me in Topanga Canyon in Los Angeles, which is this wild canyon with no streetlights and windy hills. I went to visit him, and we got on instantly brilliantly. He's really sharp, playful, creative and funny.”
Tim continued: “I left his house at 8.30 driving back to the winding canyon, pitch black roads and two women flagged me down. I pulled over and they said ‘there's rattlesnake on the road and we can’t get past it, and we have a dog with us and we’re scared for the dog. And I said, ‘jump in’ and I drove a mile back up the canyon and they Jacknife’s wife and daughter. I think we looked at each other and went, ‘Okay!’ It was a joy working with him.”
Elsewhere during the chat, Danielle asked Tim if he had missed being on the road over the past 15 months.
“No, it's been about right,” Tim said. “We needed time out, I think. The only thing I'm still a bit scared of is, I didn't maintain my voice. You know you can't sing like you sing when you sing live, so I'm reclaiming my voice at the moment. I have a wide range for octaves but that doesn't mean they're very good octaves, but I have four octaves."
“My voice is naturally dropping as I passed my teenage years so I should have worked a little harder at maintaining my voice and now I’m having to catch up.”
Commenting on how he catches up, Tim added: “I use the Chinese herbs that all the Chinese opera singers use, and that really helps. I have a flask of that onstage. They’re these strange nuts that you put in boiling water, and they turn it into what looks like alien spawn tadpoles. They’re really strange looking - anyone who looks at what I'm drinking is really freaked out. But it coats the throat and protects it from screaming and I like screaming sometimes in a few songs.
“We're really looking forward to these first shows back because I think they're going to be quite explosive for people, and also negotiating the fear of like, ‘oh, people - people without masks.’ You can feel that everywhere (but) we're really looking forward to it now.”
Watch James perform live for Absolute Radio:
Alongside chatting to Danielle, James performed live for Absolute Radio. Watch them perform new songs ‘All The Colours of You’, ‘Beautiful Beaches’ and ‘Getting Myself Into’ together with classic tracks ‘Say Something’ and ‘Tomorrow’:
James play a series of shows throughout the summer before ending 2021 with a UK arena tour with Happy Mondays. Tickets are on sale from Absolute Radio Tickets now.
See James and Happy Mondays at the following shows:
NOVEMBER 2021
Leeds First Direct Arena – Thu 25th
Birmingham Utilita Arena – Fri 26th
Cardiff Motorpoint Arena – Sun 28th
Glasgow The SSE Hydro – Tue 30th
DECEMBER 2021
Dublin 3Arena – Wed 1st
Manchester AO Arena – Fri 3rd
London The SSE Arena, Wembley – Sat 4th
Buy James and Happy Mondays tickets