We previously interviewed Bradley Simpson as part of The Vamps, but this year he’s going it alone with a solo album, an extensive tour and a new more edgy look – so we thought we catch up with the lovely Brummie on his home turf
The first thing to say is the music is a bit of a departure from The Vamps sound and feels very ‘bandy’ – Bradley’s word not ours, but we know what he means. New album, The Panic Years has a rocky edge recorded live with a great band and particularly strong drums. Bradley says: “They’re honest songs. Writing this album was like a look back over the last 10 or 11 years and all the ups and downs. Hopefully people listening can relate to that.”
New single Always Like This features big drums and gritty guitars while the lyrics chart the angst of uncertainty in a relationship. The track was produced by Bradley’s main collaborators, the Grammy winner BOOTS (Run the Jewels) and Andrew Wells.
NEW AUDIENCE
Testing the new material out at a handful of festivals last summer was nerve-wracking but successful and appealed to new fans as well as The Vamps faithful. Bradley says: “I’m proud of it and I’ve now a huge appreciation for the work of solo artists.” Bradley says the solo journey has been a series of firsts. “I’ve enjoyed the process in lots of way and in others it has been challenging. You need to work out exactly what it is you want. It’s been interesting to think about what I want to sound like.”
While Bradley’s relishing the new, he misses his old band mates too. “They’re my best mates. We’ve been together for 12 years so it’s a bit different. I’m used to being at gigs and looking left or right and seeing certain people. That’s strange, but we meet up all the time.”
AMERICANA VIBE
As well as the sound, Bradley’s style feels a bit more edgy too with a distinct Americana vibe which he says is inspired by stars like James Dean and Bruce Springsteen – lots of denim and leather. This is quite a big change as Bradley says in the early days of the band, he didn’t consider his style at all. He recalls: “I look back and I’m wearing the skinniest of jeans with stripy socks and Doc Martins! Maybe it was cool at the time.”
Bradley comes back to Birmingham as much as he can. “I’ve done a lot of touring and I wrote the album in America. It’s really nice to come back home and chill out, turn the phone off and see friends and family – a bit of normality.” His commitment to Birmingham and his charitable nature led Bradley to become an ambassador at Birmingham Children’s Hospital (BCH).
He explains: “I had issues with my ears when I was younger and while I wasn’t treated at BCH, the doctors and nurses were incredible.” He adds: “It’s scary as a young kid to be in that environment and music can make a difference. I came up with the band and did a gig in the foyer. The kids came off the wards to listen and because of the way the foyer is positioned, lots of children who couldn’t leave their wards were able to watch too.” Bradley’s old baby grand piano now sits in the foyer which he sanded down then met some of the patients who decorated it with their hand prints. He always asks the staff if anyone plays it which the kids do regularly apparently.
Bradley also visits the hospital and meets the children periodically. He says: “It’s really tough going in but I’m always surprised. The kids are smiling. The staff keep them upbeat – they’re super-heroes. I just want to help where I can.” Bradley recently visited the hospital with the charity Singing Medicine who we’ve previously featured in the magazine and who believe in the healing properties of music and the power it has to lift the spirits. Bradley was taken aback with the positive reaction of the kids – some of them non-verbal whose joy was obvious.
BITTER SWEET
When we interviewed Bradley pre-Covid he was so excited about the gin bar he’d launched in Sutton Coldfield with his parents and his sister which they called Simpsons. Sadly, they’ve now closed the business, but Bradley says it’s bitter-sweet. He says: “We had eight amazing years, but it was the right time to say bye. Covid was a struggle for hospitality and things never really got back to normal. My parents can relax now and walk the dog!” Bradley would encourage everyone to support the city’s independents. “Not just bars and coffee shops, but so many small music venues have had to close thanks to Covid. We need them.”
Bradley will probably be in Australia when you read this, and he’s determined to see more than the inside of a hotel room this time around. He says: “We never really saw any of the amazing places we travelled to with the band. I remember going to South America and when I came home a friend asked me what Brazil was like, and I had no idea. This time round I’m taking time to see more.”