This is my interview with Jamie Scott of Graffiti6 at his show on April 28th, 2012 in Cleveland, OH. Jamie is an incredibly nice man and has created one of my favorite albums of the year, Colours, which is available now. He is also about to embark on a headling leg of his tour across the U.S. this summer. I highly reccomend him if he is headed to a city near you! Here are links to his videos for “Free”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FObmcZnoKM and “Stare Into the Sun”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLlQ5YunTD0.

CHECK OUT THIS INTERVIEW ON OUR NEW SITE: http://www.jbrinlinginterviews.com/

First off, how are you?

Doing good man.

 

Are you enjoying this tour?

Yeah, it’s f**king great man. The crowds have been so good.

 

When you prepare to go on tour, what is the one none instrument item that you can’t leave without?

Oh s**t. I’ve got this big jacket. I’m not a big fan of coats but I have this one that I love the fit of so it comes everywhere with me.

 

What’s your must have food on tour?

Sushi. I love sushi.

 

What’s your guilty pleasure?

The USA Channel.

Me: So Monk and NCIS?

All of that man.

Me: Do you have a favorite on the channel?

Probably Law & Order.

Me: The original, SVU, or Criminal Intent?

The regular…actually no I love SVU.

 

Do you have any advice for aspiring musicians?

I guess my advice would be to just keep going. I was first signed about ten years ago and this is really my third label and this is really the label that feels most right and I never felt like I could say that on any other label. Even in the period before you get a deal, just keep going especially if you believe in what you do. Keep doing it and stay true to yourself. Never let anyone change you and just do what you want.

 

If you could give yourself advice 5 years ago, what would you say?

Exactly the same (laughs). I really would have told myself to not take as many influences and opinions on because everyone will have a different one. At the end of the day, it comes back to you.

 

How does it feel to be a VH1 “You Outta Know” Artist?

I love it man. It’s great. They’ve been amazing to us and a lot of people have been great to us. It’s just been awesome.

 

Your songs have been featured all over TV, is it still strange to hear yourself?

Yeah, it’s crazy in the just the way we’ve been received over here, it’s just amazing. It’s just been such an amazing ride between coming to America to play music for the first time and no having fans from coast to coast coming to see us, it’s just phenomenal. I love it.

 

You are also quite the accomplished writer and you’ve written for several artists, are there any in particular that you really enjoyed or any that really tried to collaborate with you?

Most recently, I did a lot of the One Direction stuff and that was really enjoyable because the guys are just so funny and very energetic. I think when I worked with them on this record, they were 16 or 17 and I’m 28 now so it just reminded me of being young again. They’re very funny and just great to be around. I’ve done all sorts of things but that was recently one of my favorite things I’ve been doing.

 

Do you think you played a good part in their success?

Well there weren’t many writers on the record and the record was done pretty well so I’d like to think so (laughs).

 

What was relocating from London to L.A. like for you?

It was really cool. I had been looking to move to America for a long time and it was something that I’ve always wanted to do. So to come over with my music just feels great, weather’s nice and it puts you in a great mood. It was just an inspiring thing really surrounding the move and now being here, to have Graffiti6 received well. All of it has just made me feel really good and I think to be in that state of mind helps someone make great music, feeling positive at least.

 

When was the first time you heard one of your songs on the radio and what was that feeling like?

It was incredible. I remember when I was working with some songwriters when I was 19 and hadn’t had any songs come out yet. Then the song I wrote was being played on radio and then in cars and I just remember answering so many questions like ‘so what does it feel like?’ I was just so mesmerized by it, the feeling of what that must be like and then the first time you have it, it’s like ‘oh…okay.’ (Laughs) It’s really weird how you get in the car and hear yourself, it’s not anti-climactic, it’s an amazing feeling but it’s just this weird thing like ‘wow, alright wicked,’ and then you just move on. It’s funny.

 

What bands and artists have influenced you most?

Personally, bands like Free, modern day people would have to be Bon Iver, bands like Band of Horses, Fleet Foxes, Alabama Shakes’ stuff is great, love bands like The Black Keys, but I listen to a lot of old folk music like Joni Mitchell, Carole King, James Taylor, Crosby, Stills, and Nash, Neil Young. That’s the music I grew up on.

 

If you could co-write with anyone, who would it be and why?

Bob Dylan, he’s my ultimate hero in writing.

 

What concert have you been to that changed your life?

Well the first real concert I went to really instilled a love for melody and harmonies and that was The Everly Brothers.

 

Do you have a favorite song to play live?

“Free,” it just has this great feel to it and I love it man.

 

Favorite place to play?

I don’t really have one. America. Anywhere. It’s just been so crazy and we can’t really explain it and every where has been the same, in a good way. This place as a whole has just been so good to us.

 

Who is your favorite band or artist that you’ve toured or played with?

Alicia Keys probably.

 

What’s your greatest memory as a band so far?

Standing in front of 50,000 people at Pink Pop Festival in Holland on the main stage, that was incredible.

 

What are your plans for future?

Just keep going, keep touring, promoting the record.