Murray James, Singer

St Pancras International is far more modern and sleek than many of London’s Victorian stations. Something of the chicness of Paris has arrived on the high speed trains and spilled itself over the barriers in the line of French cafes and bars that form the concourse.

The little circle that gathered around the Station Sessions stage was growing. Crowds draw crowds as smartly dressed people pulling their wheelie suitcases behind them slow as they pass to see what might have caught everyone else’s attention. Cameras are lifted above the heads of the audience like periscopes and I could almost get a better view by looking at them than past the ears of the people standing in front of me. Everyone is trying to capture the moment so they put it in their pocket and walk away with it. You can see them hesitate, knowing that they have train to catch and yet captivated by the possibility they have chanced upon an exclusive show. Then there are the wanderers; people filling purposeless moments of waiting. The station space is a threshold and today it is Murray James who is singing on the doormat.

His soulful, gravelly voice seems to be older than boyish face under its mop of blonde hair. He claimed that this performance in St Pancras was the weirdest gig he had done, and I think I know what he means. There was a strange atmosphere amongst the peripheral members of the crowd: they were the people who had gathered almost by accident, caught between coming and going amongst the business of the evening.

 

I interviewed him before he disappears off around the world: that’s the dream he told me. He’d love to sing in South America, but whilst he is still with us in London this is what he had to say.

If you could time travel would you go forwards or backwards?

             Backwards. To the 60s I think, is that a stereotypical answer?

If you won the lottery what would you spend it on?

            Oh I’d give it away. Lottery money is cursed.

When you get home do you prefer a cup of tea or a beer?

            Beer. I don’t really drink tea. Maybe a coffee though?

You’re having friends round for supper; what do you cook.

            Oh christ, I’m not really a good cook. Pasta special.

When you meet someone for the first time, would you rather sit and have a drink, a meal or do something together?

            An activity, It’s good to share experiences.

If you were a character from a book or a film (or Harry Potter) who would you be?

            The kid from ‘Back to the Future’, he seems cool. Marty McFly

What was the last film you watched?

            ‘Midnight in Paris’, and it was brilliant.

If you could bring something back in to fashion what would it be?

            The shell suit.

What super power would you have?

            Teleportation. Is that a superpower? Yeah.

What makes you angry?

            Lack of loo roll.

If you could tell everyone in London one thing, one message, what would it be?

            Start talking to each other.