Olly Murs: Essex troublemaker
Everyone’s favourite Essex boy reveals his wedding plans with fiancée Amelia Tank, the reason he gave up drinking and why his latest album is the best of his career
It was in 2009 that Olly Murs’ infectious personality won him legions of fans on The X Factor. Despite not winning the show (he came a close second to Joe McElderry) he shot to fame and enjoyed a string of chart-topping albums and hit singles, including Heart Skips a Beat, Troublemaker, Dance With Me Tonight and Dear Darlin'.
Next came his TV career, with gigs on The Xtra Factor, The Voice UK and more recently Starstruck, ITV’s modern take on Stars in Their Eyes. But it seems music is in his blood, and after four long years, fans have been treated to a new album, Marry Me, launched with the single Die of a Broken Heart. The best bit? He’s on a UK-wide tour in 2023, including a date at Colchester Castle Park this summer.
It’s good to have you back! It’s such an exciting and energetic new album; a real blast. Was there a master plan with Marry Me?
Everything you’ve just said was the masterplan! We’ve got the right blend and the right songs. And yeah, it’s been a blast. I’ve really enjoyed the process of it. And now we’re at this point, which is the most exciting or the most nerve-racking point. Will people love it? Will people listen to it? Will people share it with their friends?
Die of a Broken Heart sounds a little bit like Sting after the Police. Did you have that in mind when you made that song?
Yeah, the song reminded me of Sting and Gotye’s Somebody That I Used to Know. It had some really lovely moments in it. And I was like, ‘Yeah, you know what? That’s such a cool vibe’. So that song definitely inspired what we did after that. That was the first song I recorded and then once I got to know (songwriters) David Stewart and Jess Agombar, I was then like, ‘Right, let’s finish the album.’
It’s been four years since your last album – did you feel your energy level drop in between?
Not even that. I just wasn’t happy in my life at the time, so I wasn’t really bothered about music. Sometimes you need to come away from something that you love and learn to love it again. As soon as I sang the first song, I was like, ‘Oh yeah, I’m back now. This is it; I’m feeling good.’ David and Jess brought that out in me.
So, happiness in your work and music and happiness in the rest of your life goes hand-in-hand?
It does. And falling in love with Amelia had such a positive impact on my life. Just
feeling happiness and feeling like there’s someone there for you at the end of the day. Feeling that love from someone is amazing and I’m very thankful and very happy to have met her. She’s brilliant. I just love her so much.
Was it a conscious decision to make this a very personal album, even to the point of calling it Marry Me?
Yeah, after I proposed, Marry Me felt like the perfect thing to call the album because it’s a big part of our lives – there's so much to talk about, so much going on. And it’s bold; it’s a statement and it’s got people talking about it. So, for me it was a great title and it works. I’m really, really happy that we called it that.
How are the wedding plans coming along?
Wedding plans are in full flow! God knows what we’re going to do or where it’s going to go, but we’re getting there. It’s stressful. Amelia told me the other day, ‘I never planned my wedding.’ You know, most people have already planned what their wedding is going to be like. But she is on it. We’re getting there and we’re working together as a team.
But you’re leaving most of the organising to her?
Yeah, all I am doing is signing cheques. I’m the one who is paying for it, that’s all I’m doing.
You’ve always had this image of someone with boyish charm, and now you’re settling down. Is this a big leap for you into adulthood?
I think it’s the next stage of my life. I was one of the lads, a bit of a boy-next-door. I never quite found the love of my life and I was a bit lost. And now I’ve come full circle. I’m a grown up and I’ve got a dog, we’re getting married and hopefully I’ll be a dad at some point. Who knows what the future holds? But right now, everything’s great.
The song I Found Her is such a happy song; you sing ‘the world is falling down around us.’ When you and Amelia met, did you know instantly that you were a match?
I think if you’re in love and you’re happy and life’s great, there’ll be a moment when you think, ‘Even if the world was falling around us right now, I found you. And whatever happens now, I would be happy dying by your side.’ That’s what I Found Her is about – that pure joy that I’ve found this person. And the actual song is very upbeat. It’s a huge, big song; it hits you right in the chest. As soon as it starts it’s like – bam! And then it takes on a journey.
The entire album, except maybe the last song, is very upbeat. Was it a conscious choice not to go for ballads?
Not really. I just think every artist is different, and we wrote this album wanting to do positive pop records that have good melodies, good production and fun elements to them. Don’t get me wrong, we would love to have done a few ballads or a few sad songs, but that’s not how I feel right now. I just feel in a good place, and since I started my music has been like that – Heart Skips a Beat, Dance With Me Tonight, Troublemaker. Dear Darlin' is one of the saddest songs, but they’re all positive in a different way.
So, are you the perfect company if someone needs cheering up?
Yeah, call me. I’ll cheer you up. I’ll make you feel positive and make you feel good about yourself. You’d be ready to rumble after you spoke to me!
On the other hand, if you were feeling melancholic, what would you do to cheer yourself up?
I’d get out, take the dog for a walk, get some fresh air, go to the gym. I listen to my favourite music. With depression or feeling low or feeling down about yourself, you’ve got to try to get yourself out of that hole quickly and find the good things that make you smile, make you happy. For me, seeing my partner or my dog or speaking to friends or going out shopping or just doing something for myself is important.
Did you and Amelia get together before the dog came along?
Yes. We got together, fell in love and then we decided to get our dog, Missy. She came into our life when we were ready to take the next step in our relationship. Missy is Japanese. She’s like a fox. She’s a great dog.
The song I Hate You When You’re Drunk – who is that about?
I’ve been sober for 10 months; I haven’t drunk a drop of alcohol. It’s just something that I challenged myself to do as a New Year’s resolution. And I’m nearly at the end of a year already. But you notice a lot of your friends, your partner, loads of people around you and you're like, ‘Oh my god, I hate you all when you’re drunk.’ Some of you are telling me the same story three or four times, some of you are doing things and I’m like, ‘Shut up, go away.’ It’s about that moment when you think, ‘I still love you, you’re still my mates, I still think you’re brilliant – but God, you’re annoying when you’re drunk!’
What made you give up?
I just felt like I wanted to live a better life, be clean, be healthy. Alcohol is something that I have a love/hate relationship with. I get on with it, but as I’ve got older, it’s just caused more trouble than it should have done. I’m just happy without it really.
You’re such a busy man with a new album, the tour, The Voice UK, etc. Do you still enjoy it all?
Life’s good. I’ve just filmed a new series of Starstruck. Shania Twain was on the show; it was amazing to work with her. It’s all good at the moment. I’ve got loads of work, and I’m feeling positive. I’m presenting TV shows, coaching on TV shows and I’m also singing on TV shows. So… thank you!
Olly will be performing at Colchester Castle Park on Sunday 27 August 2023. Tickets available at colchester-events.co.uk
ollymurs.com
