Richard Fleeshman talks about life as a pop star

25 June 2008

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Ever since you won celebrity stars in their eyes in 2003 and soapstar superstar in 2006, it’s been obvious that you have a cracking voice, but why has it taken you so long to release ‘Back here?’

Just because I never wanted to rush it, I wanted to make sure everything was right and take my time.

The single was written with Steve Robson, who has worked with Take That and James Morrison, How did it feel to be working with him and how did it come about?

Just through me writing with a lot of different people and Steve was just one of a few people I was writing regularly with and we just came up with a load of really nice tracks which included the new single but he’s an incredibly talented writer so it was really great to work with him.

The single is taken from your new album ‘Neon,’ how would you describe the album?

It’s quite eclectic and also quite rocky but also quite mellow at times as well. I think it’s very difficult to judge your own stuff because you’re so close to it.

What was the inspiration behind the record?

It came from everywhere really, I was writing stuff all the time and I didn’t limit myself to which direction I was going to go, I just wrote constantly and if I found something I liked I went with it.

The album is quite naive in places but I think that’s nice too, I wrote a lot of the stuff quite a long time ago and whenever you do that it’s like seeing a photograph of yourself from a couple of years ago and there’s elements of it you like and elements of it you cringe at so its quite funny when you look back at things you did a while ago and you have mixed feelings as it’s quite personal to you.

Which is your favourite song?

I honestly don’t know, when I’m playing them live I feel different things about them, some nights I love one and some nights I love another so I couldn’t really pick a favourite as it just depends on how I’m feeling.

How did you find the writing process?

Great, I am constantly writing and I am just about to go on tour so I can do some of my new stuff so it will be fun to try that out. It’s always good to constantly write and create new stuff and get the chance to play it as well.

You’re going to be the opening act for Elton John on his summer arena and stadium tours, how did that happen and how do you feel about playing with such a musical legend?

I have got a week of touring with Elton John coming up, and it feels amazing to be able to work with him, he’s obviously a legend and such an icon and I’m a massive fan of his and have been for a long time so it’s just a brilliant opportunity for me.

I am very grateful to him and I can’t wait, I’m just going to fully enjoy it, obviously it’s pretty daunting but I am really looking forward to it. It came out of the blue, I got the phone call and I just couldn’t believe it.

If you could work with anyone, alive or dead, who would it be?

Stevie Ray Vaughan or Jimmy Hendrix on the guitar and maybe John Mayer doing some vocals and Bob Dylan writing the songs. A whole collaboration with everyone!

Are you worried about being able to break away form the stigma of being an actor-turned-singer? We see so many soap stars trying to become pop stars and only a handful enjoy success, are you worried about which way it could go?

No because I’m not an actor-turned-singer I think I’m still very much an actor, I’m still doing lots of different things. I’m not turning my back on acting by any means, I am just embracing music which is what I’ve always wanted to do.

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