World Class: Jim Noir

Tonight Jim Noir is playing a one off gig at the academy in Islington ahead of his tour with Shack in May; a psychedelic pop band well suited to Jim Noir’s own take on 60’s sunshine pop. A rather bashful Jim, in trademark pinstriped suit, sits down with Gigwise for a rollie and a chat about his current state of affairs.

‘Eany Meany’ has just been picked up by Adidas for use on an advert linked to The World Cup. Rather than ecstatic over the fortuitous timing and the exposure this will get him, Jim seems a little underwhelmed- is this because you didn’t see the song representing that sort of image? “No, not really- it was a bit of a surprise. I’m just hoping it doesn’t turn me into a Flat Eric.” Yes the old Babylon Zoo curse, tricky- just don’t let it go to your head like Jasman “(chuckles) No, I’ll try to remain grounded.” 
Jim writes all of the music and records alone so playing with a backing band, The Beep Seals, on the upcoming tour must be strange? “It’s brilliant, I love it. They’re the only band I’ll ever play with- they’re the best. I’ve known them for a while and I was helping them record their stuff and then it was getting a bit late for me and they were up for it.” So he doesn’t suffer from the musical whizz-kid, only child mentality; he doesn’t need to have all the attention “No I love it, I always wanted to be in a band, never wanted to be solo that’s just the way it worked out.”

Jim’s press office have issued an hilarious personal mythology charting his history from the beginning at a holiday camp karaoke competition doing the Grease Megamix through to the heights of suburban success and beyond “I’m going to open a new restaurant. It’s going to be the world’s first that only sells Weetos”. Is this surreal bowler-hatted figure a persona created for the music? “Not really, I just turn into that when I’m on stage. I’m actually not quite like that- I’m a bit more shy and of course I’m more drunk on stage which helps.”  It’s a very British humour “Yeah well most of my heroes are, like, Peter Cook and Viv Stanshall, the oddballs, but I don’t try to craft it, it just happens.”

You have said that your lyrics are often overheard snippets, strange phrases that stick in your head? “Well, probably. I just make stuff up on the spot, but it must have got there somehow, something must be buried beneath. It’s all ad-libbed and spontaneous- I don’t write anything down or try and create something with a definite idea. I like the idea to come to me months after I’ve written it so that I can go ‘Wow, that’s what it means!’ I don’t think I’ve ever thought of anything and knew what it meant at the time, even the music.” That’s an interesting way to go through life. “Well that’s as pure as you can make art, I reckon because you aren’t contriving it. It’s just a vomit of… crap… I know, so romantic. I am a poet.”