Will Young: Back With A Bang - Scandinavian Pop & A Joyous Return

Will Young is back with his ninth studio album, *Light It Up*, his first for BMG and his first album of original material in five years. The album, released on 9 August, sees Young embracing a new sound, collaborating with Swedish production duo PhD and reuniting with familiar faces like Andy Cato of Groove Armada and Jim and Mima Elliot, who worked on his 2011 album *Echoes*. The title track was co-written with rising UK songwriter Tom King.

Young's career boasts an impressive track record, including 10 UK Top 10 albums (including four chart-toppers) and 11 Top 10 singles (four of which reached the top spot). He's also been a constant presence on the charts in recent years, with his 2021 covers album *Crying On The Bathroom Floor

reaching number three and his *20 Years – The Greatest Hits* peaking at number six the following year.

The singer is currently preparing for a major tour, kicking off on 3 September, featuring intimate venues and acoustic performances. The *Light It Up Tour*, promoted by AEG Presents, promises an evening of hits, new songs, stories and audience interaction.

Music Week caught up with Young to discuss his evolving career, his journey through middle age, and his newfound embrace of Scandinavian production for his new music.

"I would say it's joyous pop actually," Young said of his new album. "I was writing quite a psychedelic, folk album, which I'm sure no one would have listened to, but then I got in touch with PhD. I'd never really worked with people from Denmark or Sweden."

He explained that early in his career, he consciously avoided the Scandinavian pop sound, preferring to work with UK producers. "I thought at the time, I’m just going to be shoved around by these people [top producers], and I won't have a career in two years." He eventually worked with the likes of Stephen Lipson, known for his work with the Art Of Noise and Annie Lennox, and Robin Thicke, before Thicke's global breakthrough.

"That sound was huge when you were first around, though, wasn’t it?" Music Week asked.

"Yeah, massive. I just didn't want to be in that realm then, and I didn't feel like it would work – and I think I made the right decision actually. But [for this album] I thought, ‘Oh my god, Scandinavian pop, of course, now I can do it – it is the most amazing pop music.’ It’s been 22 years and so that's what changed. Some of it I wrote, some of it I didn't, I just thought this is brilliant. So that's how it came about. Because I don't mind if I don't write all the songs or not – other people do [mind that], I don't. So I enjoyed writing it, when I did write the tunes, and I enjoyed A&Ring my own record – I mean, I started at a publisher, I used to work for Sony publishing. I produced my own record this time, I really enjoyed that, I hadn't really done much of that before."

Young also shared insights into his approach to production, admitting that he has gained more confidence in recent years. "Maybe I finally got some confidence," he laughed. "But I was like, well, this is what we should do with this, and we should do this with this."

He reflected on the significance of his late-career embrace of the Scandinavian sound, acknowledging a sense of self-celebration. "You know what, maybe it does a little bit, actually. I'll take that, I quite like that. But not in a conceited way, more like a self-celebration. I think there's something really great about being older. You just don’t really give a shit, do you? I don't really take it that seriously, if I'm honest, and I just really enjoy it. I've finally worked out how to enjoy it. I take the craft seriously but I know I'm not saving lives. I know what I'm really good at, and I really believe in it. I just want to have fun and enjoy it."

Looking back on his career, he discussed his initial foray into the music industry through Pop Idol, acknowledging the complexities of reality talent shows. "It was difficult, I was just this innocent 22-year-old with a yearning to sing and I didn’t feel like I had a place in the industry. But at the same time, I also knew how very lucky I was. With those shows, they are what they are and if you’re good, you’ll stick around. My time on Pop Idol was so joyous; it was so naive and no one knew they were going to make any money. But I think there’s a deeper conversation to be had in terms of the duty of care these shows have. The powers that be have this responsibility for what has happened within TV talent shows; I think there’s a much bigger story to tell there."

The interview concluded with reflections on his relationship with manager Peter Loraine, who recently won the Strat award at the Music Week Awards, and a reassurance that he's not planning to retire from music anytime soon.

"I would say fractious at best [laughs] – fractious, bitter, embittered, that man is calculating. No, I think it's a good relationship," Young said of their dynamic. He explained that their shared experiences and a deeper understanding of each other's journeys have strengthened their bond.

"Someone asked me that, and I didn't have any projects, I was not sure what I wanted to do musically," Young said when asked about his previous suggestion that he might retire by the age of 50. "So at the time I said it, I think I actually genuinely did [believe it] because I couldn't really envisage being in my fifties and being a pop star. But now I sort of feel like, okay, I think you can do it. You just have to sort of embrace your age, I think I've worked it out. So I've got about four different musical projects that I'd like to do. Considering I'm 45, that will probably take it past 50. At this age you forget, don't you? I thought I was 44 the other day. I think I'm 45. So it's a long-winded way of saying, no, I don't think I will retire from music."