By Jason Barnard
James Warren, singer songwriter for The Korgis, talks about the group’s first album in 30 years, the brilliant, Kartoon World.
Hi James – we last caught up two years ago when you were preparing for The Korgis UK tour. It seems incredible to think it’s three decades have passed since the last Korgis album. Was it a natural thing to do after playing live?
Yes, it did feel natural after playing live. The Korgis touring band is such a joyful, positive bunch – especially my new songwriting partner antipodean multi-instrumentalist Mr. Al Steele – that celebrating our collaboration by creating a new collection of tunes seemed the next obvious step. But then, out-of-the-blue, lockdown happened. Not to be outdone though we neatly sidestepped the problem by initiating a remote writing routine.
Al would ping across a couple of promising ideas to my computer and I would add some new sections or developments and ping them back. And we even roped in an old Liverpool-based songwriting buddy of Al’s, Chris Hopkins, on two of the tracks, which ended up reflecting the three separate strands we’d individually and remotely contributed (“Magic Money Tree” + “This Is A New Low”). Anyway, come the easing of lockdown we realised we’d inadvertently devised an album’s worth of new material which we duly started to commit to tape (as we used to say) with the rest of the touring band doing their bits.
What was the writing and recording process for Kartoon World? Did it differ from your previous solo album Innocent Bystander?
Writing and recording Kartoon World was very much a collaborative project, while Innocent Bystander was essentially me locked away in a garage studio tinkering away ad infinitum and just bringing in a few outside people right towards the end of the process.
Who did you collaborate with on the LP?
The main man, indeed the quintessential component of the album was Al Steele. He came up with a whole bunch of terrific ideas, played lots of great guitar and tasteful keyboards, did the string arranging, engineering, you name it! I think I’ve gotten a bit lazy in my old age! My old mate Johnny Baker, who I’ve worked with on and off since the early 1980s, was the “second singer” with his usual excellent harmonies – and lead vocals on three songs (John also played rhythm guitar). Nigel Hart is the touring band’s main keyboard player and performed that rôle on the album. Paul Smith – great drummer that he is – laid down all the very solid and unedited rhythm tracks. And last but by no means least, our wonderful backing vocal trio, Born To Win, embellished every song with their dulcet warbling.
Do you have a clear idea of how you want to arrange a song before you go into the studio? Does the Korgis label affect that?
No, the arrangements evolve naturally during the recording process. Some tracks end up being pretty unrecognisable when compared to the initial raw idea
Would you describe Kartoon World as a concept album, if so what are its themes?
Yes, I think it is a bit of a concept album. This time it was Al who who mainly took care of the lyric-writing and I would say the songs are a kind of meditation on our collective lockdown experience – our new appreciation of the need for love and kindness alongside a disenchantment with the superficiality of all the old-school political posturing.
Some of the tracks are very positive like ‘Bringing Back the Spirit of Love’. Was that important for you given the turbulent times we’re in?
Definitely very important. It’s a 21st century update on “I need your loving like the sunshine..”
How have you and the group been in the pandemic?
Luckily everyone in the band seems to have escaped unscathed. We all tend to live pretty socially-distanced lifestyles anyway – none of the band tend to congregate with bunches of other people in the everyday scheme of things, so lockdown didn’t impinge too much.
One of the album tracks is ‘Back in the Eighties’ which was a very successful time for you. What are your overarching memories of that period?
On a personal level it was very exciting and life-changing. Suddenly we were a “chart act” after ten years of being decidedly “niche” and eccentric. It was tremendous fun, very confusing and decidedly scary all at the same time and I didn’t handle it very well. If only I knew then what I know now!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bk6YMy3JUnY
‘All Roads Lead to Rome’ has an early John Lennon solo feel. Do you remember writing this track?
Yes I do remember writing it; it was a co-write with John Baker actually. Oh and Al Steele wrote the words. I think John and I started off trying to write a kind of gospel, soul-flavoured thing but that short, rock’n’roll echo on my voice instantly gave it a Plastc Ono Band vibe.
What are your favourite tracks from Kartoon World and why?
I particularly like The Best Thing You Can Do Is To Love Someone. I said to Al, “we ought to try and come up with something that has a more emotional element for a change. We already have plenty of fun pop tracks”. Late that night he wrote the verse and lyrics and I added the middle 8 sequence. I think it works well, especially with the guest vocals of Seye Adelekan (bass player with The Gorillaz) and new French jazz artist Laura Prince.
What artists, past and present do you admire – as a songwriter and performer?
Surprise surprise: the fabulous Beatles of course! Plus various tracks by Paul Simon, David Bowie, Peter Gabriel, Tears For Fears, The 1975, Coldplay, Crowded House. Oh and my new current fave rave: London-based World Music act Kefaya – featuring Afghani singer Elaha Soroor who has a voice to die for.
What’s next, more shows?
Absolutely, more shows! And more albums!
The Korgis’ outstanding album Kartoon World is available to order directly from thekorgis.com
See also The Strange Brew Podcast episode with James Warren from 2017.
