Young upstart George Ezra is ready to conquer this side of the pond and with recent tour mates he's well on his way. The new album Wanted on Voyage has spawned an iTunes Single of the Week, with "Budapest" hitting nearly 86 million streams. His sound has crossed borders, taking on both Alternative and Adult Top 40 charts. In his native United Kingdom, the album has spent more than six months in the Top Ten.
Windy City Times caught up to Ezra on the road while touring as an opening act for crooner Sam Smith. Ezra has a voice and maturity of someone twice his age, comparable to a British Johnny Cash regarding live performance, combined with Woody Guthrie's songwriting.
Windy City Times: Hi, George. Start off with your background. You are from Bristol?
George Ezra: No; I moved to Bristol when I was 18. I grew up in a little town called Hertford outside of London. I moved to Bristol to study and I was meant to do a three-year course. I just did a year and dropped out.
WCT: Did you study music?
George Ezra: Yes.
WCT: So you always wanted to be a musician?
George Ezra: I think I was just wasting time. I think I was waiting for someone to tell me to get a real job. I didn't think I could plan a future for working in music because there are so many things you have to rely on, one of which being luck.
WCT: When did you know you could sing?
George Ezra: I knew from the age of 15, but lots of people can sing. I guess the strangest thing is nobody in my family has ever done anything like this. There was no advice when it all started. There was no list of things to do to make it happen.
WCT: Your parents were teachers so were you pushed to do well in school?
George Ezra: I wasn't academic and they were really good with that. They just wanted me to put my all into what I love doing in life whatever that is. I owe them the world for that.
WCT: If you had a different occupation, what would it be?
George Ezra: I always saw myself as a teacher. I could have done that and liked the idea of doing it. I generally had no idea and I don't think kids should. I have friends that are 20 years old and have no idea what to do with their life. I just think they should go out and meet some people to figure what to do.
WCT: What led up to you opening for Sam Smith?
George Ezra: When I moved to Bristol is when I knew that I needed to get writing and gigging if I wanted something to happen. I had just started playing gigs a month when I met my manager. We waited a year before we contacted labels about anything. The great thing was that the only label I had fallen in love with was the one that offered me a deal. I didn't have to wait around for any other offers, I knew I wanted to be with them.
One thing they did that was great is give me a year of space. They basically said, "Fuck off and improve." Instead of the nature of how things move these days they allowed me to do open mics, support people and write whatever came into my head. That way I could learn. I was very fortunate.
WCT: You wrote all of the songs on the album?
George Ezra: I wrote it with a friend of mine named Joel Pott. I learned guitar just so I could sing songs. I could never be someone's guitarist but I love it.
WCT: How were you paired with Sam Smith in the first place?
George Ezra: Me and Sam did a gig together about three years ago in the back of a pub in London for free. It was also with James Bay who is another lad who is coming up in England. We all played together. James just won the Critics' Choice Award at the Brit Awards.
We would see each other at festivals and it was put forward to me to support Sam and I said, "Fuck yeah!"
He is lovely. Bear in mind how quickly this has happened. I have always said that he's got a brilliant voice. I think he's a talent and amazing but for it to have happened this quick is a shock to me. It's huge!
He still comes in and is so nice. I am not saying people should change but it is nice to see that he hasn't.
WCT: Being out of the closet has not affected his career at all.
George Ezra: I know, which is a beautiful thing. I think it is something that people should get used to that fact. I hope as I grow older that it will become less and less a thing. I don't think it should be a thing at all.
WCT: It is different with your generation.
George Ezra: Yes, of course, but I hope it is not something we have to even talk about. That would be the ideal thing.
WCT: How about Ian McKellen in your video for "Listen to the Man?"
George Ezra: Being gay certainly hasn't affected his career either, has it? [Laughs] He was great. Rob Brandon has now directed four or five of my videos. When I do a video I just give the label one little sentence and that is my pitch. My pitch for "Listen to the Man" was I don't want to be singing this song in the video. Rob called me from New York and asked how I felt about having Ian McKellen in the video. I told him to go for it. He was lovely. He is the nicest. There is something in his eye...
WCT: I saw you covered "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun." Are you a big Cyndi Lauper fan?
George Ezra: I wouldn't say so much a fan, but that tune is great. It was good fun to do. The good thing about the Live Lounge is that they opened it up. Normally you have to perform something that has been play listed that month, where this time it was any hit in forty years. My management wasn't sure about it but we did it and did it well.
WCT: How has the song "Budapest" changed your life?
George Ezra: I guess if I ever get on a stage at any point in my life now I am going to have to play that song. One of my best friends from home asked if I was sick of playing "Budapest" yet. I told him no and he said, "I'm sick of hearing it!" That is what my friends are like.
WCT: They keep you down to earth.
George Ezra: Yes, but I told him if I worked in a restaurant I would have to make more than five margaritas a day. "Budapest" is my song and I might have to sing it more than five times a day somedays but life could be worse.
WCT: We should ask Cyndi Lauper if she is sick of singing her "Girls" song. You tweeted about being "chuffed." What does that mean?
George Ezra: "Chuffed" is British for being happy for something, and it is a positive thing. "I am chuffed to meet you."
WCT: Who would you want to open for you?
George Ezra: I always try to pick my own mostly. There is a guy called Raleigh Ritchie, who will be supporting me on the UK tour, which is great. I love him.
Rae Morris was the first person who ever took me out on tour. I supported her and on the last European tour I invited her back out to support me. It is nice to do. I live with the people while on tour so it is nice to have some input.
WCT: Hozier is the next artist that you open for. There is all of this soulful music coming from Europe.
George Ezra: I know, and I feel about four years ago pop music got a bit boring. It was formulated. Now it feels like there is some real creative stuff going on. The fact we come over here is huge. I love it.
Ezra and Hozier head back to Chicago Wed., Feb. 25, at the Riviera Theatre, 4746 N. Racine Ave., at 7:30 p.m.
"Listen to the Man" at www.georgeezra.com .
