Music
Interview
Interview: Sigala looks towards his summer shows
As well as festival appearances, the Norwich based DJ and producer joins Craig David this summer.
Releasing his debut album, Brighter Days, and selling out his subsequent UK tour last year, Sigala’s rise to fame has been nothing short of incredible. This summer, the man himself is hitting some of the UK’s best outdoor venues alongside Craig David, Becky Hill and Nathan Dawe, as well as taking to a handful of festivals.
We caught up with Sigala ahead of his busy summer to chat about supporting Craig David, who he loved working with on his debut album, and who his guilty pleasure is.
You’re supporting Craig David on his outdoor shows in May/June. What’s the dynamic like between you two and how was it working with him on Ain’t Giving Up in 2016?
We have been good friends for a while and had been working together a lot even before we wrote Ain’t Giving Up. It’s just great to be on stage with the guy, he is such an incredible performer and such a talent in the studio as well. I kept bumping into him in random places whilst I was on tour around the world as well which was odd, but I can’t wait until these shows.
What can fans expect from your support sets on these dates?
I am going to be taking a full band with me, so the crowd will get the full Sigala live experience. It’s something that I have done before but I always make sure I bring in something new and fresh for each tour. It will be a different vibe to the DJ shows that I did last year as there will be more people on stage producing more energy, so its going to be a lot of fun.
You toured your album Brighter Days late last year after its release in September. What was your favourite part about that tour?
I honestly couldn’t single out one particular place because the reception everywhere was just amazing. To be playing and selling out these venues was incredible for me and it’s something that I have been building up to for a long time. It was great to release the album and witness the response from the fans, that was special.
You worked with an incredible amount of artists on the record including Sean Paul, John Newman, Paloma Faith, Nile Rodgers and so on. Who was your favourite to work with?
Some of my favourite people to work with were the people who live near-by to my studio, just because it was nice to actually hang out with these people! The London based artists such as John Newman and Ella Eyre – who lives around the corner from the studio – were great to have around. Some of the international artists such as Meghan Tranior I hadn’t even met before the record came out. A lot was done over facetime and phone calls, but it was really easy to negotiate when working with such professional artists.
Are there any artists you would like to work with in the future?
There are loads of artists out there doing amazing work at the moment and my hit-list of people to work with is endless so it’s a great time to get collaborating at the moment. I would say Rita Ora, Ellie Goulding, Ed Sheeran just to name a few. I seek out the artist who have really unique voices and new artists who are emerging as you get to watch their ascendancy.
Can we expect any new Sigala music in the near future?
Absolutely. I am actually currently in the process of selecting my next single. I was away for the winter just in the studio writing and wrote over 100 new songs so sliming that list down is the current task. Me, my team and the label are all very excited though and cannot wait to release the new material.
You have a degree in commercial music studies, but do you have any guilty pleasures at all?
When I was a kid I absolutely loved The Vengaboys. And I do still occasionally drop them into the middle of my set if I feel like the crowd can handle it. There are a few other guilty pleasures but The Vengaboys is definitely the one I shouldn’t be telling anyone about.
You hit plenty of festival last year but what do you prefer, a wild weekend festival or a rowdy club rave?
Every show is completely different and that’s what makes it great. I love going into a dingy club and playing to people who have been up all night but then again, I love to go and play the more family side of things at festivals. The festivals are just great demonstrations of how music can bring communities together and when you see families and friends enjoying themselves in these situations its unbeatable.
You’re only 26 years old, do you have any plans for the future? Where do you see Sigala being in 20 years’ time?
20 years’ time?! I’m not looking to leave music at any time soon, ever since I was young music has always been very important to me so even if I’m not touring in 20 years’ time I’ll still be involved with music somehow. Perhaps I’ll be a songwriter or a classical pianist. Maybe I’ll combine the two and when I’m 60 I’ll be making jingles for television adverts.
Finally, do you have a message for your fans?
I’m just really looking forward to seeing everyone. I’m going to be bringing my a-game, my band and everything I can to these shows and I just cant wait!
Sigala supports Craig David along with Becky Hill and Nathan Dawes on the folliwng dates:
24 May 2019 – Jonny-Rocks Stadium, Cheltenham
1 June 2019 – Powderham Castle, Exeter
2 June 2019 – Colchester Castle Park, Colchester
7 June 2019 – Slessor Gardens, Dundee
8 June 2019 – ABAX Stadium, Peterborough
He’ll also be appearing on the following dates:
6 July 2019 – Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle
24 August 2019 – South West Four Festival, London
31 August 2019 – Fusion Festival, Liverpool
Tickets for Craig David, Sigala, Becky Hill and Nathan Dawes, plus Sigala’s other summer appearances, are available now through Ticketmaster.co.uk.
