HERO Magazine: Jamie Squire

JAMIE SQUIRE

by EMMA DUNWELL

INTERVIEW: JAMIE SQUIRE

Growing up, part of a family of musicians and performers, in his hometown of Stocksfield, the worldwide tours and primetime TV shows seemed an impossible dream for this unassuming northerner.

The name Jamie Squire might not be immediately recognisable when you think of Strictly Come Dancing or indeed The 1975.

However, the sound which has captivated millions of fans all over the world, would undoubtably not be the same without his essential input as a talented multi-instrumentalist.

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INTERVIEW EMMADUNWELL

PHOTOGRAPHY CARLOS CATALAN

Looking back at the glitter, glam and general razzmatazz of Elstree studios in his rear-view mirror, Jamie Squire can’t wait to hit the M1 heading North, home to Newcastle.

This gave me an ideal opportunity to grab some of this talented musician’s precious time to walk me through his career and all that he has achieved.

“To be part of something that means so much to so many people in this country is great, I love that and don’t ever want to take it for granted.”Having such an integral role in one of television’s most watched programmes, Strictly Come Dancing, fills the endearing Northern born Jamie Squire with pride.

Not to mention the fact that he is also a member of one of the most popular bands of our generation – The 1975.

Even though this is Jamie’s fourth season of Strictly, each week he is astounded by how much work goes into the show backstage, and how each person is so important to the other: “The hair and

makeup, the band, the I’ve ever worked with.” choreographers, it’s such He says, “having him an amazing machine to as a band leader makes watch work.” The main the process even more reason Jamie was asked to enjoyable because when join Dave Arch’s orchestra there’s those moments was for his unique vocal where you kinda go ‘Ahh skills, particularly to “sing what’s happening?’ he’s songs that were high, and there to guide you.” that were rocky, so I got labelled as a ‘high rock Jamie and his passion for singer’, which I never really music had some quite thought I was but there we wholesome beginnings go.” Jamie’s experience of with his family being his being a vocalist in other biggest inspiration. Jamie’s areas of the music industry father Paul Squire was is incredibly useful for such a performer, comedian a technically demanding and singer and Jamie role, he says “the key to remembers growing that gig is – particularly up in his hometown of for the singers is to be Stocksfield, watching as diverse as possible, him on stage and feeling try and cover as many inspired. He feels lucky genres as we can. Because that he always knew what from one minute I’ll be he wanted to do, which singing Queen and then meant he never went to something in Spanish, but university because he just I don’t speak Spanish I wanted to fulfil his passion just try and figure it out.” in music. Jamie’s brother, Jamie has worked with Ben Squire, who is five some incredible musicians years his elder, also had throughout his career, but a part to play in sparking it is evident that Dave Arch his interest in instruments. is someone who has truly Throughout their amazed him, “I wouldn’t childhood, Jamie’s brother be surprised if there was would go through phases one other Dave Arch in of wanting to play multiple the world somewhere, he different instruments, is, quite honestly the most from drums to guitar to unbelievable musician

PHOTOGRAPHY JORDAN CURTIS HUGHES

bass, which would inspire Jamie to try them too. This turned into two brothers who’d just play, sing, write, make noise and be generally really creative. Jamie says “Our parents were amazing for that, they just sort of, whatever we wanted access to musically, we could have it you know, we were really lucky there. It all happened at once.”

fame, comes live concerts in front of thousands of screaming fans, Jamie says “it is intimidating initially but then you sort of get used to it. What I’ve always said is that sometimes things get too big in an arena or a stadium or something, you can only really perform to the front sort of 10 or 15 rows, beyond that you can’t really see people.” He goes on to say, “That’s not to dull it down, it Jamie has a keen awareness that not all is still very exciting I mean the noise young people have the same support he and screaming, it’s ridiculous, we can had musically as a child which gave him barely hear what we’re doing.” There’s the opportunity to become a professional a multitude of opportunities which musician, and therefore set up a ‘Rock comes with being an integral part of Foundation’ programme through a local such a prestigious pop/rock band, one community music shop and tuition hub. of which is travelling around the world.

The aim of the programme was to bring I asked Jamie if he had a favourite place young aspiring musicians together and he has visited to which he says, “There’s give them the opportunity to pick up been so many, but I always tend to their instruments, meet new people, say South Africa because it’s just so write songs together and eventually stunning and seeing all those animals perform as a band in front of friends in their proper environments, it’s just and family. Jamie says “I wasn’t trying to such a moving place.” get anything out of it other than just to have fun and let other people just create After such an exciting career so far, it and be musical. It was a really nice begged the question of what’s next for thing.” One of Jamie’s oldest friends Jamie Squire? from school also shared his passion for “I know what’s going on to a certain music and formed a band with three of extent but then I kinda go well, we’ll see his best friends, later named The 1975. what turns up, let’s see what I can create.

Some years later in 2016, Jamie joined It’s just about having conversations the band where he sang accompanying with people and being creative and vocals, played guitar and piano. enthusiastic.” Having killed half an hour of his journey north, when asked “Well, I went from being relatively about his ambitions for the future, it quiet to not quiet at all. My diary all didn’t surprise me that it wasn’t a sellof a sudden was full of gigs all over the out gig in America or securing another world.” leading role in a primetime television programme. It was, and always will be I suppose going from performing the about the music.

James Bond theme on keyboard to all his school friends, to playing at sell “Something always turns up, its good out stadium gigs in front of thousands fun - I might even have time to do a of people would have that effect on new Rock Foundation.” anyone. For the multi-instrumentalist, being part of The 1975, has “definitely changed my life but only for the better, it’s been great.” With talent and