COOKIE LEE talks to Mercury Music Prize nominee JAMIE T about his brilliant debut album, and second visit to Australia this year.

It’s late at night, and street-smart English singing-songwriting extraordinaire Jamie T, who has been described as a one-man Arctic Monkeys – is sitting in his bedroom, right next door to where he’s sitting on the cover of his debut album Panic Prevention. Jamie’s bedroom is sparse with only a bed and chest of draws, which is a stark contrast to the mess and noise next door.

Now 21 years old and an international name Jamie explains, “I’m a bit of a hoarder. All the stuff that’s in the room are things amassed over the last ten years. I like to have all the things that remind of memories around me to be honest, because I’ve got a shit memory in my head. I like to put them around me when I’m recording because they remind of fun nights. Yeah, we put some more stuff out for the photos. The floor’s never normally that dirty, you know, but that’s generally the kind of atmosphere that we record in. We always put stuff everywhere that reminds us of good times.”

Recorded in about half a dozen little rooms around and about London Panic Prevention, which features ultimate indie pop singles Salvador and Sheila, is a collection of songs inspired by nights out, friends, family, and his London surrounds. Hence, the very English sounds and the inevitable comparisons to Arctic Monkeys. The bands also have a Mercury Music Prize nomination in common.

How did Jamie feel about being nominated for the prestigious award – the reason why his Aussie tour was delayed until now?

“Oh I don’t like thinking about it. Music’s never a competition. Say if you had five kids and some one asked you to say, ‘What’s your favourite kid?’ How can you ever choose the best album of the year? It’s bollocks! So yeah, it’s a strange one. I’m certainly happy to be in the same category as bands that are in there [Klaxons who won the gong, Amy Winehouse, New Young Pony Club to name a few]. I know most of them and they’re all cool bands I respect so I’m proud to be in the category but as far as award goes I couldn’t give a fuck.”

The mouthy Jamie was in the country earlier this year, and played two solo shows on acoustic bass in other cities. This time round he’s bringing his whole band over for a national tour. Jamie says that live, “We play the record but we play on our own terms really. We tried to play it like it is on the record but frankly it was really boring to play. Most of the record is done on the computer with click, you know, the metronome, but I’ve always wanted to be in a band and play fast shit and run around the stage so it’s a bit more up tempo and more of a party.

“I got a buzz from the crowd in Australia last time. I went back and told all my friends, ‘They remind me of Scottish crowds, they come to the gigs with the mentality of having fun.’ So we’re all looking forward to it.”

Jamie T plays The Zoo on Sunday September 30. Panic Prevention is out now through Virgin / EMI.

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