Interview: Saint Raymond

We speak to Nottingham singer-songwriter Saint Raymond ahead of his sell-out Rock City show next Wednesday.

When Saint Raymond appeared on the NottinghamLIVE Radio Show back in May 2013 the buzz, that Nottingham had been feeling for sometime, was just starting to spread its wings on a national scale, in fact that same night as he performed live in our small Bulwell studio he was also being championed by BBC Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe.

Since then things have truly exploded for Bramcote singer, better known to friends and family as Callum Burrows, with multiple festival appearances, arena tours and national radio and press love. Now he’s just around the corner from, arguably, his biggest show to date, a sell-out performance on the Rock City mainstage, unsurprisingly he’s rather excited.

“I’m trying not to overplay it to myself but I’m really excited. I’ve dreamed about selling this venue out ever since I started playing music really.”

As a Nottingham lad Rock City has to be the target, the venue you picture selling out?

“Yeah and I think, you know, we put it on sale in October time and I was a bit nervous, Rock City is like the venue, so to sell it out is incredible. I don’t think I expected it.”

Callum joins a very select group of Nottingham musicians who have sold out the city’s premier rock venue, all of whom have done so in the last couple of years, it must be a pretty cool group to be a part of?

“Yeah, it’s super exciting man.”

It’s far to say that Callum has come a pretty long way since we first saw him opening the NottinghamLIVE stage in the Red Rooms at Macmillan Fest 2011.

“Yeah, yeah I remember that gig.”

Back then Saint Raymond was a duo, consisting of Callum and Elliott Labate, since then though Elliott has gone off to find his own mark in former Future Sound of Nottingham winners The Gorgeous Chans, while Callum has continued on solo as Saint Raymond – which was named in memory of his grandfather Raymond Burrows.

Callum, who now plays with a full band, has been a top tip of just about every Nottingham music media person and promoter for the last couple of years but we think it’s safe to say that 2014 was the year it stepped up a level for the young singer?

“I think so. I was always kind of hoping this progression would happen but never expected it, so I was kind of just playing it by ear and seeing what happens.”

One of the many amazing moments of last year saw Callum perform on the main stage at the Splendour Festival in front of 15,000, a truly special moment.

“That was really exciting, especially being a hometown show. So exciting.”

Of course being a hometown show that means many friends and family among the crowd, does knowing that add to the pressure of performing or does it make for a more relaxed show?

“I think in a way it’s more nerving because people know you and not just for being a musician you know, but at the same time there is something so special about it. It’s always a good one being in Nottingham.”

On top of that Callum also had the chance to play at the City’s biggest venue, the Capital FM Arena, when he supported chart topping superstar Ed Sheeran on his most recent tour.

“Yeah, it’s been a really fun year.”

So just what was it like touring with somebody like Ed Sheeran?

“It was a lot of fun. What I love about Ed Sheeran is he’s just a normal guy. There’s no ego or anything with him. Being on that tour was an amazing experience and it’s the longest I’ve ever been on the road.”

Talking of touring next week’s Rock City show is also a part of the singers biggest tour to date.

“We’re doing Nottingham, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, Dublin and London. It’s cool. Apart from Dublin I think they’ve all sold out which is great. It still blows my mind that I go to these places and people want to come out and see me play, which is crazy, especially somewhere like Dublin.”

The tour also acts as a barometer for just how far things have come for Callum in such a short space of time.

“On the tour Birmingham, it’s a six hundred capacity venue, I played there around eighteen months ago to about 40 people and now it’s sold out. It’s really nice man I’m super excited.”

On a slightly more surreal note, the growing success saw Callum’s track ‘I Want You’ chosen as the soundtrack to ITV’s Christmas promotional ad, while the track also appeared in an episode of Jack Whitehall’s acclaimed BBC Three comedy ‘Bad Education’. While Callum knew about the track being used in the ITV advert when it comes to music appearing on shows it’s a different kettle of fish.

“With TV, like the Bad Education thing, you don’t get any warning so it can be really surreal.”

But it’s not just the moments his songs crop up on television, with ‘Made in Chelsea’ also among the shows that have used his music, that he finds strange.

“Only the other day it’s the first time I’ve just been listening to the radio and the song came on, usually when I hear it it’s because somebody tells me it’s going to be on, so that was kind of a weird moment.”

With a couple of well received singles and an EP under his belt last year things are moving forward recording rise and a debut albums appears to be on the horizon.

“So the plan is, hopefully, we get the new single out in the next couple of months and then the album in the summertime. I’m really excited about it”

After a hugely busy 2014 playing some of the biggest venues of his career Callum kickstarted 2015 with a far more intimate show when he made a special guest appearance at the Acoustic Rooms Birthday Party at the Rescue Rooms.

“They’ve been really supportive from day one. They asked me if I was up for doing it and I was like “of course”. It was really weird cus after everything that’s happened over the past year it was one of the most fun gigs I’ve had in a long time because it was such a good laugh. It was good man.”

Being out on the road a lot these days does mean Callum has less time to check out the Nottingham music scene, however he still likes to follow the goings on in his hometown when he can.

“Amber Run you know, I’m a big fan of them, and really buzzing to have them on my show.” he says of the hotly tipped Nottingham act who will be supporting him at Rock City next week, while he is also keen to see what one of the more established Nottingham acts have up their sleeve.

“I’m really excited to see what D.I.D, who used to be Dog is Dead, are going to be doing.”

All in all Callum thinks it’s just a really good time for Nottingham music.

“There seems to be a real influx at the minute, I It’s just nice that Nottingham seems to finally getting taken serious as a music city. Which is cool.”

We totally agree with him there, which is why we can’t wait to be among the sell-out crowd at Rock City next week when Callum becomes the latest Nottingham act to rock out the city’s legendary venue.

It promises to be another great night for Nottingham and for Callum it’s the culmination of a lifelong dream while at the same time the launchpad to even bigger things ahead.

“This Rock City gig is, in some ways, the pinnacle of what I’ve been aiming for but I’m also seeing it as the start of something to push on from. I want to be doing Rock City size venues all over the country.”

Callum, we pretty sure you soon will be.

Interview by Darren Patterson

Saint Raymond will play Rock City on Wednesday 11 February, supported by Amber Run. For more on Saint Raymond check out his Facebook page here