Interview: Craig David on coming to Glasgow, a Beyonce duet and his return to the limelight

The smooth singer hit the dizzy heights of fame 16 years ago and introduced us to one of the greatest albums of British pop music.

Now after that Born to Do It debut, the 35-year-old is back in the limelight where he is embracing a new audience and preparing to wow the Scots when he takes to the stage at the SSE Hydro on April 3.

And even he admits he will have to up is game to impress the Glasgow crowd.

“I have always had so much love for coming up to Scotland and performing up there,” he said.

He continued: “I think what is great is that over years a lot more artists will travel up and do shows in Scotland.

“It means artists have to step up their game even more now because so many acts are coming through Scotland and performing in Glasgow.

“As a live performer you need to bring something a bit special.”

Bringing something special shouldn’t be too hard for Craig whose velvet voice has brought us a plethora of hits including Fill Me In, Walking Away and 7 Days.

The Southampton-born singer can even boost a David Bowie sample in his back catalogue thanks to the hit Hot Stuff (Just Dance).

And even Craig admits the sign-off on that sample from the legendary singer who passed away earlier this year was a moment to remember in his career.

He said: “I am a huge fan of his music. Those songs all carry on through the test of time.”

He added: “To have him give it the co-sign, and say yes you can use that was fantastic. It was nice to have that moment especially on that second album.”

Since his musical resurrection, Craig is bound to have many more moments to remember including the new fans he seems to have acquired in the last year.

He said: “I think seeing two generations connecting with the music is really surreal. Like having people who grew up with my music saying such amazing things online about the feeling of when they first heard my music.

“But also seeing teenagers who are literally just discovering it. I have just heard of this new guy called Craig David who has this new single out. Seeing that happening is amazing to me.”

The fans, however, who fell in love with his sound first time will no doubt treasure the feeling that first album gave them which is something that still shocks Craig to this day.

He said: “I couldn’t ask for anything more for what the first album did for me and for everyone that ended up going out listening to those songs and buying the album.

“Literally it was a kid with a dream in Southampton making this album and then all of a sudden my whole life changed.

“ I was travelling the world and playing in some amazing places.”

He continued: “Certain songs such as Walking Away - still to this day I have got people saying you know that song helped me get through a hard time in my life.

“I am thinking wow I didn’t expect my music to have that much impact around the world.”

While Born to Do It has its place in musical history, it’s Craig’s new album Following My Intuition that now has everyone talking.

The process of making that album began over a year and a half ago when he moved back to the UK from his base in Miami.

He said: “ It started off as just me when I moved back to the UK. I was just working with all these up and coming producers.

“And at the time some of the producers including Blonde, Sigala and Kaytranada were about to release records.

“I think what has made it feel very natural and authentic with this album release a year and a half later is having worked with Blonde before they released All Cried Out which is their big hit and then working with Sigala just before he was about to release Easy Love which was a number one hit for him - it’s very organic and authentic.

“It’s an r’n’b record at heart but also has the singles that touch on the UK garage with a little bit of dance and house music.

“I am really happy with the response that people have already shown for it.”

He might have been working with the upcoming names for his latest release, but Craig says he has his eye on a certain female singer for a dream duet.

“I have always had so much admiration for Beyonce,” he beamed.

He explained: “Especially the Destiny’s Child days when she almost cached on to being an MC with melodies. If you listen to Bills Bills Bills and Say My Name, the way her flow is, it was like wow this is unique.

“That collaboration would be amazing just from someone who has grown up listening to her music and see her grow into such a prolific artist.”

He perhaps has a fair bit in common with Beyonce given that he too started his career as a teenager.

He was last in Glasgow to play the SECC in 2001, but he is honest enough to say his memories of that show are vague.

He explained: “I have vague memories of a lot of the shows when I first started.

“I was only 18 when it was all going on but if I look back at the DVD Off the Hook, there was a bit from Wembley and it gave me the premise of what was going on that time.

“It’s funny for me because it genuinely feels all new to me again.

“It is really hard to cast my mind back over the last year of what has happened.

“I have been going on 16 years – it’s been a long time.”

Craig certainly doesn’t look like someone who has been going that long with his youthful appearance still making him a hit with the ladies.

He, however, has taken a more relaxed approach to his fitness routines and his message is simple – enjoy life.

He said: “When I talk about health and fitness and stuff I come from a place of experience

“I am like go out there, and enjoy time and social events with your friends. Enjoy the food that you want to eat but keep yourself healthy just so you feel balanced in life.

“It’s not about you need to have a six pack to impress someone because it is kind of a bottomless pit and never gets you anywhere.

“So I have been glad that I could experience that first-hand.”

Another thing he can experience first-hand is the reaction from his fans which is something Craig loves.

An avid fan of social media, Craig regularly tweets and posts pictures on Instagram snapshots of his life, and his enthusiasm for it is clear for his fans to see.

He said: “I am really enjoying having the ability to directly message someone back through Twitter and Instagram to say thank you for the comment that they have said.

“If someone has put a video on Instagram having the best time of their lives in a nightclub listening to your music and you can actually respond.

“You know that in the moment, they are like I just got a response, this is crazy.”

He added: “I think it is the real time part of it that makes it really exciting.

“But you have to be able to balance it because thankfully before everything kicked off with social media, you were a lot more in the moment.

“There wasn’t that ability to respond to everything straight away. So I balance because if you are constantly giving stuff out, you are not living in the moment.”

Living in the moment is something Craig is definitely doing now.

He comes across as wise, humble and appreciative of success, and it is that kind of attitude that will no doubt keep him going for years to come.

But for Craig, he is happy just to take each day as it comes.

He said: “I am so grateful and happy that I am healthy. I have got my friends and family around me. I am making music, enjoying that and performing. There is not more I could ask for.”

Catch Craig David at the SSE Hydro on April 3. For tickets, visit www.ssehydro.com