For some reason I thought my first day at work was going to be an easy one…boy, was I wrong.
Rule number one for the first day at a new job…wake up early and take your time. Pace yourself and don't rush. Take things slowly and in your stride. Breathe. Eat well but not too much. Drink water. Be presentable and then move swiftly. For the first time in my life, I walked to work in New York…and it felt good!
I am blessed because all the people in my team are kind and welcoming and love what they do. It’s a very cool workplace with a very inspired team. I take a look around, get familiar with my working environment. Compared to London this is a big building. The offices in the UK have about 10 floors - this building seems to go on forever. I meet the team one by one. My accent is strange to them, but they don't mind - some even like it.
Everyone helps me set up and then come some words that I really didn't think I would hear on my first day.
Just when I thought I had escaped all the Brits - 'Tim can you go and interview Amy Winehouse in a few hours?' Sure, why not!
Amy is doing good out here. I'm not really surprised. I like the album. It defies convention. She defies convention. When you think young female recording artist you think Beyonce, Christina, Shakira, Avril Lavigne…all pretty polished girls with a modern pop sound …and then there's Amy. My producer thinks she's sexy. The jury's still out. She's got a unique look for sure. Big hair that reminds me a little of Morticia Adams and tattoos like a sailor - but it works for her. I like it. She pulls it off. Its her own style and that I respect. And like her style, her music is unique and sultry. It's not what you would think would work in this day and age of manufactured, overly rehearsed, pretty in pink, butter wouldn't melt, all singing and dancing pop RnB - but it does…
You can imagine that if Amy's career never went quite as planned and she was one of those millions of hopefuls that audition for American Idol, you can almost imagine Simon Cowell listening to her audition, rubbing his forehead and sighing 'No No No, its not right. You sound like you're stuck in the 70s. You sound like a cat that’s been thrown in a river. Your look is all wrong. You look like a homeless trannie' (Simon's words -- not mine).But thankfully, American Idol isn't the only source of music nowadays and every now and then when you begin to lose faith in the music industry an album pops up like this that re-establishes my faith and belief in music.
I walk out the building and my eyes immediately turn skyward. New York is a stunning city. You can always tell someone that’s new to New York, because they're always looking up. I wonder if I'll ever get used to it.
I jump in a cab with a couple of people (who I think have been sent with me to make sure either I don't get lost or mess up the interview) and we head to Soho. I like this place immediately. I make a mental note to return on the weekend. There's a Soho in London but it's very different. In London, Soho really comes alive at night. It's got a couple of bars and restaurants, but mostly Soho is made up of seedy strip joints, adult DVD stores, brothels and drug dealers. She's staying at the Soho Grand, swanky hotel, and in a few hours she's playing at the Highline Ballroom which I'm told is a good gig to get.
There are a couple of words that I'd use to describe how the interview went. For now I'll use the word 'interesting' and leave it at that. Like I always say, artists are artists and that doesn't always have to mean that they are good communicators. Sometimes it just takes time and experience. Occasionally in this job you are blessed with guests like RZA, Dave Grohl, Will I Am, JT, Snoop, Kanye, Beth Ditto and Beyonce - and sometimes you're not. Still, we persevered and got what we got. Maybe when you're trying to 'break America' and its still early days and you're known more for your attitude- then that's what you got to push.
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