In his interview with Australian Musician Magazine editor Greg Phillips, UK singer-songwriter Jamie Webster discusses his excitement about returning to Australia in December, the personal experiences behind his fourth album, Running Round the Sun, and how his music continues to connect with audiences around the world.
MORE ABOUT THE INTERVIEW
Reflecting on his previous Australian tour, Webster describes performing his own music in Australia for the first time as an amazing experience. Despite arriving while recovering from a chest infection and facing a hectic schedule of flights and performances, he was struck by the way his songs connected with audiences thousands of kilometres from home. He particularly enjoyed seeing a mix of British expats and Australian-born fans at his shows, creating an atmosphere that felt like a blend of home and a new community discovering his music. Webster is keen to build on that experience in December, although his tight schedule will leave little time for sightseeing. He hopes to return in the future for a longer trip with his wife, exploring more of Australia’s cities, visiting Uluru and the Northern Territory, and spending time with friends he has made along the way.
Webster will bring his full band to Australia, believing that the larger lineup adds energy and encourages audiences to dance and sing along. While his songs retain their meaning when performed acoustically, the band allows him to deliver a more dynamic show and share the touring experience with a close-knit team. With the release of Running Round the Sun in September, he also faces the challenge of incorporating new material into a setlist that must satisfy fans across his growing catalogue. Rather than concentrating exclusively on the new album, he plans to draw from all four of his records, balancing fresh material with established favourites, popular singles and quieter, more intimate moments. Streaming figures from different countries help him understand which songs are resonating with Australian listeners. He identifies “Just Begun” as an early standout from the new album, while “Across the River” has become a crowd favourite at live shows. He also hints at the possibility of performing “Wherever You Are” with the full band for the first time.
At the heart of the conversation is Running Round the Sun, which Webster describes as his most personal and mature album to date. Reflecting on the highs and lows of recent years, the record explores learning to appreciate the good times while developing the resilience to navigate difficult periods. Mental health, vulnerability and self-reflection feature prominently, as Webster examines his changing relationships, personal growth and place in the world. Now in his early thirties, he sees himself as entering a new stage of adulthood and career, somewhere between being an emerging artist and an established legacy act. He acknowledges that he has sometimes struggled to enjoy his successes and has allowed difficult experiences to weigh heavily on him. The album documents his efforts to understand himself, accept where he is in life and learn from the people around him. Despite its more personal focus, his longstanding message of community remains central to his songwriting: people can support one another, challenge wrongdoing and find comfort in knowing they are not alone. Webster considers himself fortunate to be able to share these experiences through music, and says the connection he sees with audiences at his shows gives him a sense of community in return.
Our interview also explores the musical influences shaping Webster’s evolving sound. Before securing his record deal at around 25, he worked as an electrician and spent much of his time around football culture, which helped establish his affinity for British indie music and ’90s Britpop. Bob Dylan has remained a lifelong inspiration since Webster first heard “Hurricane” as a teenager. However, working and touring with other musicians has broadened his musical horizons, introducing him to the harmonies, acoustic guitar arrangements and Laurel Canyon sound associated with Joni Mitchell and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. He identifies elements of these influences in songs such as “Breadline” and “Owe It to Me and You”, while emphasising the importance of incorporating inspiration into his own style rather than simply copying other artists. His listening habits continue to evolve, with Frank Sinatra, David Bowie and Dylan’s Blood on the Tracks among his recent interests. His advice to aspiring songwriters is to listen to as much different music as possible, allowing new ideas and influences to emerge naturally when they return to their instruments.
Webster also shares the story behind his trusted Lakewood acoustic guitar, which he purchased in Liverpool in 2017 as his performances moved into larger venues. Looking for an instrument capable of delivering a strong, clear sound through a professional sound system, he tried several high-end guitars before finding the Lakewood’s distinctive resonance, crisp tone and comfortable neck. So attached has he become to its sound that he later visited the Lakewood factory to obtain an exact replica, explaining that even excellent guitars from other manufacturers cannot quite reproduce the original’s character. Now battered and bruised from years on the road, the guitar remains an essential part of his live performances, which he describes as feeling like an extension of his body rather than a separate instrument.
Webster’s December Australian tour will showcase the evolution reflected in Running Round the Sun, combining new songs with familiar favourites and the full-band sound he believes brings audiences together. For Webster, the enduring appeal of music lies in its ability to cross geographical and generational boundaries, give people a sense of belonging and remind them that they are not alone in navigating life’s challenges.
https://www.jamiewebstermusic.com/