An Interview With Lee Mead

The star of Joseph: Any Dream Will Do talks to 50connect about his new found celebrity status and his upcoming second album.

Just over two years ago, Lee Mead was an understudy in the Phantom of the Opera trying to make his way in the competitive riches of the West End theatre scene.

Today he’s fighting off the scripts left, right and centre, in talks about a move to New York’s Broadway, promoting his second studio album, planning a UK tour and is engaged to one of television’s most recognisable presenters Denise van Outen.

You’ve been very busy in the last 24 months, have you had time to catch your breath and enjoy your new celebrity status?

“It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster and to be honest I don’t really want to jump off just yet,” he laughs.

“I’ve had a funny journey from the start but when I look back now, it’s hard not to think 'wow'. In the last two years I’ve done an awful lot and it’s all gone by so quick but I’ve enjoyed every minute of it."

How did you get into theatre work? Was it your number one ambition?

“It’s been quite strange because I started quite late at 18 when I got into professional theatre work but I fell into the cabriolet scene and then I was in a musical. I’ve always loved the theatre but I'd never really got involved in trying or thinking about making a career out of it.

“I was more concerned about breaking into music when I was a teenager.”

You’ve just released your second album. Have you now realised your musical ambitions?

“When I was 15 or 16 I remember I was quite naïve. I went to local radio stations with a couple of demos that I’d try and get played on air.

“I obviously didn’t realise you had to have a record deal to do that so it’s quite nice to have come full circle from those days and now realise my ambitions as a musician yes. It's very satisfying and something I'm very proud to have achieved."

Have you enjoyed the recording experience? How did the record deal come about?

“It was four months after the whole programme kicked off with Joseph .We were up and running and Polydor came and offered this recording deal which I was delighted about.

“It’s nice to have been involved in the recording process too because quite often it’s easy to just be told what songs you’re going to sing. To have a say on how you want your album to sound is great and gives it a real personal touch.

“Having a full involvement is really important to me, it’s been a learning process as well but I’m hoping long term I’ll be making records and albums and I’m keen to put that work in and work towards that process.

“Overall it’s just been great and quite refreshing to be making my own music and I’m now hoping to tour the new album in August and September this year.”

Will this be your first taste of touring?

“It will be my first tour around the UK and I’ll be doing a few dates and it’s all really exciting. It's not entirely new to me though.

“My management said ‘how do you feel about doing 15 – 20 dates?’ I said, I’ve just done 600 shows of Joseph so I’ll at home and more than ready to go out and do that.

“It’s great though, I’ll have a band behind me and some backing singers so it should be a fun tour.”

Was it easier making the second album?

“I’d say it has been quite different more than anything. The first album was a real learning curve for me and it was quite close to when I won Joseph so this time around it’s been quite nice to have some time in the studio and I've been doing a lot of co-writing which has been really good.

“I’ve been working with producers like Chris Braid who’s had a few number one’s in America and the likes of Gary Barlow and Nina Woodford who writes for James Morrison so I’ve been working with a lot of high powered people. It gives the album a real boost to know that these people are helping to put it all together.

"I’ve just had much more involvement in the whole process and I’ve got two songs on the album which I’ve co-written and I’m very proud of.”

You worked alongside the experienced producer Graham Stack again, how influential was he?

“Graham came back on again because he did a great job on the first album. He’s worked with Tina Turner and Rod Stewart who are obviously very big names so he’s a very experienced guy.

“It’s been nice to work with him again, he’s got a studio near Guildford and it’s been absolutely brilliant to be recording out in the country.

"He just adds a classy touch to everything. He knows what we want and he knows what works so we work really well together."

You left your role as an understudy in Phantom of the Opera to join the Joseph competition, that must have been a big decision?

“It was a really big decision because I had just got up to a stage in my career where I was in a really great West End show as an understudy but I’d never got that lead role so I was still searching for that.

“I’d just bought a flat so I had a mortgage as well and I was in a secure job but then I thought, to have any level of success and succeed you need to take risks and that’s what I did. I threw myself into it and it paid off luckily.

“I had a year’s contract in the Phantom role but I left after 6 months as I got down to the live shows for Joseph and the final 12. I was told ‘we really appreciate the work you’ve done here but if you go on the programme we can’t offer you your job back because we really need to fill the position’ so it was a still a big punt and risk I took.”

What was it like working with Andrew Lloyd Webber? Did you learn much from the process of auditioning for Joseph?

“I had an idea of theatre work and what was required but I learnt a lot about being on camera and going live each week.

“It was quite daunting to begin with; going out to 9 – 10 million people and only having four days to rehearse the songs and routines was a real test of character to see how far you can be pushed.

“Working with Andrew was and has been something I’ve cherished. He’s such a legend of theatre it’s been a huge privilege. Andrew said our paths will probably cross again in the future and its going to be a real long term thing, it just a case of the right project coming along.

“I’m actually going to be working with him a lot sooner than I thought, I got a call this week about a big new project which is great so watch this space.”

How has life changed for Lee Mead since you first appeared on Joseph?

“It’s been a real learning curve for me, I think its important to look after your past and not to be a fry in the pan. I want to work hard and be good at what I do, work towards things in the future and have a long career – that’s the plan anyway.

“I’ve had some great memories. Doing the Joseph shows and the competition has been great and I’ve been able to do some fun things like Wembley Stadium which was phenomenal and just amazing now looking back.

“Actually since I’ve looked back and had a chance to take stock and really look at what’s happened I’ve started to realise how incredible and quite surreal it’s all been.

“It’s quite a routine process doing a theatre show but now I’ve been away in the country recording, I’ve just bought a new place in Kent with a little writing pad and its nice to get out there and reflect and take stock of everything - relax, go out and have dinners and get pissed and not to get too worried about anything.

“It’s a huge responsibility to do a show in the West End but being a recording artist you’ve got more time to switch off, work and relax - it’s been a lot nicer but that’s not to say I’m giving up theatre. It’s just been good to have a break.”

What’s been the response from the fans on the street? Was it hard to deal with being recognised on a daily basis?

“It was strange and it took time to adjust. For the first few months after the live show it took time to adjust. But two years on you get to a point where you learn and accept that you’re in the public eye.

“You start to become more comfortable with that and there is a line where you want to keep, which is your world as such. But you also have to respect that I was on TV infront of a lot of people so there is going to be quite a few who are interested in what I’m doing.

“I do get stopped in the street a lot. I’ll be walking through Covent Garden and people will stop and say, ‘Hey Lee, how you doing, how’s things?’ and I’ll be like ‘oh hello, I don’t know you but I’m well thanks’.

“It was weird to start with but I’m used to it now and it’s really nice to think people are following my journey. I really do appreciate it despite looking a bit startled sometimes.”

So what’s next for Lee Mead and what do you have planned for the next year?

“I’m going to New York in the summer for six weeks to discuss plans for potentially doing a show on Broadway which is quite exciting.

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“I’m looking at doing a film course. A friend said to me, ‘You’ve got yourself established now, why would you go back to training’ but I think the key is to keep learning and challenging yourself. Film and television is something I’m keen to get back into. It will be quite an intense course so I’m quite looking forward to that.

“I’m also going to be touring the album in August and September and I’m in talks for a new show potentially in Spring next year. It’s all about Marc Bolan's life which sounds very interesting, the whole glam-rock era sounds like quite good fun.

“I’d like to try and choose the right projects at the right time. This year I’ve taken the year off and I’m being sent scripts to 3 or 4 shows - this time two years ago I’d have laughed at you if I said I was being sent that many so it’s great to be asked, it’s just about making the right decisions so I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.”

Interview by Mark O'Haire

Lee’s new album Nothing Else Matters is released on the 9th March 2009.