Tuesday, June 9, 2015 9:12am ET by  
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Oritsé Williams talks OWS solo project: 'This is the true me'

Oritsé Williams is the latest member of JLS to go solo following their split at the tail end of 2013.

His OWS project, however, came shrouded in mystery, rising from the underground with the help of support from the likes of Jay Z and Kanye West.

Pressparty caught up with Williams to talk about his debut single ‘Waterline’, going up against former bandmate and fellow new solo star Aston Merrygold and that tear-filled Alan Carr interview.

Can you tell me the meaning behind the lyrics to ‘Waterline’?

"The single’s about a troubled relationship in which you know haven’t been 100% infallible. The person that you love is going to leave, but you don’t want them to leave, and when they’re walking away, it hurts so bad because you don’t want to lose that feeling that you had. It’s a feeling of love that you have with them. I think we’ve all been in that position. I wanted to write a song that everyone can relate to."

In terms of the music, how would you describe its sound?

"This music feels a little bit like alternative pop R&B, or indie pop R&B."

Do you think this is the true you?

"This is the true me - you won’t get realer than this. There are a lot of different colours and a lot of different sides to me. My inspirations are far and wide, from people like Prince to Coldplay, to Lauryn Hill to James Blake. I feel like ‘Waterline’ was the most accurate representation of me for a first solo record."

So if this is the true you, in terms of being in JLS, were you stuck in a band performing music that you didn’t really relate to?

"I love the JLS music - it was an amalgamation of four people and their inspirations. But I said to myself, if I’m going to do anything solo, I’m not just going to make music for the charts or manufacture music for a certain demographic. I’m going to make music that I love and that I’m passionate about."

It seemed like the project was quite secretive at first?

"I didn’t want who I was to enter into preconceived ideas. I’ve put a lot of time and effort into creating this artistry. I just want people to feel my music, because it’s very personal. It’s like having a personal diary - a lot of things that have happened in my life, a lot of emotions that I need to get off my chest."

 

 

 

Is there an album in the works?

"I’m kind of free-flowing. We’re not putting any time constraints on ourselves. And when I say we, I mean myself and people I’m working with. It’s very important to me to create in my own time, so I do have quite a lot of records that could make up an album, but I’ve still got a lot more on my chest that I want to write about, still a lot of emotion that I want to get across in my music, and until I’ve really given myself that music therapy almost and express myself, I’m not going to wrap up any album yet."

Going from a group to a solo artist, do you feel quite isolated?

"Not isolated because I’m going to a solo artist. The world that I live in musically now, because of what I’m giving in terms of personal honesty…only I put across through my music what I’m feeling. So that’s what makes me feel a little bit isolated. It’s very personal."

Former JLS bandmate Aston Merrygold has got a single coming out soon - is there any competition between you guys?

"I believe that we live in a place right now where there’s more than enough music for everybody, and his music is different than mine. Marvin has music with LuvBug, and JB had a record as well. It’s exciting for fans.

"When I was growing up, I always found it exciting when members of a group I loved did individual music. For example, I love John Lennon, whereas some people love Paul McCartney. I loved Lauryn Hill from the Fugees, whereas some people loved Wyclef. I think it’s exciting for the fans, and there’s more than enough for everyone, which is amazing."

You famously cried on Alan Carr: Chatty Man when JLS split. How hard was the break up to take?

"I was a founding member of the group, so it was always going to be difficult. I was there before the boys and driving the vision forward. It’s your baby, and there’s an extra layer of feeling and emotion. It’s cool though. I had to get the emotions out, but I didn’t realise it would happen on national television.

"Whatever I do, I put a million per cent into it, and I always have. It’s the same when you go from school to college or college to university - you get upset because you have to move on, but you can look forward to the future and all the beautiful and amazing things that are ahead of you."

Zayn Malik has obviously left One Direction - can you see similarities between yourself and him? He’s been working on arguably more credible music with Naughty Boy…

"I can understand that when you’re in a group, people don’t always understand what every single member stands for or who they really are outside of that group. So I think all we’re seeing from Zayn is who he is outside of the group.

"It happens to many people - look at John Lennon. I love him. But his music was so different from the Beatles, whereas you could say Paul McCartney had a similar vibe to the Beatles."

OWS' 'Waterline' is available to buy on iTunes now.

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Watch the video for OWS' 'Waterline' below: