Gorgeous, talented and British – of course Jamie Scott has a gay following. The 27-year-old dreamboat fronts U.K. group Graffiti6, a folktronica hybrid rooted in Motown and trippy art-pop that dropped their full-length debut, "Colours," this week.
Before a stop at the Blind Pig in Ann Arbor as openers for Augustana, Scott rang to talk gay influences, sex on the road and the importance of looking good.
When did you know you had a gay following?
Right from the onset, actually. I didn't really notice a sudden change in it. It's just always been. I think ever since my first shows when I was 20. The support from them has been amazing.
When did you move to L.A.? And did your gay friend quotient go up?
Just under a year ago. Actually, when I first moved to L.A., I had four friends – and they were all gay.
My only issue with you looking as dapper as you do is that this whole metrosexual/hipster thing that straight guys have going on is throwing off our gaydar.
I don't think anyone's ever told me that I dress well.
Are you conscious of your style?
Not that conscious of it, actually. I put on the closest thing that's to the bed.
You must have a gay man helping you out, then?
No, I don't. You know what, I always go for comfort. I like clothes that I feel good in.
Some straight male musicians don't feel comfortable doing gay press, assuming people will think they're gay. Why do you do it, though?
(Laughs) Rather than saying, "Why do you do gay press?" I'd say, "Why not?"
Are British men just more secure with their sexualities?
I don't know, man. You'd have to do a survey. I'd be quite interested in the answer.
How important do you think sex appeal is in this business?
I'm not gonna lie: I've been signed to two different labels since I was 20 and I think it's obvious what that can add to a project. For me, it's something I've always been conscious of, though I always wanted my music to be out there first and foremost.
And it's not like you're totally naked in your videos.
You haven't seen the video for the next one, man. (Laughs)
One of your earliest introductions to music was Joni Mitchell. What was it about her?
Well, she's obviously amazing and the guitar work on "Blue," which I listened to when I was younger, was really the main thing. My mom listened to it, and that's really where that came from.
And what about the soulful side of you?
That's my dad. My dad is really into Motown and Stax Records and Donny Hathaway and Stevie Wonder. Just amazing soul musicians and singers.
What was the first album you owned?
The vinyl of "Innervisions" by Stevie Wonder.
Embarrassing music guilty pleasures?
ABBA. I love "Dancing Queen."
Are you a good dancer?
I don't know if I'm a good dancer, because I don't dance that much! I think I could be a good dancer; I just don't dance so much on stage. I'm in "Step Up" – check it out and you can tell if I'm a good dancer, because I was trying to do it in there. (Laughs)
Who are your gay musician influences?
I'm a massive fan of Rufus Wainwright. Obviously, Elton John is amazing. And, actually, we do a cover of Freddie Mercury's "You're My Best Friend."
Would you ever bring a fan back to your hotel room? Does the band have rules on that?
I don't really get to capitalize much on fans that hit on me after, because I normally have to go to bed really early to get up the next morning to do promo, but the band doesn't have any rules. You know, it's quite hard to do lots of things when everyone is concentrating on the gig and getting the stuff off stage. It normally takes priority.
Right. You're there to work.
Yeah, exactly.
What can't you leave home without?
My passport.
Was "This Man" meant to be a sex song?
No, but I've had quite a few people who have said they've made love to "This Man."
What else do you have going on?
I do quite a bit of writing for other artists, which I'm doing probably more of than anything else at the moment. It's going to be a good year and a half before I do anything with another Graffiti6 album, so it's hard to get really inspired by music no one's going to hear for a long time. I've been doing quite a bit of writing for other people as well as Graffiti6: Enrique Iglesias, a lot of "The X Factor" stuff, Ron Sexsmith. I love it.
What would you be doing if it weren't music?
If I weren't doing music, I'd be a gardener. I like trees and I like being outdoors. I don't like being inside much.
Do you have a garden?
I… wait, I forgot where my place is. (Laughs) Oh yeah, we do have a garden.
Graffiti6
8 p.m. Jan. 30
Blind Pig
208 N. First St.
Ann Arbor ($15-$20)
