Though he’s no longer a pop rock rookie, George Ezra is still learning when it comes to making the most of any given experience in his career to date.
That goes for conversations that glean unexpected inspiration, too — especially when they involve wisdom doled out by none other than Ed Sheeran.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Ezra played BBC Radio 1’s Biggest Weekend in Swansea, Wales on Saturday afternoon (May 26), and had a brief chat with NME at the event about Sheeran and Elton John’s chats on his podcast and the invaluable advice they dispensed.
“They’ve all given me some advice, even if they don’t know! When I get to the edits I feel like I’ve learned something from each of them,” he told NME. He noted that John’s advice was to be present and engaged, as it could seep into your work in a great way — “keep listening to what’s going on around you, because it does all add up” — and that Sheeran has driven him in a “different way.”
“I’m sure he won’t mind me saying this, but he’s quite competitive and mostly with himself,” he said. “He also strives to adapt himself, and I’m still a little kid about it! When U2 release an album, you know about it with all the press they’re doing. But for me, that lesson for me comes from Ed. You’re never too big to get out there and promote what you’re doing – so why wouldn’t you?”
Ezra kicks off the next leg of his world tour in support of sophomore album Staying at Tamara‘s — which topped the U.K. albums chart shortly following its release in March — on June 10 in São Paolo, Brazil.