Vance Joy reflects on ‘kind of surreal’ experience in Taylor Swift’s orbit
Posted Jan 19, 2016 11:46:31 AM.
Last Updated Jan 19, 2016 04:25:58 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TORONTO – Taylor Swift’s seal of approval has vaulted many musicians into the mainstream, but few secure a coveted spot on one of her blockbuster tours.
Vance Joy — the Australian singer behind the breakout hit “Riptide” — is one of the fortunate ones.
After playing nearly 70 stops across North America on Swift’s “The 1989 World Tour” last year, the singer and his band are now in the midst of their own tour, which includes several sold-out concerts in Canada over the next month.
“It’s funny to walk out of that world now,” says Vance Joy, born James Keogh, in reflecting on the experience of the high-profile gig.
“We were so deep in Taylor Swift’s world for about a year.”
The 28-year-old singer was in Amsterdam promoting his debut album “Dream Your Life Away” when his manager called him over to show him a clip of Swift performing “Riptide” in a BBC studio.
He was immediately taken aback by the prospect that Swift had been listening to his music.
“It was kind of surreal. It was funny thinking of (myself) existing in that same world, or at least in a world where Taylor Swift knows your song, likes your song and then plays your song. That’s cool,” he says.
Her cover set in motion plans for him to join the “1989” tour, an experience the Aussie singer quickly discovered was akin to learning on the job. He admits there were a few missteps along the way.
“I didn’t know if there was going to be screaming or if it was going to be quiet,” he says. “We learned a little about engaging the audience and talking to the audience and that kind of thing. You’re always learning about playing live.
“It was daunting but I’m glad we had to face that,” he adds.
“The Fire and the Flood Tour” pushes through Windsor, Ont., and Toronto over the next week before arriving in Montreal for three shows later this month. Additional tour dates are slated for other cities in Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia in February.
The band is also starting to make early plans for a followup album. The singer says he recently met with Semisonic frontman Dan Wilson in Los Angeles and at least one track from those sessions is a favourite.
“We’ve written a really cool song together and I think that will make it on the album,” he says.
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