12/04/2016 | Colston Hall
Newton Faulkner is currently on one of his biggest UK tour to date, he takes some time out to talk to me about his upcoming Green Day tour, superheroes and the new album ‘Human Love”.
You’ve got a busy tour with 19 UK dates, do you have time to relax?!
I’m being really good on this tour by being healthy as I’m wanting to lose weight and ‘shape up’. I’ve got a plan though, just naps. Lot’s of naps.
Any particular reason, anything to do with you joining the cast of Green Day’s American Idiot Musical?
It does! I want to look my absolute best for it. I’m playing the part of ‘Johnny’ starting from May, it’s going to be great fun! I’ve been weighing up my meals and everything, breakfast, lunch and dinner. I want to get to 10% body fat, eek.
This is completely new territory for you, how did it come about?
I’ve always been a fan of Green Day and I’ve always wanted to do acting. I feel like if i’m going to do acting its got to be now, i’m 31 so it feels like the right time. In my first band we played a lot of Green Day songs and when I got approached to do it – it seemed perfect!
If you had to pick between acting and singing, what would it be?
Singing, of course. I might be rubbish at acting, who knows?! But this Green Day tour is going to be great.
Well we’re going to find out soon enough! – You’ve got a really busy schedule then with this ‘Human Love’ tour and then with ‘American Idiot’.
It is really worth it, it should be really fun.
How has the tour been so far?
Yeah its a chunky tour, 4 weeks. We do it so we get 3 dates in a row then 1 day off. Sometimes the travel is insane – going from Scotland to Dublin was a loong drive! It’s great though, people have been dancing and really going for it this tour. Which is great.
How has the reception been for the Album ‘Human Love’ which came out at the end of last year?
Really, really good actually. My music has really evolved since my first album 10 years ago – there is still a lot of what I used to do but there also a loads of new stuff. Theres a mixture of songs which makes a great set list!
Are you still a fan of your previous stuff or do you prefer to only play your latest?
Yeah, the most important thing is what do people want to hear, you know? They’re paying for me to do a job, so I would never not play stuff. Unless it was an Album launch or something. Maybe in 30 years time I’ll be like ‘I’m not playing it anymore!’.
You’re a bit of a superhero nerd, if you could have a superpower what would it be?
I’d have more hands, I want more hands!
I’ve just said you could have any superpower and you want more hands?
I could play more instruments though! Ok, maybe i’d turn into the Hulk? I had a dream about that recently actually and it was great. Maybe those hands could turn into the Hulk hands – that would be a great hug wouldn’t it?
HANNAH RYAN 