INTERVIEW
HATC | 01/04/2025
Bradley Simpson is only just warming up, which might sound strange, 11 years into his successful career with the band The Vamps. But this time round, things are a little different, from rock-influenced singles to sharing a stage, well without the boys. When it comes to identity, having built it musically from the age of 17, Brad has spent the last decade in good company writing with his chosen brothers. However, with newfound inspiration and timing that felt just right, Brad found himself exploring who he is creatively when fronting the stage alone.
"It took a minute to figure out who I was outside of the band, what I wanted to sound like, and what I wanted to speak about. I think that was part of the reason for doing it in the first place—it was a nice new challenge and a new chapter. And that's not to say that I'm not happy with the moment or that I don't love those boys because I do. I love everything that we've done and continue to do. But I think it was just a nice opportunity to pause and ask myself, "What would I sound like?" It was a deep dive into that. There was an initial period, probably about a year before I figured out exactly how I wanted to sound. It was a lot of experimenting. There’s an experimental process involved in finding what works. But it clicked once I found my sound and what I wanted to say. It’s a strange process, though, having your identity wrapped up in something for so long and then stepping out to discover who you are.
It's all about trusting your gut, Brad tells me, “Trusting your intuition is massive—it’s all you’ve got.” It’s not always quantifiable, Brad explains, often not knowing what will work until it’s out there. “It’s the same with songs or visuals. You can’t just colour by numbers or take what someone else has done and expect it to work the same way. It’s all about trial and error. That’s where your intuition comes in. It’s about recognising what feels right, what sits well with you.” Having followed those moments where everything felt right over the past year, Brad has learned that is precisely what his debut is all about. It’s been a personable experience, exploring and writing about his vulnerabilities, often at times some of his most intimate experiences. Still, it’s a drastic change from writing alongside The Vamps, as he explains at times an emotional struggle.
“One of the best things about being in the band is that we've been able to lean on each other and still express personal stories and feelings within the band. You can lean on each other even in a writing sense—you don’t have to dive deep and get into everything. It’s not the same environment to do that. But with this album, I wrote with a tiny team, and I think that’s quite nice. I’ve always struggled with that, to be honest, when I was writing before because I was working with new people quite regularly. It’s like dating—trying to find the right people you click with. But it’s also hard to open up to someone you’ve just met,” Or at least it’s something he’s found challenging. “I gathered a small team of people I trust in a creative setting, but also people I really like as individuals and trust personally. It made it a lot easier to open up. The process was a lot about reflecting on the past 10 years, not just the ups and downs but everything. Because we were so busy for so long, there wasn't a huge amount of time for reflection. We got a bit of that during COVID—I think everyone did. It was a moment to reset and think about what you’d been doing up to that point. But this album was an introspective review of the past 10 years.”
Has it been more honest, I ask? “A couple of songs, but not necessarily vulnerable in the context of love and things like that. There’s also the song of the album, "Getting Clear," written when I clicked into knowing what I wanted to do and how it happened. It was just a song about that—about seeing myself and what I want to do a bit clearer. It’s a nice feeling; I wanted to write a song about that. It’s one of those songs that feels empowering, like following your path and feeling happy. So, there’s a balance of light and dark.” When asked whether he was nervous about how the fans would receive such a personal body of work, Brad explained that detaching from the album as much as possible once it was finished was the only way since he was so heavily involved throughout. “I see it as closing another chapter—I've said everything I needed to say and looked at everything I wanted to. As soon as it's done, I'm ready to move on to the next thing. So, I try to detach from it.”
“Honestly, it’s so open-ended; when it was done, I could have probably gone in and done another six months of work on the album. But it feels like it’s reached a natural finish in terms of writing and production.”
It's like a whole new chapter, moving forward, that others can resonate with. “That’s the best thing about music. And that’s what I looked for—someone saying something I couldn’t quite say. That’s what my whole thing is. The album can be for people going through the ups and downs of their 20s. Hopefully, there are moments in the album that make you feel less alone.”
When talking about such vulnerable moments, I’m curious whether the album was more for Brad's explorations than others. There’s nothing quite like feeling a little lighter, which I imagine will help others invertedly see Brad's vulnerability throughout the album. “It’s something the whole album and project—I wanted it to give the people who’ve been fans of what I’ve done up to this point an insight into a different side of me that they haven’t seen, which may be more vulnerable if it’s not connected directly. Releasing the song, hopefully, I can convey that idea. It’s essential.”
When it comes to touring, the past ten years have been a magical experience, curating show after show. When asked about taking his hand to a year of intimate shows worldwide, Brad tells me it’s been a unique thrill not just performing but shaping every moment himself. “Serving as my own tour's music director (MD) has been an exciting and enriching experience. Usually, I work closely with a band to put a show together, but this time, the entire process has been in my hands. It’s been incredible to spend time curating the performance from the ground up, tailoring every detail to reflect my vision. That said, adapting to a new environment has brought its challenges. Backstage, it’s an entirely different dynamic with a new group of people. It’s easy to fall back on habits or mindsets from past experiences, but stepping into the unfamiliar has been surprisingly refreshing. It pushes me out of my comfort zone, encouraging growth and adaptability in ways I hadn’t expected. This tour has been both demanding and invigorating. It’s been a while since I’ve felt this challenged, but those moments of difficulty have also been the most fulfilling. Ultimately, navigating these hurdles has left me more confident and prepared for what comes next.
Have you found yourself thriving in the space? “Finding balance is key, especially when it comes to creativity. It’s about not being too precious with your work while still pushing yourself to grow. For me, it’s a conscious decision—to seek out new tools for my arsenal constantly. Whether it’s as a producer, a writer, a performer, or even just as a person, I’m always looking for ways to challenge myself. I truly enjoy that process of growth and discovery, even when it’s uncomfortable.”
So, what tools do you use that you’ve already relied on? “Having toured as part of a band for so many years, I felt the urge to challenge myself with a different style of performing. This new approach involves fewer people on stage and a greater focus on connecting with the audience through storytelling. It’s been an opportunity to talk more about the songs—their meanings, the stories behind them, and the album as a whole. This setup has pushed me to provide a deeper insight, offering something unique and personal that feels entirely different from what I’ve done before.”
It's been an intimate affair playing to rooms of people he can so clearly see their faces, post The Vamps stadium tenth-anniversary tour. “Performing in smaller, more intimate settings can be surprisingly daunting. It’s often said that speaking to strangers is easier than opening up to those you know well, and the same principle applies here. Playing with a large group or in front of a massive audience creates a subtle disconnect—it’s almost easier, in a way. But in a smaller room, where you can see the whites of people’s eyes, there’s nowhere to hide. That level of closeness can be incredibly intimidating, but it also brings a raw and powerful energy to the performance.”
How do you handle the pressures of being in some ways so accessible due to social media? That's the real question. “Three years ago, I moved back to my hometown, and it’s been a refreshing change. There’s something comforting about returning to the place where I grew up—a sleepy, slow-paced environment that offers a much-needed disconnect. It’s been a nice break from the chaos, giving me space to breathe and reconnect with my roots.”
I guess it’s the root of where everything began. “When I started writing the album, it felt fitting to be back in the place where my journey with music began. It marked the start of a new chapter, grounded in a familiar setting. I used to write under pressure in the past, but I’ve realised that’s not a healthy way to create. Now, I try to step outside of music more often. Music has been my entire life for so long, and while I still love it deeply, finding perspective is essential. Taking time for simple, grounding activities outside of music has been a powerful way to recharge and stay inspired.
