James Blunt reveals the ‘day job’ he took while living in Australia ahead of Logies performance

JAMES Blunt will take a risk at the Logies by performing a new track from his latest album — but he assures viewers it’s ‘probably my best song’.

JAMES Blunt is more qualified than most international musical guests to sing at the Logies.

The British singer spent six months living in Bondi Beach as a judge on Channel 7’s The X Factor in 2016.

He still keeps in touch with his finalists and said the Australian stint on TV led to other offers to do reality TV in other countries, which he politely declined.

“I came to Australia and got myself a day job for six months,” Blunt said.

“It was nice to use The X Factor as a break from touring for 10 years. It was fun to be on a TV show for a moment and see how that industry works but I went back to my other job fresh and inspired.”

Blunt’s new album The Afterlove is his most risky release, taking a new, poppier direction after his four albums sold 20 million copies propelled by hits You’re Beautiful, Goodbye My Lover, 1973, Bonfire Heart and When I Find Love Again.

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James Blunt got inspired at Burning Man. Picture: Sarah Matray

“My producer Tom Rothrock and I were at the Burning Man festival in the US at 5am and he told me ‘It’s been an amazing journey with incredible success — you could retire at this stage’. But I wanted to come back with something special and different.”

The album debuted at No. 7 in Australia and contains a collaboration with his mate Ed Sheeran — who he’ll open for across the US this year.

“I’m a man who is used to getting negatives and I’m seeing positive feedback for this album which is an unusual experience for me, I haven’t seen that since my first album. It’s taken longer to catch on but I’m happy with that. People are telling each other they like it, word of mouth for me is much more exciting than my record company telling people to buy it; people are finding it for themselves.”

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James Blunt is surprised to be getting compliments from music fans. Picture: Sarah Matray

Blunt, 43, will perform the album’s next single, Don’t Give Me Those Eyes, at the Logies.

The ballad was made with the team behind Miley Cyrus’ Wrecking Ball and a producer who has worked with The Weeknd.

“It’s probably my best song,” Blunt said. “For me it’s my most poignant song I’ve written in many, many years. It felt like when I was working onYou’re Beautiful. I knew I had an important story. It’s my Wrecking Ball. It’s an epic, it’s like a Greek tragedy. If you relate to the song then there is darkness in your heart. It’s about something that can’t go on, but is great.”