Prepare to be entranced by the laidback pop sounds of singer Othello Woolf. Words by Hattie Collins…

In the basement of a Soho café there sits a young man eating porridge and contemplating his compositions. “Even if I explain what it maybe means to me today doesn’t mean I’ll think the same thing in a month or a year, or that you will even think the same because all lyrics are open to interpretation,” he says as we talk about the woozy blues of his gorgeous new single Stand. “I never really know what a song is about at the time. But as I’ve thought about it in the months after, it’s started to make sense as you look back with a bit of hindsight.” Stand features Woolf telling a girl to stick with her dude because ‘He’s the only one when your parents pass who will stick by you. Or so I’m told.’ “Yeah, there’s a bit of doubt in there,” he admits, “I guess it’s a bit ambiguous.”

The 27 year-old north Londoner wrote many of the songs after breaking-up with a girl. Rather than sitting in front of the telly crying at Eastenders, the writer, singer and producer decided to drown his sorrows in music. “I was in a pretty bad way and so I locked myself away to record. It’s good to document stuff and get things out of your system.” Lucky for us he did; Woolf has created what is best described as ‘80s lounge-esqe, soul-stuffed, drum-machine led loveliness. Or “Pop music,” says the Dr. Dre, Smiths, Biggie, Prince and The Jam fan. “I think I am a pop artist but right now pop is seen as that X Factor stuff, which isn’t great pop music to me,” he points out. “Artists in the past like Prince or Bowie made great pop music and there are artists like that around but it doesn’t get the exposure at the moment. But that’s not to say it won’t in the future. Hopefully we’ll see a bit of turnaround.” Signed to the indie label Young & Lost, Woolf joins the likes of Ellie Goulding, The xx and Hurts in terms of making music stuffed with melody, yet which retains a credibility. They’re not trying to make mainstream music, it just happens that their sounds should make sense to many. His music is, to quote Woolf, a little like his fashion (which comes courtesy of Casey Heyfood). “Classic but with modern elements and contemporary designs.”

Getting into music at the age of 12 when forced to play the oboe and violin (“the geekiest instruments you can find”), the hip hop head found his own way when he picked up the guitar and started messing about with piano. He joined a couple of bands, but decided life as a solo artist was more appealing. Clearly a deep dude willing to express himself, Woolf decided to keep his surname, but change his first. Oliver became Othello. “It’s pretty close to Oliver; begins with an O, three syllables…” he grins. “It’s in the tradition of pop with having a pseudonym and also a way to write really personal songs without feeling too self-conscious.” Ah, so there must be a nod to Shakespeare somewhere there then? “No. It’s just a cool name,” he laughs. “I’ve never met anyone in real life called Othello. It’s a good opportunity to get away with it within the world of pop. If you called your kid it, they’d probably get bullied. But they’d be the coolest kid later in life… if hadn’t scarred them too much!”

Currently doing a few dates in London, Othello is gearing up for the release of his first single in January, followed by shows around the country. “I’ve definitely got ambitions but at the same time I’m going to do my very best not to compromise the music to reach those,” he says of burgeoning fame and fortune. “I realise there are certain compromises to make… but I’ll try to keep them to the minimum.”

Stand is out January 2010. MySpace.com/othellowoolf

Tags: Interviews, Othello Woolf, Pop