Interview: Tim Prottey-Jones On SUPERSTAR, KINKY BOOTS, His New Album, & Plans For The Future

Off the back of his latest album release 'To Do. To Be', BWW:UK spoke to Tim Prottey-Jones about his current projects and plans for the future.

You are a well-respected music producer and have your own business as well as performing in a West End show. How do you have the time to do so much?!

I started DemoStudio a couple of years ago to fulfil my love of writing and recording. We provide recording services for songwriters and performers. For me, it's a way of keeping myself busy and it provides an income between shows and contracts. I can be quite selective about how much I take on when in a show, but I also work with some wonderful engineers, writers and producers who I'm able to outsource the work to when times get busy. It's also worth saying that once a West End show has been thoroughly rehearsed in, you do tend to get your days back and that is time that I'm able to write and record for DemoStudio projects and my own work.

All three of your albums have been a triumph with an array of West End performers singing your songs. Although you have featured, are there any plans to do a solo album?

I'm so grateful to everyone who has appeared on my albums thus far and I don't intend to stop there. As long as there are new musicals to be written, then I will always have new songs to showcase. For me, it's not about it being a solo project. I love to collaborate, be it with lyricists, other musicians or indeed the array of different vocalists, I wouldn't want to lose that process by making all of the songs for me to sing. I am in two bands outside of these musical theatre projects (Straight on Red and The Paper Hearts), so I certainly get my fair share of singing and recording!

You have collaborated with many people writing music, including your lovely wife Angela. How do you find this creative process?

I think collaborating is a very valuable aspect of making an album. It's great to have fresh ears to listen to my work and different people's lyrics provide me with varying inspirations to write in different ways. I also write with all sorts of lyricists, authors, tv screen writers and cutting edge libretto writers, all of whom have 'their' ways of doing things and whereas I don't sit in a room with them, I usually rely on my initial thoughts and hunches when reading their work. These hunches then shape the mood and tonality of the particular piece. For me, I never force myself to write. This is why I don't arrange writing sessions with the lyricists, I write when the mood hits...morning, noon or night!

Did you enjoy being part of ITV's Superstar?

The whole process was massively unexpected but brilliant. When you attend an open audition with thousands of hopefuls, you really don't ever believe you will progress. But, if you get that initial break you are then fully in a process that doesn't stop. There is so very little time to even contemplate what it is you're getting yourself in to. As it happens, I loved the entire process. We were looked after, we were a very driven bunch of guys who all got on brilliantly and perhaps for that reason, the hardest part of it was that it was a competition. The live shows for me were the hardest part. The nerves were like nothing I'd ever experienced and knowing that the UK was watching and judging was a tough experience. That said, Superstar gave me the confidence to pursue musical theatre, to leave my job and eventually move down to London - so for many reasons I'm very grateful to it!

Performing in arenas on the Jesus Christ Superstar tour is a slightly different ballgame to playing to a 1000-odd people in theatre. Did you have to adapt your performance much for this scale of production?

There were many differences between the arenas and the theatres, most of which relate to atmosphere and the intimacy. Jesus Christ Superstar worked well on such a large scale, the manic riot scenes were energetic and spectacular, whilst there were also very eerie, quiet moments that almost felt awkward in the space. With a theatre, most shows have been put in that particular theatre because it suits the piece and I think that was definitely the case with Once and indeed Kinky Boots. The sight lines are all good and to be able to see so many of the faces of the audience instantly gives you a sense of intimacy and connection which I personally love. Perhaps it comes from my background of playing in bands in small gig venues which are just packed full of atmosphere and intensity.

Being a part of Once seemed a perfect fit for you based on its actor-musician status and Kinky Boots - which you are currently in - is completely different, showing your vast versatility. Of the productions you have been in, do you have a production highlight thus far?

Absolutely, Once ticked all the boxes for me. The musicianship, the comedic acting and the wonderful writing of the songs and book for this show made this an ideal job. However, I love to be versatile, try new things, try and let people see me in different ways. Kinky Boots is massively different in so many ways but you certainly leave the stage and building in a great mood! As for a career highlight, I think it would have to be getting the chance to do this for a living. I went for Superstar in the hope of somehow being a part of the UK Arena Tour. I loved Jesus Christ Superstar and I wanted that to be my first professional role. When I think back, it's hard to believe that goal was achieved and I wouldn't be where I am now if I hadn't bitten the bullet and attended that first audition.