Olly Murs interview: "It's a new era, it's a new chart, it's a new everything"

The last quarter of the year in music - or Q4 to industry types - is often a tumultuous, unpredictable and, well, Christmassy time. But one staple of the season you can always count on being there is Olly Murs. 

His fifth album in six years, called 24 HRS, arrives this week after 2014's chart-topping Never Been Better. And it's not just a select few that find his near-annual album releases more comforting than sipping hot chocolate under a warm blanket; each of his records has sold in massive quantities. And we mean massive. More on that next week, when Official Charts will be revealing his biggest sellers.

We caught up with the man himself to find out what we can expect from his latest collection. 

Hello Olly! You're releasing your fifth album this week. That's pretty exciting, isn't it?

“Super exciting! It’s been a busy year writing it, producing it and finishing it. We’ve been pushing the singles hard and we’ve got a few big TV performances booked. I think Grow Up will get its moment, which will be great. It’s a new era, it’s a new chart, it’s a new everything. I’m adapting and getting used to it and I’m excited to see how it all pans out.”

MORE: Watch a very cool interactive video featuring songs from Olly's new record

You've sold a lot of albums. Two have sold over one million, and the other two aren't far off. Did that put the pressure on when you started 24 HRS? 

“It’s great that all my albums have done really well – I can’t believe the stats they’ve managed given it’s a market that’s changed so much over the years. I’m proud that people are still buying into my albums. Fingers crossed this one does just as well and things work out!

"This one doesn’t feel much different in some ways, except I’m giving my fans more of me on this record than previous ones. I feel really positive about this one, I can’t wait. I’d like to get another Number 1 but you just never know at this time of year.”

MORE: Check out Olly Murs' complete Official UK Chart history, including 4 Number 1 singles

Yes, like all your previous album you've released it during the busy run up to Christmas period, which means your up against the big players in the Official Chart. You never make it easy for yourself, do you?  

“There is a lot of competition, but we’ve never shied away from that before. We released my first album the week of or the week after Take That’s Progess. It went to Number 2 or 3 in the end. It’s a big time of year, but with what we’ve achieved in past, I think we can muster up against some of the big boys and we can have a bit of a fight for Number 1. I would like it to do well because it’s the most personal one I’ve ever done and I’m super proud of the songs on it. It’s a modern, fresh pop record.

The album's lead single You Don't Know Love is classic Olly banger, while Grow Up is probably your most subtle album launch single yet. Why did you take that approach this time?  

“To do the unexpected and see a different side to me… I launched albums with big songs before, and Grow Up for me is something I’ve never done before, that acoustic percussive sound. It’s a grower, not a shower. It seems to slowly be clicking with people. This album isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon. There’s a song on there called Unredictable which I think will be a really big song for me. We’ve got the song Years And Years on there as well which people seem to be loving."

“I want people to listen to the whole of this album, because I think it’s really good – I’m super, super, super excited!”

A lot of the album is about your girlfriend breaking up with you. Has she heard it and offered her opinion yet? 

“It’s a break up and moving on sort of album. It’s not really a sad album – I don’t really like that tag. It’s a journey of how you get over a break up – good day, bad days, days when you miss them, times when you go on dates with new people… it’s got a bit of everything on there. It's still me, it's still cheeky!”

Olly Murs' new album 24HRS is out November 11. Click here to watch a very cool interactive video featuring songs from the record.

Article images: Simon Emmett