AFTER battling brain cancer, John Newman is back on the road with his Out of The Blue tour which he is bringing to small, intimate venues across the country, including The Anvil bar in Bournemouth on Wednesday, July 24.

Here the 29-year-old singer, best known for the track Love Me Again which peaked at number one in the UK singles chart, in July 2013explains why he is going back to his roots.

“The main reason is that I was singing flimsy pop tunes, touring, and staying in posh hotel rooms, and not really enjoying touring anymore. When I started out it was mental and I toured the world, and now I feel like it’s become quite sterile.

“I want to get back in touch with touring and enjoy it. Dave, the plumber at a bar in hull wants me to perform these songs that are going to be from the next campaign and then he stands there at Wembley and says “I watched John Newman, he came and played in front of me in my small town so I’ll come to Wembley and watch him and now he’s playing the same songs in front of all these people “ it’s such a special thing and a rare opportunity to be able to do that. It’s not being egotistical, like saying you get the opportunity to see the white in my eyes like God would, I just want to meet people and film the experience.”

So it’s almost like going from the ground up again?

“Absolutely, I want to appreciate it so that I never lose touch of this. I never want to become one of those people again.”

How did you choose the cities and towns that you’re playing at?

“It was a bit annoying because I made a massive list of places that meant something more to me and what I wanted to do in those places, but it kind of went off from the venues, booking agents, and promoters. The places that I missed off the list and meant something to me are part of the reason why it’s called Out of The Blue because we are going to do pop up gigs and turn up at places and do one off gigs, turn up at petrol stations and give out free merchandise and free demos. These are the first demos of songs that they will end up hearing on the radio in six months time and hopefully it will be flying to the top of the charts.”

What can we expect from these intimate shows?

“There’s going to be new music, it’s going to be stripped back and chilled because it would be stupid to play with a full band and that’s not the idea. People can expect new and old songs because that’s special as well, hearing songs that have 50 million views on YouTube, hearing them in small pubs and seeing them broken down. There’ll be some covers of tunes that I like; I’m just going to have a right laugh.”

So like a going to the pub with your friends kind of vibe?

“Definitely, I think that’s what it should be, people just coming to have a good time, having a laugh and I’ll meet everyone afterwards.”

Are you planning on exploring while you’re on tour?

“That’s 100 per cent the main point. When I was touring I didn’t feel like I was doing that or appreciating it.

“When somebody would say ‘oh come and try a local delicacy’ I would say ‘no I can’t be arsed’.

“I’d sit on my laptop working and it became a chore and I thought instead of sitting in my room making music, why don’t I sit by a fire in the middle of the countryside in a camper van making music. We’re filming a documentary called The Out of The Blue Documentary and it’s basically me and some of the characters that are in my band, similar to a Top Gear cast, trailing about the country meeting new people, working in chip shops, doing loads of stuff.

He adds: “Playing new material at these shows gives you a chance to see people’s reactions and see how it goes down. That is part of the reason I’m doing it, to see what people feel is good and how people will react. I want to see if it connects with people and if it hits them in the heart.”