Interview With Aled Jones And Russell Watson

Aled Jones and Russell Watson, are reuniting for Christmas 2022 with a new album.

Performing together following a three-year hiatus, the duo will also embark on a UK tour this November and December.

Released on 4th November via BMG, Christmas With Aled and Russell features new recordings of universally beloved Christmas songs, including traditional carols such as O Holy Night, O Little Town of Bethlehem and In The Bleak Midwinter, alongside festive favourites including White Christmas, It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas, Little Drummer Boy, and Mistletoe and Wine.

The album is also set to feature a very special rendition of Walking In The Air - released by then boy soprano Aled in 1985.

Our Music Features Writer spoke to the duo about the new album and tour.

How did you decide which songs to cover on your new album?

Aled:We have a great mix of traditional songs and some you would not expect either of us to record. I would say it is probably the best one we have recorded out of the three we have done so far. This one has a real sparkle about it with the blend of our voices and harmonies.

Russell: We recorded the album at the height of summer, it was 38c outside and we were singing I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas!

Why did you record a new version of Walking In The Air on the new album?

Aled: I have never sung the song with anyone else before at and Russ was always going on about the song, so it had to be done really.

Russell: It has been a dream of mine to perform the song with Aled as I was a huge fan of the original. It was a great opportunity to sing it with one of my heroes. Aled and I have been friends for over twenty years so whenever we get together there is always a lot of fun, laughter and ribbing.
Aled: More than anything we both love the music. When we first signed our contract with the record company they did not know how we would sound together but here we are, three albums in and going out on tour in the autumn.

Do either of you have habits that annoy one another?

Russell: Aled turned up late for the last interview we did which is especially annoying when I am always punctual.
Aled: He is joking, in our relationship, I am the early one - Russ is the late one.
Russell: I was actually born a couple of hours late but to be honest I do tend to be late for anything.
Aled: We get on so well, there has never been any bad blood between us, we are the same on stage as we are off, I think that is why people like us. We are both lucky to be able to do something that we both love.

Do you have any rituals before you go on stage?

Russell: I have a little warm up routine that I do for my vocal chords.
Aled: Russ has to sing all the high notes so when we go out on tour he tends to warm up more than me.

What was it like Aled appearing on The Masked Singer?

It was great fun because I got the chance to perform songs that I would never have sung. The outfits are very heavy and do make you very hot. You cannot see anything when in the costume. I had to be led to the stage as I could not even see my feet.

Was the experience a good one Russell when you appeared in the musical Chicago?

It certainly was though it was very intense. I got to travel to a lot of different places and spend more time there than I normally would with the type of show Aled and I do together where we are straight on the road to the next concert.

We are both excited about the album and tour together and hope to see not just our fans but anyone who has not seen us before.