Union J Interview: ‘Rylan’s got an incredible jawline’

For some, The X Factor is a blessing, a platform that propels them to superstardom without any hassle or difficulty – hiya, 1D! But for others, it’s not such plain sailing – you know who they are, we don’t need to mention names. Union J sit somewhere in the middle. Their debut album did well, but not amazingly well, but now they’re back with a new single, Tonight (We Live Forever), that they’re hoping will take them to the next level. I met up with the boys – Attitude‘s cover stars back in June 2013 – for a much-needed catch up.

You’re back with the new single, Tonight (We Live Forever). What can you tell me about it?
Josh: “It’s a feel-good summer song, and anthemic. Every time we hear it on the radio, we honestly feel it stands up next to every other song out there.”

There have also been some changes in camp Union J, right?
JJ: “Yeah, this year we’ve moved over to Epic Records. We just sat down with them and they had the same vision that we did. It’s got more of an international feel this year and that’s what we’re aiming for. They’re hungry and it’s looking really cool.”

So have you finished your new album?
Jaymi: “We’re just finalising it. We’ve written quite a lot and we’ve worked with some amazing producers like Diane Warren, who’s the ballad queen, and Jamie Scott, who’s written with 1D. They’re really current people and it’s nice to be working with the best of the best. It gives you a boost because we’ll be singing these songs for the rest of our lives, so it really does help that you believe and love them.”
Josh: “When you write a song that means something to you, you sing it in a way that’s unexplainable. You get a part of your voice out that… you’re singing from the heart. You’ve got an emotional bond to those songs.”

The lyric video for Tonight (We Live Forever) uses Snapchat to tell the story. Are you fans of snapchat?
George: “We’re obsessed with it.”

Have you gotten yourself into trouble on it?
Jaymi: “I had to delete it. My username was Jaymiunionj, I didn’t overly think it through, but the fans got hold of it and were sending some extreme pictures. It’s not for me. It’s a fun thing, though. We have a group one that George runs and he just snapchats the fans.”
George: “I just take photos of the boys. I don’t dare look at the ones sent because it tells them that you’ve seen it. So if they’ve sent something dirty, they’ll know and that’s how you get in trouble.”

It does look like you’re all having fun, but is it usually like that or do you ever bicker about using each other’s hairspray?
George: “We’re really stocked up, so it’s OK.”
Jaymi: “We do get on really well, the four of us. We’re all so chilled that we don’t need to have little arguments that piss each other off.  If someone needs some breathing space they’re going to get it. When The Big Reunion was on, I remember saying to Josh that we can’t end up like that because they hate each other. We’d never want to get to that stage.”
Josh: “I think that shows like The Big Reunion help. Most problems that bands have are so easily prevented by just having an honest, open conversation.”

Since you were on The X Factor, there’s been a mini-explosion of boybands onto the pop scene. Where does Union J stand among them?
Jaymi: “When we came off the show, we had The Wanted and JLS dominating the charts and now they’re gone. There’s always a cycle for bands and luckily it’s still going with The Vamps, 5SOS, Rixton, 1D and us. Because we’ve had our break since they’ve come out, it’s given us a chance to figure out the music that we want to do, so we can slide into how the market is going. There’s no point us trying to release something that sounds two years old. Music is about evolving. But it’s a really great time to be in a group, and we’re really proud to be in this cycle of bands.”

Rixton said that you guys had the best jawlines in pop. Who do you think has the best jawlines in pop?
George: “Ariana Grande.”
Jaymi: “Rylan’s got an incredible jawline.”

Is that not just beard?
Jaymi: “That’s what I do otherwise I look like a turkey!”

I end up looking like that picture on the internet of the person who looks like a thumb.
Jaymi: “What, Jessie J? No, I made that up. Our manager, Darren, is bald, and when Jessie J shaved her head I drew one on this thumb and one on the other and they had a little A&R meeting.”

Jessie J’s last album didn’t quite do what she wanted. She’s in a bit of a weird situation.
Jaymi: “I loved what she said about it, though. She was like, ‘I’m a business woman, I know when something didn’t work and I’m moving on.’ I loved that she was honest about it. Yes, we all write our songs and all feel that way about our work, but at the end of the day it’s still a business. If something’s not working, ditch it and move on. She’s done that really quickly, so fair play to her.”

You guy’s were on the cover of Attitude cover last year. Do you look back fondly on that?
Jaymi: “We looked shit. It’s a good cover, but we were little boys. We look so different now. We’d love to come back and do another one.”

Would you ever do the naked cover?
Jaymi: “I’ve always said that I’d do it if we were given the goal to get in shape. Because we’re on the road a lot, you do end up eating shit. If you’ve got a goal to work towards I think we could all get in shape and get our giblets out for you.”

And Jaymi, you were part of the Love & Marriage issue. How did you find the reaction to that?
Jaymi: “We were chuffed! It was amazing to see our picture as the massive advert in Moss Bros stores all over the country. In my local area all the towns have kept the picture up, too.”
Josh:  “He got a new car a few months ago and he got it wrapped with that picture. It’s like, ‘God, attention-seeking.'”

And how are the wedding plans coming along?
Jaymi: “We’ve planned down to the last thing, but we haven’t set an actual date. Both of us are so busy and we want to open a business, our own salon. We wanted to make sure that we don’t rush it.”
Josh: “They don’t know whether to have it in Bognor Regis or Butlins.”

Union J release Tonight (We Live Forever) on August 17th. Watch the video below: