This transcript was automatically generated and might contain errors.

[0:03] Ramin Karimloo: Hi folks and welcome to The Hang.

[0:05] Ramin Karimloo: In this episode, we are hanging with the incredible Welsh actress, singer and songwriter, Lucie Jones.

[0:12] Ramin Karimloo: Lucie has had an eclectic career, which we all in the UK first met her on the X Factor as she was one of the series finalists in 2009. Then she took to the stage in various leading roles in Les Miserables, We Will Rock You, Legally Blonde, The Wedding Singer, and up until the pandemic, Jenna in Waitress. Lucie also represented the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2017. Now recently, Lucie headlined her own solo show at the Adelphi Theatre in London. That show was recorded live and will soon be released as an album. I wanted to hear about Lucie's experience about putting that show together and her journey with the musical Waitress. Sadly, because of the pandemic, the recording of this podcast was done just before that, and since then, Waitress has announced its closure in London.

Lucie is one of the kindest people I know, and I admire how hard she works. I love how she always has a busy creative mind and is willing to try new adventures to grow as an artist. Welcome to The Hang, Lucie Jones.

[1:21] Lucie Jones: Hello, thanks for having me.

[1:23] Ramin Karimloo: You have a show tonight.

[1:24] Lucie Jones: I do, yes.

[1:25] Ramin Karimloo: What's going on with that?

[1:26] Lucie Jones: Um, it's just a small um, it was St. David's Day this week, which is the patron saint of Wales.

[1:33] Ramin Karimloo: Yes.

[1:34] Lucie Jones: Uh, and the Royal Guards Chapel in the palace. Uh, I will be singing with the Welsh Guard, with the Royal Welsh Guard, so the brass band of the Welsh Army.

[1:43] Ramin Karimloo: Wow.

[1:43] Lucie Jones: Yeah, it's cool. I do it every year. It's a really great gig. It's free. Everyone comes down and we just have a lovely time.

[1:51] Ramin Karimloo: Alright, so you're not nervous about it? I'm not like because I uh, right away I was like, why are you doing this today?

[1:55] Lucie Jones: Oh gosh, no, not at all. It's a really nice gig. I do it every year. I know the band guys really well. I know the promoters and the producers really well. So it's super chill. And then we all go out and have dinner afterwards at the Cavalry Club. I've, it's very large, I mean, it's very not me. Um, but it's really fun.

[2:12] Ramin Karimloo: You can pull it off.

[2:14] Lucie Jones: Maybe, maybe once a year, yeah.

[2:17] Ramin Karimloo: So good to see you.

[2:18] Lucie Jones: You too, man.

[2:19] Ramin Karimloo: It's been ages, yeah. And you're like a big star of Waitress now, which I know you're on a break.

[2:25] Lucie Jones: Yes, I am on a break.

[2:26] Ramin Karimloo: And you're going back to it?

[2:27] Lucie Jones: Yes. I go back, um, in the end, well, kind of the middle of March until June. And then the show closes in July.

[2:36] Ramin Karimloo: And I can come finally see it now that I'm around.

[2:38] Lucie Jones: If you don't, then I refuse to let you put this podcast out.

[2:42] Ramin Karimloo: You have to come.

[2:43] Lucie Jones: It's a deal. I'm gonna book my tickets now.

[2:45] Ramin Karimloo: Yeah. Well, Lucie, we've been in, we were in touch during all that. Talk about resilience.

[2:51] Lucie Jones: Yeah.

[2:51] Ramin Karimloo: Good for you. People go for some of these big roles, especially something as popular as Waitress, and I'm sure Dear Evan Hansen probably went through something like that. I've been through things like that where roles you audition and audition, and you keep thinking, what more do you want to see?

[3:08] Lucie Jones: This was a funny one as well because, um, as soon as the show was announced that it was coming here, uh, I gunned for it. I put it right in my sights and I did everything I could for it. Uh, and the audition process all went really well. Uh, we did this final mix and match session where I met with David Hunter and Marisha and Laura and uh, Pete Hannah who was our original Earl, and um, everyone started to get offers.

[3:34] Lucie Jones: Uh, and they kept saying to me, we really, really, really want you. We're just, well, you know, ironing out some corners. And then they called me and said, oh, we've actually put an offer out to Kat McPhee to start the show. And we'd like you to be the understudy. Um, to which I said, um, uh, respectfully, my heart is completely in this now. I can't, I can't do that. I don't think I can sit and watch that happen when if I'd always been auditioning for an understudy, then it would have been a completely different thing. Um, I'm nowhere near above it or anything, not at all. It just, my heart was in a different place with it.

[4:09] Ramin Karimloo: Yeah, and that's fair enough.

[4:10] Lucie Jones: Yeah. Um, so when they then eventually came back to me and said, would you like to take over from Catherine? Um, obviously I said yes because, uh, there I was. No announcement, just Kat went off to New York to have a wedding dress fitting and I went on. Uh, no announcement, no, oh, you went on before you were meant to start.

[4:30] Ramin Karimloo: Yep, no display in the front of house, no Twitter, no social media, no what's on stage, none of it.

[4:36] Lucie Jones: It was very strange. Um, kind of love that dog. That was it was great.

[4:40] Ramin Karimloo: No, because there was so little pressure on me.

[4:43] Lucie Jones: Because it wasn't like, uh, oh, there's this new person coming in to take over this great role in this great show. It was just I just rocked up, did my rehearsal and went, okay, good. And just before the curtain came in, uh, out for the start of the show, uh, the overture starts, which is Sara Bareilles singing, sugar, sugar, sugar, butter, sugar, butter, flour. And then the curtain flies out.

[5:06] Lucie Jones: And as soon as the sugar went, I went, oh my god. I'm actually doing this. And there's someone stood behind me, and I just grabbed him with both of my hands and he was like, you can do this.

[5:17] Ramin Karimloo: Yeah, you can.

[5:18] Lucie Jones: Uh, and I never looked back from that moment. It's been amazing. I'm not there right now because Sara's playing the role.

[5:23] Ramin Karimloo: Yeah.

[5:23] Lucie Jones: Uh, but I'll be back. And it's been, it's had its ups and downs, as all jobs do. Um, but at the core of it is a really great show and a really great team, and we've had a great time.

[5:34] Ramin Karimloo: I hear only great things about it and specifically your performance.

[5:37] Lucie Jones: Oh, well, thank you. I'm, you know, I pay good people to come and say nice things about me.

[5:43] Ramin Karimloo: I just heard snippets of you just singing sugar right now, and I'm I was like, oh, there's that voice. I've missed that. It's like we've known each other since the 25th anniversary of Les Mis.

[5:51] Lucie Jones: It's when we first met, right?

[5:52] Ramin Karimloo: Yes, yeah, the hotel. And we became great friends, and I'd like to still think we are that because even though years can, it feels like years can kind of separate when we see each other. Because I went away.

[6:04] Lucie Jones: But it feels like...

[6:06] Ramin Karimloo: But I saw you when you were away. I saw you in New York and I can see the show. And, uh, you're also, you're that friend of mine. I have quite a few of them in our industry. I think that you just pick up where you left off. There's no hard feelings, there's no why didn't you call me?

[6:19] Lucie Jones: No, and there's no catch-up text, it's just like, so, anyways, it's like we're right into it as if I was just talking to you yesterday.

[6:25] Ramin Karimloo: Hey, um, I know it's been three years, but um, yeah, you were back for a coffee, and you're like, yeah, sure, I'll see you right now. And then that's it.

[6:31] Lucie Jones: Yeah. Um, and yeah, I kind of like that about our industry because the people that you actually click with and you actually connect with, you always have that. And then there's the periphery people that you work with, and if you don't see them, they're like, why didn't you call me? And you're like, yeah, that pressure and it's, you're not, you're not my friend. You don't care about me in the same way.

[6:52] Ramin Karimloo: My filter now is if I get that pressure, I'm like, okay, you're not weighing up my kids, my travel, my like what time do you think I'm sat at home with all this free time?

[7:02] Lucie Jones: Yeah, I'm just sat at home going, no, avoiding you for six to eight months. Then I might consider you.

[7:06] Ramin Karimloo: Um, no, absolutely not. And then my dilemma is I know they're like, well, you can text or whatever, but I don't always be on my phone either.

[7:14] Lucie Jones: Of course.

[7:15] Ramin Karimloo: I'm specifically turning it off now, like, I'm not gonna touch that thing. I'll try and wake up, I'm not touching my phone for the first two hours.

[7:21] Lucie Jones: That's a really good point.

[7:23] Ramin Karimloo: I read something recently that was, um, wake up, take a shower, eat your breakfast, do your workout, whatever you need to do, like make sure there's been a good hour of you before you then look at social media or read your emails or whatever. And that if that means getting up earlier, get up earlier, do it.

[7:39] Lucie Jones: And I did it, I mean, for like a week. But I did it and I really felt great.

[7:43] Ramin Karimloo: It really does make a difference to how your day kind of plays out.

[7:50] Lucie Jones: You have to take care of yourself.

[7:51] Ramin Karimloo: Yeah, for sure. So I don't even know if I want to start in about X Factor and stuff.

[7:56] Lucie Jones: That's, yeah, no, do it. Why not?

[7:58] Ramin Karimloo: I feel there's gonna be a connection because you, the reason I want to get you on here now, and obviously there's so much we can talk about, which there will be other opportunities. You just did a concert at the Adelphi Theatre.

[8:09] Lucie Jones: Yes, I did.

[8:10] Ramin Karimloo: I saw photos, I wasn't here, I was just getting back from Japan when it was happening. I guarantee I would have been there, I promise.

[8:16] Lucie Jones: No, I know you would have been there. The photos I saw, the joy coming out of just the photo, your eyes, the audience. First of all, your photographer was great because he or she is great, yeah. They caught amazing moments. What was going on with that? What brought about you doing a solo?

[8:34] Lucie Jones: Because was that your first time doing your own full-on show like that?

[8:39] Lucie Jones: Oh, yeah. Because I know with X Factor you did gigs.

[8:41] Ramin Karimloo: Yeah.

[8:42] Lucie Jones: Or you're part of a bunch of people, or you've done musical theatre concerts. This is Lucie Jones selling the Adelphi Theatre.

[8:50] Lucie Jones: Yeah, it was, um, let me, uh, it sounds so dramatic, doesn't it? Um, it started off as Freddie Tapner and I, Freddie of the London Musical Theatre Orchestra.

[9:02] Ramin Karimloo: Amazing.

[9:03] Lucie Jones: One of my favourite people in the whole world.

[9:05] Ramin Karimloo: Yeah.

[9:05] Lucie Jones: Uh, we've worked together for the last four or five years on lots of different projects. And he has become one of my closest friends. We see each other about once a week, and we kind of catch up, and like he's my sounding board for a lot of things.

[9:19] Lucie Jones: And I'll have like three business plan ideas a week and I'll run them all by Freddie, and he'll be like, absolutely not, it's terrible.

[9:24] Ramin Karimloo: Oh no, there's some growth in that.

[9:26] Lucie Jones: And so we kind of, um, yeah, Freddie will give you honesty for sure.

[9:30] Ramin Karimloo: 100%, 110. Hi, Freddie.

[9:32] Lucie Jones: Um, he is a great guy, and he was sat in my dressing room with me, and we were talking about one of my many business ideas. And he said, why don't you, what are you gonna do with your six weeks off? Because by this time I knew Sara Bareilles was gonna come in and play Jenna.

[9:48] Lucie Jones: Uh, and I said, I don't know. I kind of want to do, I kind of want to do an album, but I don't know in what order to do it. I don't know whether I should record it whilst I'm selling the show and then promote it and tour it while I'm off, or do I take those six weeks to finish off some writing and do it that way, or do I do a musical theatre album? Like, what am I gonna do here?

[10:07] Lucie Jones: Um, and then we start to talk about, um, because of Waitress and because of where I am right now, it makes sense for it to be a musical theatre style album. Um, but I'm not a huge listener of a studio musical theatre album. Doesn't mean I don't like them at all. I've listened to them lots in the past. Um, I just, it, I don't think it suits me in the way that I perform.

[10:34] Lucie Jones: Um, and I just love going to see people on stage in their element with live musicians, and that atmosphere is just so special, and we don't have many live recordings of a solo artist.

[10:47] Lucie Jones: We have lots of, you know, a concert vision of a show or the desk recording of Legally Blonde is the most played version of Legally Blonde. Um, yeah, the Sheridan one in London. Uh, and I love those. I love those things. So we thought, oh, why don't we do it? It started off as, well, why don't we call Zidell's, see if they've got an hour somewhere, and we'll literally just do an hour straight through. I'll do a couple of little chats, but mainly just singing some stuff from my career, and we can desk record it and see how it goes. That very quickly escalated into, we've booked the Adelphi.

[11:22] Ramin Karimloo: Yeah, of course you did.

[11:24] Lucie Jones: And we've got Freddie's 22-piece orchestra, and it's selling really well, and we're gonna do it for a full-scale album. Uh, so it's an 18-track live album.

[11:38] Ramin Karimloo: Holy shit, 18.

[11:40] Lucie Jones: Yeah, I know. Um, and actually at the start of the year I had a little bit of trouble with my voice. When I made my set list at the end of last year, I was soaring. My voice had never been better. Uh, so I didn't help myself out there. But surprisingly, or not surprisingly, depending on how you look at it, um, my body took over and it was great.

[12:01] Ramin Karimloo: You found the joy in it.

[12:04] Lucie Jones: Yeah, I really did, you know. As soon as I came, I'll play it for you before I leave today. I've just the front track. I have, I'm a fan of musical theatre, I'm a fan of music, I love to watch things, I like to be in a live room. I never anticipated that I would walk onto a stage like that, as me to a sold-out room and hear that kind of response. And when you hear it, I burst into tears. And I honestly, it's so overwhelming. It's, uh, it was awesome. And these, I don't like to call them fans, but like people that buy tickets and support us.

[12:41] Ramin Karimloo: Yeah, it's, it honestly, I can't put it into words how much it actually means because they, it wasn't perfect, and they sat there and they smiled and they laughed and they were totally entirely with me for the whole of it, and it was just the best experience we've ever had on stage.

[13:03] Lucie Jones: What is that word perfect? Who wants perfect?

[13:05] Ramin Karimloo: Well, exactly.

[13:06] Lucie Jones: Aha, perfection. Imperfection gives you the character, it makes sense.

[13:11] Ramin Karimloo: Which is why I wanted it live.

[13:12] Lucie Jones: Because that live aspect, and yeah, I mean, we've fixed a couple of things. We've fixed like sound problems, and we've brought up the trumpets at some parts in the sound mix, and we have to do all of those things. That doesn't ruin the integrity of it. And even if you had to fix any vocals or what to get it all in one go, who doesn't?

[13:31] Ramin Karimloo: Yeah, unrealistic.

[13:32] Lucie Jones: It is unrealistic, but it's, uh, well, you're not gonna lose the essence and the overall, like even 85% is what was there.

[13:39] Ramin Karimloo: Yeah, and we mic'd the audience.

[13:41] Lucie Jones: So they're on this album, which is another reason why I wanted to do it this way, because I want to, I'm trying to pave a way here so that other people can come out and do this because I want to go and see people in this environment. I want to see the London Musical Theatre Orchestra with Ramin Karimloo at the Palladium or whatever.

[13:59] Ramin Karimloo: So why is this one of your business ideas now?

[14:05] Lucie Jones: I mean, something's just paying done. You've got a live production company now.

[14:09] Ramin Karimloo: Um, yeah, not quite. No, uh, don't you know?

[14:13] Lucie Jones: LJR.

[14:14] Ramin Karimloo: I'm gen, that genuinely is my record label.

[14:17] Lucie Jones: I want to sign me up.

[14:20] Ramin Karimloo: Is that a new thing, LJR?

[14:22] Lucie Jones: No, it's, uh, I th everything that I've ever released has been off my own back. Because I've been signed and dropped many times. Um, so it just made more sense to do it my way and, um, you know, occasionally ask people if they'll help me out financially and, um, Lucy from the day one that I've met you, you've had a business head on your s and you were very, uh, tenacious and resilient and smart.

[14:47] Ramin Karimloo: Oh thanks.

[14:48] Lucie Jones: To know where you are now with all the experience you've had.

[14:51] Ramin Karimloo: Come on.

[14:52] Lucie Jones: No, it's, uh, it's been a good time. It's been, uh, it's an interesting life that we've chosen to have, isn't it? And, uh, I'm learning about it every day, and I think I will continue to until the day I stop or I leave or I die or whatever. But it's, uh, it's so entirely worth it.

[15:10] Ramin Karimloo: You know what made my heart burst is when you first moved into the Adelphi, you text me, you went, I'm in your dressing room.

[15:16] Lucie Jones: I know, flesh your heart.

[15:20] Ramin Karimloo: I just remember coming to that dressing room writing songs with you.

[15:22] Lucie Jones: I know, with all that prosthetic songs literally, you couldn't leave the show in between at Love Never Dies.

[15:27] Ramin Karimloo: Yeah.

[15:31] Lucie Jones: Why ever do that thing?

[15:31] Ramin Karimloo: Well, cause we had those three windows, right? Where I'd stand in one, people would notice me, and then I'd duck down, they'd be like, wait, there was a guy there. That'd be at the other window, oh there he is. But then the rest of the group be like, what are you talking about, mate? You've had enough to drink. That would take a good half hour of my waiting time.

[15:45] Lucie Jones: I love that. You should have done it like one side of your face and then at the other side and the other window with the other side of your face.

[15:51] Ramin Karimloo: Yeah.

[15:52] Lucie Jones: So back to your album, which I'm so excited to hear. Now, do you have a title? Are you allowed to talk about that?

[15:57] Lucie Jones: Yeah, yeah, of course. Um, very simply and unimaginatively, it's Lucie Jones Live at The Adelphi.

[16:03] Ramin Karimloo: I'm so glad it is that because it's genuine.

[16:06] Lucie Jones: Mm-hmm.

[16:06] Ramin Karimloo: 18 tracks.

[16:07] Lucie Jones: How many songs did you sing on the number?

[16:09] Lucie Jones: So, um, I actually sang 18 songs. One of the songs I'm keeping back for another reason. Um, and I decided to treat, uh, well it's 18 tracks, 17 songs. I've decided to keep in the conversation that I had with the audience about my audition process for Waitress.

[16:26] Lucie Jones: Um, about my love for Sara Bareilles. And I just thought I wouldn't be able to be doing this right now without that show and without that woman and without that theatre, um, without those supporters and those people in the room, those specific moments in time.

[16:42] Ramin Karimloo: So, um, I rambled, but I'm just leaving it completely uncut and how it was.

[16:51] Lucie Jones: I just thought it was a nice moment to have in there. I've not included any other conversation because that was purely for the night. Um, but yeah, I thought that bit was special.

[16:59] Ramin Karimloo: So you, that's a heck of a pre-production cost to put this album together.

[17:05] Lucie Jones: As in financially.

[17:06] Ramin Karimloo: Yeah.

[17:07] Lucie Jones: Um, so I had a producer for the show and he found the bulk of the money, and then I was very generously sponsored for the album side of things by the Alpha Club.

[17:20] Ramin Karimloo: Yeah, I saw that in a poster dictionary.

[17:21] Lucie Jones: Yeah. You know, they're great patrons.

[17:23] Ramin Karimloo: Yeah, they were.

[17:29] Lucie Jones: Yeah. Man, like they're amazing.

[17:32] Ramin Karimloo: And they're, we need more people like that.

[17:34] Lucie Jones: Yeah, they're great people. They want to invest their money into things that they enjoy, but also they think is a bright thing to be doing.

[17:43] Ramin Karimloo: Uh, and they just sit and smile and love every minute of everything that they do.

[17:49] Lucie Jones: And I was just thrilled to be on board with them as well. Because I've been with them for years. I did their first ever, um, lunch as the Alpha Club in the Shard.

[17:59] Ramin Karimloo: And I got this call saying, can you come and do this gig?

[18:02] Lucie Jones: Um, I was like, yeah, of course. Can you do it with acoustic guitar? And I was like, oh yeah, God, I'm played and sung. I don't do that in public. Like that's a sitting at home writing mediocre songs kind of thing.

[18:14] Ramin Karimloo: Can you do Life on Mars, please?

[18:16] Lucie Jones: I was like, why? What is it? What, who are these people? What the hell? So I went in and I played Life on Mars.

[18:23] Ramin Karimloo: Did you play?

[18:23] Lucie Jones: Yeah.

[18:24] Ramin Karimloo: And they went, they went absolutely nice.

[18:26] Lucie Jones: They were on their feet, like singing, joining it. It was great.

[18:30] Ramin Karimloo: So you only had to do that one number.

[18:31] Lucie Jones: I did a few, I did a few others on like on the spot.

[18:34] Ramin Karimloo: But because your guitar skills.

[18:36] Lucie Jones: I know, God. I've had the same guitar since when I was writing with you, and I bought that cheap clapped out thing from a charity shop in Putney.

[18:44] Ramin Karimloo: Uh, I've still got it.

[18:45] Lucie Jones: Uh, and I'm not very good.

[18:49] Ramin Karimloo: But it's headlined a shard.

[18:50] Lucie Jones: Who cares?

[18:51] Ramin Karimloo: Yeah, headlined the highest building.

[18:53] Lucie Jones: But yeah, um, the album's gonna have 17 songs.

[18:56] Ramin Karimloo: 17 songs, 18 tracks, yeah.

[18:58] Lucie Jones: Who's producing the album?

[19:00] Lucie Jones: Me.

[19:02] Ramin Karimloo: So what, you're doing all the mastery?

[19:04] Lucie Jones: No, so the mix and master is by someone external. Um, but the production of it and everything and the arrangements and it were all kind of from my head and my heart with Fred's, and we had arrangers obviously do all the dots and the parts and everything.

[19:22] Ramin Karimloo: But I really wanted it to be something that I will listen to selfishly in 60 years' time and be like, shit, man. I really loved that song. God, that moment is, I just wanted it to be like a memory for me with these people in this place at this time.

[19:40] Lucie Jones: Because it was a time stamp of a moment.

[19:42] Ramin Karimloo: Yeah, it was so cool.

[19:44] Lucie Jones: That's so brave.

[19:46] Ramin Karimloo: Oh, it was, it was horrifically arrogant and scary, and I have went through phases of like three emotions every minute for the six weeks leading up to it. I was like, why am I doing this? Who do I think I am?

[20:00] Lucie Jones: Exactly.

[20:01] Ramin Karimloo: And then I was like, this is gonna be great.

[20:03] Lucie Jones: Yeah, and we're all gonna have a great time, and they're here to see me, doesn't matter.

[20:07] Ramin Karimloo: They want to hang out, they want to do the songs and whatever.

[20:10] Lucie Jones: And then I'm like, but maybe they feel like forced into it. Like, what are you doing?

[20:14] Ramin Karimloo: I totally understand what you're thinking.

[20:17] Lucie Jones: It's like you are singing.

[20:19] Ramin Karimloo: Yeah, yeah, it's that feeling of wait. I've asked people to pay how much to come see me sing songs that I choose.

[20:25] Lucie Jones: I want to sing.

[20:26] Ramin Karimloo: Who do I think I have?

[20:27] Lucie Jones: Exactly, exactly. God, um, but no, it was great. The audience were awesome, the orchestra were amazing, always are with Freddie.

[20:36] Ramin Karimloo: Yeah, um, not gonna go wrong there.

[20:38] Lucie Jones: No, absolutely not. And the arrangements were like really beautifully done and amazingly executed, and yeah, I'm gushing and repeating myself, but it really was the best night.

[20:48] Ramin Karimloo: It was so good.

[20:50] Lucie Jones: So, do you have a release date?

[20:53] Ramin Karimloo: No.

[20:54] Lucie Jones: Um, I'm kind of playing with that slightly.

[20:59] Ramin Karimloo: Well, I can't decide whether to do it right now and just go, hey, this with the concert's just happened. Here's the album, run with it.

[21:05] Lucie Jones: Or to give it a little moment.

[21:08] Ramin Karimloo: I want people to be sick of me.

[21:10] Lucie Jones: Do you know what I mean?

[21:11] Ramin Karimloo: We need more of you.

[21:12] Lucie Jones: No, but you know what I mean. Like, I'm just about to go back into the show.

[21:15] Ramin Karimloo: Um, I'm gonna be on your posters again, I'm gonna be on YouTube with you.

[21:18] Lucie Jones: Do you really need another layer of that?

[21:20] Ramin Karimloo: Or shall I just wait until the summer and be like, here it is, thank you so much.

[21:24] Lucie Jones: All right, well, let's think of it business sense. People come see you in your show, they're seeing your face around town.

[21:31] Ramin Karimloo: It's for what? Being a musical theatre actress.

[21:34] Ramin Karimloo: We want to hear you sing more. So when I go to see a show, and if this is the performer or artist that I enjoyed, especially in a musical, if I like their voice and what they're all about, they have an album here too.

[21:46] Lucie Jones: Yeah.

[21:47] Ramin Karimloo: No, even in the theater, selling it in the game.

[21:50] Lucie Jones: Yeah.

[21:50] Ramin Karimloo: Or if they let me sell them, I don't know.

[21:52] Lucie Jones: They will, they'll take a huge cut.

[21:55] Ramin Karimloo: That's why folks, if you ever wonder why CDs are so expensive in the theater, it's not because the artist is parking.

[22:01] Lucie Jones: Yeah, you know, there's a massive markup for the theater.

[22:04] Ramin Karimloo: We're so rich, you wouldn't believe I have so much money.

[22:08] Lucie Jones: Oh, if it's ready, I'd love to, I would think get it out.

[22:13] Ramin Karimloo: But you know, it's gonna be ready in like a few days. We finished them, the master is happening like today as we speak.

[22:20] Lucie Jones: So it's gonna be physical copies, it's not just a download.

[22:22] Ramin Karimloo: It's gonna be physical copies as well, yeah. So you gotta sell it. Where else are you gonna know what everyone downloads? So at least your physical copies are gonna go front of house.

[22:29] Lucie Jones: Yeah, yeah.

[22:30] Ramin Karimloo: I don't know.

[22:31] Lucie Jones: Oh, I don't know. Um, I have a chat, a very good friend of mine works for Deka, and she's gonna help me out with a bit of a plan for it. She probably knows more than me by this.

[22:39] Ramin Karimloo: No, I should know she knows more than any of us, but yeah, I'm gonna speak to her. But I imagine she'll say the same as you. I think I'm just being paranoid. But then in five minutes, I'll be like, no, you know what? I'm gonna put a track out today. Like, um, it's just so it chops and changes all the time.

[22:54] Lucie Jones: Um, but I find that that is, you know, best laid plans never really work out. So let's say, well, whatever happens to the CD, whether it's on sale or not, you're going back to Waitress.

[23:06] Lucie Jones: I will be back until the middle of June.

[23:09] Ramin Karimloo: So is there are you thinking maybe tour the album after that? Do you do want to do it?

[23:12] Lucie Jones: There is a couple of other concerts that will be happening of the album later this year. Um, Waitress Live, yeah.

[23:24] Ramin Karimloo: So the same stuff that I did in London, um, in other cities around the UK, basically.

[23:29] Lucie Jones: Is it set or you're working on it?

[23:30] Lucie Jones: It's set. It's not out on sale yet or anything, and I haven't put the dates out there. Um, is it a scale down?

[23:35] Lucie Jones: Slightly, slightly. Um, it's the same size band.

[23:42] Ramin Karimloo: And yeah, how many is in the band?

[23:44] Lucie Jones: 22.

[23:45] Ramin Karimloo: I thought we were scaling it down.

[23:47] Lucie Jones: Holy shit.

[23:48] Ramin Karimloo: As in we're scaling down the size of the venue slightly.

[23:51] Lucie Jones: You're taking 22 musicians with you.

[23:53] Lucie Jones: Uh, I'm not taking musicians, I'm fixing the musicians in each city. But it's, uh, yeah, it's um, I tour with five hillbillies and it's super expensive.

[24:03] Ramin Karimloo: Twenty-two.

[24:06] Lucie Jones: It's um, five hillbillies, really good. Um, they're my family.

[24:11] Ramin Karimloo: I know, I know. And you do wonderful, wonderful things. Um, these songs, the way that it's been done, I would hate for someone to pick up the album and then come and see the live show and expect it to be that, you know, big band orchestra musical theatre soaring strings.

[24:31] Lucie Jones: Um, and then, you know, me and a pianist and a cellist.

[24:34] Ramin Karimloo: No, I understand. In a studio theatre is very different, but if we're going into these still large venues, I think we need that.

[24:42] Lucie Jones: And it's really not a moneymaker for me. I'm not making any money from it.

[24:45] Ramin Karimloo: It can't be exactly.

[24:47] Lucie Jones: Um, so if you see me on the street, give me money.

[24:51] Ramin Karimloo: Listen, 20, that's a there was certainly going to get value for money.

[24:55] Lucie Jones: Ah, yeah. No, it'll be a good show. It'll always be a good show, and I'll always have some pals come and sing with me. And yeah, you should come. You should come do one if you're around.

[25:04] Ramin Karimloo: I'm here.

[25:05] Lucie Jones: Woo.

[25:06] Ramin Karimloo: I have a few trips lined up this year, but yeah, what are you doing?

[25:09] Lucie Jones: It doesn't really um well, listen, right now, and this will go out soon enough, but I'm sure even when this goes out, the whole COVID-19 issues will probably still exist.

[25:20] Ramin Karimloo: I think they will, yeah.

[25:22] Lucie Jones: And it's, uh, it's like, you know, like traveling in London today. I'm like, I'm not actually worried about the virus itself. It's how it's being handled or everyone's reactions, or the restrictions on what you can do.

[25:33] Ramin Karimloo: So, you know, I've got a concert in Japan lined up. There was talk to finally going to China. Obviously, that's been postponed now, so who knows what will happen. Because anything that gets shifted might have to be cancelled because my filming at Holby is going on till December.

[25:48] Lucie Jones: Yeah.

[25:49] Ramin Karimloo: They can only help so much. They've been so good as it is, but if you start changing it, they got storylines set up.

[25:54] Lucie Jones: So of course, yeah.

[25:56] Ramin Karimloo: Um, going to Germany.

[25:58] Lucie Jones: Yeah.

[25:59] Ramin Karimloo: Yeah, going to Japan twice.

[26:01] Lucie Jones: Well, that's the plan.

[26:03] Ramin Karimloo: Wait nothing. Uh, I'm going on a cruise with John Barrowman.

[26:06] Lucie Jones: Are you really?

[26:08] Ramin Karimloo: Oh my god. Is that a musical theatre cruise?

[26:11] Lucie Jones: Yeah.

[26:11] Ramin Karimloo: So how tell me about I'm fascinated by these.

[26:14] Lucie Jones: So you literally get on a cruise ship with musical theater performers, and you will do shows throughout the week and I guess.

[26:21] Ramin Karimloo: It's like a musical theater cruise.

[26:22] Lucie Jones: I'm going on with my band. So I feel we're not gonna be, we're gonna be at least liked.

[26:28] Ramin Karimloo: You might be a breath of fresh air.

[26:29] Lucie Jones: Hopefully.

[26:30] Ramin Karimloo: I would think of it that way. And hopefully the ship will be clean.

[26:33] Lucie Jones: Yeah, well, um, I'm supposed to be going to Japan this week.

[26:39] Ramin Karimloo: Not going, cancelled, everything's closed.

[26:41] Lucie Jones: What were you gonna do this?

[26:43] Lucie Jones: I was just going for a trip for a holiday, and everything is closed, and it's been booked for a little while.

[26:49] Ramin Karimloo: Were you able to give your money back?

[26:50] Lucie Jones: Um, kind of. Lots of it. But like most people have gone, we see this isn't not your fault.

[26:58] Ramin Karimloo: But smaller companies are like, we are gonna die if you don't if you try and fight us on this.

[27:05] Lucie Jones: I get it. I feel for anyone who's affected by it. I do. It's awful. I mean, but what it what it does mean is that I'm coming back to Waitress slightly sooner because I was due to be away for slightly longer.

[27:15] Lucie Jones: Um, just by a few days. Um, but that's one silver lining, because I really do love the show.

[27:22] Ramin Karimloo: So, what do you have planned after?

[27:24] Lucie Jones: So you might concertize. Well, you have some concerts, we're gonna announce them soon.

[27:28] Ramin Karimloo: Yeah, yeah. Do you want to get back to another role?

[27:30] Lucie Jones: I do. I have my eyes on something.

[27:32] Ramin Karimloo: Okay.

[27:32] Lucie Jones: Um, but you never know with these things.

[27:36] Ramin Karimloo: I know what it is, but I'm not gonna say, but I'll do it off mic.

[27:39] Lucie Jones: Oh, well.

[27:40] Ramin Karimloo: What if I guess now and you don't want to talk about it, or if I guess right?

[27:42] Lucie Jones: Well, go on, tell me, but don't say it out loud.

[27:48] Ramin Karimloo: Well, these are sensitive mics, let's see.

[27:53] Lucie Jones: Wait, I'm looking at the clock because you said you wanted to pay for more parking.

[27:57] Ramin Karimloo: I do need to pay for more parking. Sorry, Alan. Here we are on the hang with Lucie Jones. Uh, very insightful. She's, uh, first of all, what iPhone is that?

[28:06] Lucie Jones: My phone got stolen, so I've just got a new one.

[28:09] Ramin Karimloo: Welcome to Ringo.

[28:10] Lucie Jones: Oh, two of you, um, the MW.

[28:13] Ramin Karimloo: Why don't you have the L registration number?

[28:14] Lucie Jones: Let's go.

[28:15] Ramin Karimloo: Um, isn't working.

[28:18] Lucie Jones: So they've given me a pay as you go thing.

[28:21] Ramin Karimloo: I don't care.

[28:24] Lucie Jones: So Lucy's trying to put more time on her parking.

[28:27] Ramin Karimloo: And I'm in two minds whether I might keep this in. And let's see if you can concentrate.

[28:31] Lucie Jones: Whether I can concentrate with minutes, press one or much longer you're gonna add it for.

[28:36] Lucie Jones: An hour.

[28:36] Ramin Karimloo: I'll add an hour.

[28:37] Lucie Jones: Are you allowed to stay? Because we're about to get kicked out of here.

[28:40] Ramin Karimloo: Oh, I can currently be parked in this. But are we allowed to go hang for a hot second?

[28:45] Lucie Jones: Oh, I'm not allowed to park for another hour anyway. Never mind.

[28:48] Ramin Karimloo: When does it run out?

[28:49] Lucie Jones: It's like now, but it's fine. It'll be fine for a minute.

[28:51] Ramin Karimloo: It's fine. Let's carry on talking. So you have your eye on some projects or you're so hungry to get back on stage in a musical.

[28:59] Lucie Jones: Yeah, absolutely. I love being in them. I've been on tour for a long time doing lots of great shows, but um, Waitress being in London was what I wanted. I wanted to be at home. I wanted to be in the city where my home is with my people, with my husband, with my dogs. I just wanted to be at home.

[29:19] Ramin Karimloo: And I don't think there's anything wrong with that for a while. So I um, I'm more than happy if a role comes in that I've that I want to do and it is in London. I'm not gonna go, oh, it's not very interesting, or oh, maybe I should be looking at, you know, doing a chamber play, or like I'm um, I don't care. I just want to be at home and do my job and feel happy and earn some money.

[29:43] Lucie Jones: And being happy, that's the main thing.

[29:45] Ramin Karimloo: Oh god. We have to be happy.

[29:47] Lucie Jones: I've been such a workaholic for my whole adult life. And you're right, I'm so driven, and I'm like obsessive with it sometimes. But recently I've, something's just slightly changed in me. And uh, I love my job, don't get me wrong, and I will always be completely committed to it. But there just comes a point where all the bullshit and the drama and, you know, and like things that go on within a building where people spend a lot of time with each other. I don't care about it anymore.

[30:16] Ramin Karimloo: I used to kind of really concern myself with everyone else's happiness, but you can't. It doesn't define it.

[30:25] Lucie Jones: You just can't. But also you can't help someone else not be bothered by stupid drama.

[30:32] Ramin Karimloo: You're absolutely right. Well, listen, Lucy. I'm gonna look out for your album. We're all gonna promote it once it's out, once you're ready.

[30:39] Lucie Jones: I hope you do sell it for a house.

[30:40] Ramin Karimloo: I'm gonna have you back. We're gonna hang some more because there's so much more I want to talk about.

[30:43] Lucie Jones: Yeah, me too. I have so many things. I want to do one with you, like me being Ramin and you being Ramin. Like I'll be the host, Ramin, and I'll interview Ramin.

[30:51] Ramin Karimloo: Okay, let's do that.

[30:52] Lucie Jones: Yeah, we should, because I have so many questions. Lucy, I adore you. Thank you for the hanging.

[30:58] Lucie Jones: I love you. Bye.

[31:03] Ramin Karimloo: Well, thanks for hanging with Lucy and I. I'm so excited to hear her album. Her voice is one of the best around, and she's an incredible artist. I'm bummed I won't get to see her as Jenna in Waitress with the show announcing its closure due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, we do have her live performance and this album to look forward to. I can't wait.

[31:24] Ramin Karimloo: The hang is produced by Dori Berinstein and Alan Seales from the Broadway Podcast Network. You can find me online at dpn.fm forward slash the hang. Don't forget you can connect with me on Instagram and Twitter at Ramin Karimloo, on YouTube, uh, Ramin Karimloo, or my Facebook page, Official Ramin Karimloo.

[31:46] Ramin Karimloo: Music for my podcast is by my friends and one of my favorite bands, The Dives. Please check them out at their website, thedivesmusic.com. That's thedivesmusic.com where you can get to know them, hear their incredible music, get links to all their socials, and most importantly, their tour dates, where you can find out where you can see and hear them live. They are truly a great band and they are phenomenal live. Check them out.