I want to remain an everyman, says singer Paul Potts

Opera singer and winner of the first series of Britain's Got Talent in 2007, Paul Potts was a success story that preceded Susan Boyle's by two years. The mean-spirited Simon Cowell holds this meek-mannered Welshman in high regard. Since that historic win, his story has been immortalised in film, in a book and he's even come out with an album. Potts will be in India for the first time this weekend as part of a festival that celebrates global culture in all its glory - through the mediums of music, performing arts and film.
We spoke to the man recently...

You're the guy that rendered Simon Cowell speechless. How does that make you feel?

Well, obviously amazing. Simon has also given me really positive feedback. He told me I've been a gentleman to work with and also advised me saying – 'Don't change' .

There's a book, there's an album, there's a film out. You're richer by several million pounds than you were before taking part in BGT. Ever feel overwhelmed by it all?

My feet haven't touched the ground, and I'm not sure they ever will again. It's almost surreal to think about how much my life has changed. I have spent the last seven and a half years doing what I love doing in many countries that I could never have dreamed of going to before. I have always tried to remain true to myself throughout that time. I want to remain an everyman who isn't caught up in superficial things and artificial tendencies. I don't think I can be that Hollywood person. I've been most overwhelmed with the support I've had from audiences.

What if the audition hadn't worked out? What did you plan to do?

I always just wanted to sing. When I was at my youngest, I didn't care what job I did provided it involved me singing. As I grew older, it became more obvious that I would need to have training, if I was to be professional. I would also need to be confident and push myself forward more. It's definitely about talents and luck. But what truly seals the deal is your personal determination and perseverance. It's not what you do but how you do it. I knew I'd continue to pursue music in some way or the other.

You've come out with a charity single - Silent Night (Christ The Saviour...). Which charity will it benefit? What kind of work do they do?

I've been asked to be patron for many charities in the past five years but it's very important to me that I'm not just a name on a letterhead. I want to be a physical presence, and want to be fully committed to anything I agree to be a patron of. I'm hoping some of my images can be used for a calendar or postcards for TREAT Trust Wales, a charity particularly important to me. It's a cause I feel very strongly about, It helps people gain an independence if they have been out of the work place for a long time. It's a local charity and I like to support it as much as I can. It's nice to have the opportunity to give something back, especially after being long-term unemployed as I was.

How important is your faith, your beliefs to your music?

Very strong, I believe music is an emotional journey and it really is all about crossing boundaries. Music should be shared and not be restricted by genres. It's really about how you feel and how the music touches you.

What are your thoughts about artistes giving away music for free? Would you ever consider doing that?

I think that as artists you have to try more and more to involve your fans in what you do. There are so many ways of getting free music now, most of which are not necessarily legal, and so you have just got to work that little bit harder in order to get the recognition. Well, I don't know, it can't be a bad thing. It gives people the opportunity to have some sort of part to play and without your fans you don't have a future so it's important to have that input.

What made you sign up for The Journey? Have you ever journeyed to India before this?

I'm really looking forward to coming to The Journey and there will be many new experiences, not just the city of Mumbai and the food, but also the music. It is great to be part of something that is inspiring and invigorating. This will be my first visit to India. I really hope the people feel the emotion and depth that opera brings with it. It's an emotional journey that crosses all barriers of culture, language, religion and even gender, it's really about how you feel and how the music touches you. I'm hoping the audiences in India are transported emotionally. It's quite a moving genre – opera.

The Johnnie Walker The Journey festival kicks off at 6 pm on December 13 at Mehboob Studios, Bandra.