Natty: Borrell is a 'cool guy'

by Kev Geoghegan
Radio 1 music reporter

Natty played the BBC Introducing stage at Radio 1's Big Weekend

Rising reggae star Natty reckons media critics have Johnny Borrell figured wrong.

Natty's debut album, Man Like I, is released in the UK this week.

Prior to becoming a solo artist, he was a studio engineer and worked on Razorlight's first album, Up All Night.

Borrell has been accused of arrogance but Natty says he is far from it.

He told Newsbeat: "He ain't rude, he's cool."

Up All Night was recorded at the Sphere studios in Battersea in south London four years ago.

A lot of people put him on a pedestal but I'm like 'So, you're from north london too? Safe. Natty

The band was still in its infancy but Natty remembers that even then, Borrell knew exactly what he wanted.

He said: "I learnt a lot from him actually.

"He taught me how to get what you want because he understands his own vision and he knows what he is doing is right.

"He's like 'If you ain't on it then don't force me to be a different way, just leave me be.'"

Borrell has often courted controversy in the past with his sweeping criticisms of other bands, most notably The Kooks and fights with one time mates like Pete Doherty and even his bandmates.

And then there was the Hollywood girlfriend in the shape of Kirsten Dunst.

But Natty reckons he is a shrewd operator who knows exactly what people say.

He said: "A lot of people get hung up on like 'he's a star' or put him on a pedestal but I'm like 'So, you're from north london too? Safe'.

"We just kicked it like that so maybe he was different with me than he would be with a journalist."

Natty is playing this weekend's Rip Curl Boardmasters festival in Newquay on 8 August and Reading and Leeds festivals and Bestival on the Isle of Wight.