Yeah, I've spent the day being interviewed by German people.
How has that been?
It's been pretty fun, actually. Yeah. It's always hit and miss, but they were really
nice today.
Well, that's good.
Sometimes they start off the interview by saying: "Oh, your album's terrible. How does
that feel? And you're like, oh thanks."
Thank you, Germany. So first of all, tell us. How did you actually get involved in this
massive project?
I got an email from Peter, saying can you do a song in a week? You have to come to New
Zealand, and I said yes. So I did.
A bit casual.
I mean, like I wanted to be involved in this film in any way that I can. I wanted to be
like an extra hobbit because I'm short and hairy, and I think it would have worked.
Can you talk us through the creative process of coming up with a Hobbit anthem?
I had to write from the point of view of being dwarf, which I can't really relate to...
Much. And yeah, so I... I couldn't write from experience. I had to watch the film and see
what angle I could write from because I was planning on writing from the dragon's perspective,
but then that would have been a very intense song.
What would a dragon's song... I don't know.
A dragon's song would just be loud and lots of drums and rock guitar and yeah. I mean,
it's like a Black Sabbath tune probably. I don't know if that's going to fit in the Hobbit.
A bit tricky because... Okay, so you're our man hobbit on the inside. Can you tell us
something about the cast of this film that might surprise fans?
I got taken out last night by Luke Evans and Benedict Cumberbatch, and we drunk a lot of
espresso martinis. Espresso martinis, not expresso. Espresso. And then I ended up back
at the hotel. I thought Martin Freeman was getting on it as well, and I spent the whole
time really having a deep drunk conversation with him, telling him that Ricky C from Ali G was his
seminal role, and he should return to that. And I don't know if it went down too well.
That sounds amazing.
Ali G needs to come back. It has to happen.
For me, he never left. He's always in my heart.
Who's a better drunk? Cumberbatch or Evans? What do you think?
Cumberbatch is just like constantly a gentleman, even when he's... He never falters, and he's
just constantly very polite and very nice, where Luke's like me. He's a mad man. Yeah.
Mad people. Yeah.
If you had at your disposal, this pile of riches behind us, Ed Sheeran. What would you
spend them on?
A giant dragon. Yeah, clearly.
I don't know.
I don't know if I'd want that much. I'd probably buy a country. Yeah, I'd buy a country and
try and sort out some stuff.
Oh nice. Maybe like Poland or something.
Buy Poland!
And just make it really up market.
And obviously, we're not famous. What's it like being so famous that Peter Jackson emails
you? That's cool.
I don't know if that's the fame. He's very unphased by fame. I think he'd email me if
I wasn't. I think he just wanted someone like me to do the song, I guess. He's very unphased
by famous people, but yeah, it's nice to get emails. My inbox is always, is always a bit
of a random thing to look at. There's some random people emailing. Yeah, I woke up with
one from John Mayer the other day. It was like oh, you alright. Cool.
What was he talking about?
He wanted to know if I was in Nashville, and if I could go and guest at his show, but I
was here at the time so yeah...
That would be a bad TV pitch. Ed Sheeran's Inbox.
Yeah, it would be a bad TV pitch, yeah. Unless you looked at my outbox, which is fascinating.
I imagine, and now that you're in with Peter Jackson properly. Do you think you will get
to be in the next one?
It's already filmed. If they do pick ups, I'd love to, but I want to try and get down
under. The Inbetweeners are filming their film, and I want to just turn up and just
like photo bomb it in the film. Just like put my head in or something.
Surely, you can do it. Send some emails, Ed!
Yeah, well, I mean... I tried, I tried. I don't know if they want me in it.
Well, it's been a pleasure chatting to you. I think we're seeing you tomorrow, as well.
Yes, I will see you tomorrow. See you then. That will be fun. Cool. See you soon.
He only wrote a song. Hello.
All he did was that...