Calvin Harris helped me become a household name but I’ve never actually met him, says Tom Grennan
SUPERSTAR DJ Calvin Harris still makes time to check in on former collaborator Tom Grennan – but the pair are yet to meet in person.
The Scot teamed up with Tom for 2018 smash By Your Side, helping him to become a household name.
Calvin texts and calls to offer Tom guidance, but the pair are yet to chat face-to-face.
And it was no different on Saturday, when they both played the first day of the Radio 1 Big Weekend but still had not managed a meet-up.
Chatting ahead of his set on the Future Sounds Stage at Coventry’s War Memorial Park, Tom told me: “Hopefully we get to hang out. You know, I’ve actually never met him, but I do love his new single.
“Look, I get it, it’s Calvin Harris, he’s a busy guy and he’s not here to be like ‘Tom, I want to meet you asap’. When we do meet it will be wicked.”
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Discussing how, four years on from their collaboration, Calvin is still offering him advice and support, Tom continued: “We text and that and we keep in touch that way.
“But when I meet him, it will be sweet. He is saved as ‘Calvin Harris’ in my phone not a code name.
“Listen, I’m just a normal lad who has Calvin Harris’s number in my phone. And, yeah, if I’m in the pub with my mates and he is belling me, I will be holding it up like ‘Look who’s is calling me, mate.’ I still get buzzed about that s**t.”
Calvin delivered a headline set on the Main Stage and said “it felt unreal to be back” playing live.
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‘STRESSFUL TIME’
But the footie fan admitted he was slightly peeved at missing the Champions League final between Real Madrid and Liverpool.
Asked by Radio 1’s Greg James if he was gutted that his set clashed with Saturday’s big match, Calvin replied: “Yeah, a little.”
Keen to make up for it, Greg and his co-host Charlie Hedges arranged a special message from Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson.
The Kop ace vowed to hit the clubs hard with Calvin as soon as their schedules align.
Jordan said: “I know you will be devastated to miss the final but the next time I see you we can have a big party.”
This summer Calvin will release his first album in five years, Funk Wav Bounces Vol 2.
Last week he dropped the lead single Posion, a collaboration with Dua Lipa and rapper Young Thug.
The track is the second time Calvin and Dua have teamed up, after 2018 hit One Kiss.
Gushing about the pop beauty on Apple Music, Calvin said: “When I want to work with someone it’s because I think they have a unique voice and it speaks to me. She is one of those people.
“It’s a mixture between that and just someone that I get on with and that I know I’m going to have a nice time with in the studio. I don’t want a stressful time at this point.
“I want to work with people who are going to give me joy and pleasure. Her voice is spectacular. Her vocals on One Kiss is, for me, the best she has ever sounded.”
SOMEBLING TO HIDE FROM US ALL, VICK?
MUSIC fans were left stunned after The Sun told last week how superstar DJ Calvin Harris was not only dating Radio 1 presenter Vick Hope but had popped the question earlier this year under his favourite tree on his Ibiza farm.
But despite secretly gushing to her colleagues about the romantic proposal at the time, it seems she’s now trying to still keep people guessing.
I can reveal not only has Vick asked her team to keep their mouths zipped, she also kept taking OFF her big diamond engagement ring while at The Big Weekend on Saturday.
A source said: “Vick had been wearing the ring all the time and even posted a picture with it on at the Baftas but she arrived here without it on.
“It was really weird. She then kept putting it on, and taking if off again, throughout the day.
“When she slipped into the VIP area for a drink she was on great form, although the rock was nowhere to be seen.
“She has asked those in the know to keep quiet. Obviously everyone understands and have agreed to keep it zipped.”
On Saturday night Vick was given the special treatment as she looked on proudly from stageside as Calvin’s set closed the day’s action.
ANNE Marie recoiled in shock during her set as a confetti machine went off.
Bosses had not warned the singer, who was belting out her hit Birthday.
Laughing after wrapping up the track, she told the crowd: “That confetti was news to me.
“Is everyone still alive at the front?”
OH WHAT A SHOWER BECKY
BECKY Hill’s year just keeps getting better and better.
In February she won her first Brit award, for Best Dance Act, then the following month she landed a summer residency at Ibiza Rocks.
Now I can reveal she’s persuaded hitmaker MNEK to get involved with her second album.
She told me: “I saw him backstage before my set, which was lovely. He’s just agreed to executive produce my next album, so we will be working together.
“I’ll take some time off from the studio while I’m performing over the summer.
“After that I will be back writing.”
REALITY star Megan McKenna swerved rapper Aitch's rowdy set on the main stage to see rising star Mimi Webb.
The House On Fire singer may only be at the start of her career but she already has dreams of breaking America.
Mimi told me backstage: “I’d love to sell out Madison Square Garden.”
Teasing her upcoming debut album, she said: “It’s relationship stuff really and anything I’m going through, just how I feel.”
MABEL’S A SHEER DELIGHT
AMID the many glamorous acts last night, Mabel stood out as she took to the stage in this sheer leotard.
Gyrating and strutting while flanked by a pair of equally striking dancers, she performed her first show of the summer to a rapturous response from the crowd – including plenty of wide-eyed male admirers who struggled to know quite where to look.
When you look and sound this good, flaunt it.
SIGRID’s new album How To Let Go is her most personal yet but she says she feared she was giving too much away.
The Strangers hitmaker told me backstage: “It is daunting to open up your inner thoughts, putting it all out there and being honest and open.
“But I find a lot of comfort in the comments from fans like, ‘This is exactly how I feel’.
“It’s a constant balance. I love my privacy but it’s good to be open in my lyrics as it feels great to sing live from the heart.
“It makes it pure.”
HE likes a cheeky pint or two but Jordan North ordered his brothers Brad and Dom to rein in their booze-fuelled antics at the festival.
He told them not to do shots in the day, spray bottles of beer or take off their tops.
I thought he was being a killjoy, but after he explained why, it was probably for the best.
Jordan told me: “I have to warn then to cover my back as they once got sent home for being too lairy.”
Though the DJ admitted he and his Radio 1 pals have planned a night on the town when they clock off.
He said: “We are working in the day but in the evening we can party. Someone said it’s £3 a pint – get me in that pub.”
JAX EYES ‘BIG’ HIT WITH JADE
JAX JONES and Jade Thirlwall’s killer single together will be ready as soon as the Little Mix singer has taken a holiday.
I told in December how the pair had hit the studio ahead of Jade launching her solo career now her group are on a hiatus.
Jax said of the single: “I’m finishing it now. It’s a big tune. I think she’s just got to take a break now.”
He is also busy as a dad, to one-year-old Lawana.
The Big Weekend was the tot’s first festival, and Jax said there: “I’ve seen a lot of friends, like Becky Hill, Mabel and MNEK, but the star of the show is my daughter. Everyone wants to see her. I’ll do my set then take her home and put her to bed.”
ED SHEERAN was forced to halt his set on Saturday after his keyboard stopped working mid-show.
Looking shocked, the superstar then managed to laugh off the fail, telling the crowd: “That’s live music for you.” Ever the pro, Ed quickly improvised with an acoustic version of Shape Of You.
The Ipswich supporter also gave Jordan North a hug to make up for the DJ’s footie team Burnley being relegated from the Premier League.
An amazing talent and all-round lovely guy.
KSI PUTS HIS MIND INTO FIGHT
RAPPING boxer KSI reckons he is in top shape ahead of his return to the ring thanks to training – and therapy.
The YouTuber – real name Olajide “JJ” Olatunji – told me: “This is the best I’ve ever felt. I got a therapist and it has helped me so much.”
His opponent for the bout in August has yet to be announced, but he is definitely heading to the Seychelles afterwards.
He said: “The next day I’m off. I will knock someone out then I’m relaxing.”
And he plans to put out a new track. He said: “It’s called Summer Is Over. The person I wrote it for cries every time she hears it.”
JOEL’S VEGAS JOY
JOEL CORRY’s recent set at EDC festival in Las Vegas blew his mind.
He told me: “It was the biggest moment of my DJ career so far.
“The size of the crowd was massive.
“It went past what my vision could see.
“For years I’ve been doing club DJing so that becomes second nature but when you step out in front of a crowd with 100,000… b***s shrink up a little bit.
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“But that is my dream. I want to be on that stage and play to those crowds.
“It’s what I’ve worked towards my whole life.”