Howard Jones has shown a stretch of dextrous talent. Bringing his classic sensations to the world of Pop, it would be unthinkable to undermine his musical knack.

Now with a new musical wave of electronica dance music set to ripple his fans, Howard is also on tour with peers, Toyah and ABC as apart of the Hit Makers Tour. With some time set aside for a catch up with Reminiscin' Howard explains what makes his music timeless and his adoration for Brit Pop band Human League.

Having started your career from scratch, do you condone shows like Pop Idol and X Factor as a platform for getting artists into the mainstream scene?
I have been watching X Factor this year and they will always be a good side and bad side to everything. I mean the guy who won the first Pop Idol, Will (Young) he is brilliant we may have never of heard of him if it hadn't of been for that show. I just think it is kinda a new type of entertainment it has got a different element to it. It is not really traditional; it's taking someone from nowhere and putting them up. I mean lots of people see it and these millions of viewers buy the records, I just don't think the music is ideally related to the main music industry. Its just a new kind of entertainment.

Having the talent shows we have now (Pop Idol, etc) would it of made a difference to the music scene when you started out?
The only trouble with them is that they seem to find people that are copies of somebody else or their voice. I haven't got a voice regarded a classic voice, so if I had been on one of those shows maybe I wouldn't of got through or wouldn't have won, and people wouldn't have heard my music. Yet, I have got the kind of voice that is different to other people. At the same time with this Pop Idol stuff and X Factor there is MySpace where the public are discovering the artist for themselves so there is a type of balance going on. I am excited about that, about people discovering the artists for themselves.
I got my own site on MySpace and it's great to put tracks up there.

What makes your music timeless?
I don't know if I could call it timeless. If people are playing it in 10 or 20 years then it will be. I mean they are still playing the stuff I wrote in the 80's now which is great. I think whether the lyrics are relevant to people's lives that is what makes music timeless.

What have been your fashion highlights?
I love everything we did, I say we as I was helped by everybody with my clothes and stuff. I just think if you are a Pop Star then you should have a licence to be outrageous and flamboyant. I think you should take full advantage of it, as I don't want to be looking like the man on the street. I want to be expressing freedom, style and colour with the clothes I wear. I see it as an expression of personal freedom and I went for it. I had lots of great clothes designed for me from people like Jeff Banks and it was great.

Give us an insight to the countries you have visited?
I have traveled so much and gone abroad a lot. Last Christmas we were in Egypt we did a gig there and that was quite exotic. I have never been to Africa having said that I have been to Marrakech.

What instigated you to set up your own label?
I just wanted to be in control of what I did. Have my own output and my own label. I wanted to make my own records and put them out on the internet and also license them. It is just like being in charge of your own life really, and that is what I value more than anything else.

Who else have you got signed to your label?
I did have a major artist called Martin Grech but then he went on to sign up with a major label. After that experience I kinda concentrated on my own work (laughs).

Would you sign any of your peers to your label?
Oh yeah, I would. There are loadsa people. My favourite band would be the Human League whom I love and think they have the most amazing voice ever. I just love them.

What do you look forward to mostly about touring with Toyah and ABC?
It releasing the audience out there and having a good night and enjoying the night, along with the fact that we can still move around (laughs). It's great that we are not old codgers really and still going strong I think that is importantly the main thing.

Related Link:
> www.howardjones.com
> Howard Jones CD - Amazon.co.uk