Alex James: Britpop Bassist On How His Farm 'Saved' Him

“I play music to my tomatoes. There’s nothing like a well played French horn.”
 
It’s not the response we expected when we sat down with former Blur bassist Alex James to discuss his current career as a cheese-making farmer.

But then 2014 Alex James isn’t the same floppy-haired musician that made his name during the Britpop era some 20 odd years ago.

Over the last decade, sell-out shows and rocking after-parties have been replaced by tomato growing, cheese making and the 45-year-old is loving every minute of it.

“It started 10 years ago when I got married and bought a farm,” Alex admits.

“I didn’t really have a job after Blur finished and I found myself living on this derelict farm in the Cotswolds. I didn’t know anybody in this new town – I didn’t even know my wife that well. Me and the farm, we saved each other.”

“I’ve spent the last decade working really hard to turn it into this cheese-generating paradise.”

Alex’s foray into cheese making a few years ago might have surprised hardcore music fans but the Bournemouth-native has always has a taste for the yellow stuff.

[Easter 2014: Edd Kimber's Chocolate Orange Hot Cross Buns]

[Easter 2014: What to do with leftover Easter Eggs]

“I’ve always loved cheese. I think whenever you love anything you’ve got to hang on to it, even if it makes you look ridiculous, which it’s pretty much guaranteed to.”

“Compared to music and getting married, cheese is probably the least ridiculous thing I’ve ever done.”

And he’s not done a bad job either. Alex’s 200-acre farm produces a range of award-winning cheeses and is home to Alex’s brood of five children but don’t expect them to be following in dad’s footsteps any time soon.

“More of my kids want to be chefs than rock stars,” laughs Alex.

For those of us inspired by Alex’s love of green spaces but without our own working farm, fret not.

Turns out you don’t have to spend your days playing classical music to plants in the countryside to be one with nature.

“Anyone can embrace a bit of green-fingered escapism,” explains Alex.

“It’s as easy as planting those supermarket herb pots. I’ve been working with people from the Royal Agricultural University on my farm and they all rave about how great those plants are.”

“You don’t even need a whole garden, you can grow strawberries in a pint glass.”

Listening to his excitement at the prospect of growing enough potatoes for 20,000 guests at this summer’s Big Feastival, we have to ask if the 45-year-old ever saw his life mirroring the subject of one of Blur’s biggest hits, the cynically irreverent ‘Country House’.

He pauses briefly before replying: “A garden is as close as you can get to happily ever after.”

Well put, Mr. James.

Alex James is supporting the ‘Be a Farm Hero campaign’ from Farm Heroes Saga, which is available to download for free now on iOS and Android platforms.