May 19, 2012 16:30

Blur's Graham Coxon: ''The X Factor' and 'The Voice' are disgraceful'

Guitarist also says he wants to do 'brave and adventurous' things like Damon Albarn

Photo: Danny North/NME

Blur's Graham Coxon has hit out at TV talent shows such as The X Factor and The Voice by labelling them as "disgraceful".

Speaking to the Independent, the guitarist said that he disapproved of the idea that aspiring artists could achieve immediate success in the music industry and claimed that he believed in "doing things right".

"To get better at anything you have to practise a lot," he said of his approach to songwriting. "It doesn't just appear.

"I've only got myself to please. When I'm on my own in my front room with a guitar, there's no one going to say to me, 'That's really great' if I play some old rubbish," he added. "I do believe in doing things right. Which is why The X Factor and The Voice are so disgraceful to me."

He then went on to say:

That's how I feel about it. Perhaps I'm old-fashioned in that sense – that I believe you have to pay your dues. Being a musician is not something you can become overnight.

Coxon also paid tribute to his Blur bandmate Damon Albarn's varied musical projects and said he would like to challenge himself in a similar fashion by working outside of his comfort zone. "Damon's gone off to Mali and worked with all sorts of different people," he said. "Musically, he's put himself in some weird areas where he might have struggled. He's made some brave and adventurous moves and that's probably what I want to do."

Coxon released his eighth solo album 'A+E' in April of this year, and will join up with Blur again to play the Olympic closing ceremony concert on August 12. Scroll down and click below to view Coxon talking to NME about his preparations for the gig, which frontman Damon Albarn has hinted could be the band's last.

Video: Graham Coxon - 'Blur's Shows Will Be Big'

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