Mr Hudson talks about his breakthrough year as he prepares to perform at Cheshire Oaks

Nov 19 2009 by Claire Devine, Chester Chronicle

Mr Hudson talks about his breakthrough year as he prepares to perform at Cheshire Oaks

Sat in a small trailer at Cheshire Oaks as what feels like a year’s worth of rain pours down outside, Mr Hudson is a world away from rubbing shoulders with the likes of Kanye West and Jay-Z.

But the weather fails to dampen his spirits as he greets us with a cheery grin and shakes our hand, introducing himself as Ben.

He is at Cheshire Oaks as part of the Christmas lights switch-on celebrations on his way to Derby for a gig that night.

It has been a whirlwind year for the well-spoken star, in which he has collaborated with Kanye West on his 808s & Heartbreak album and has also featured as a guest on Jay-Z’s Blueprint 3.

West has also executive produced Mr Hudson’s album Straight No Chaser, featuring his new single White Lies and his hit Supernova, which debuted at number two in the UK charts.

Hudson speaks of working with Kanye West fondly.

He said: “It changed my life. It took me to the other side of the world.

“Kanye made me much more ambitious, he made me realise it was OK to be ambitious and to let people know you are passionate about what you do.

“Working with him on his stuff and Jay-Z’s stuff was not only a dream come true but something I wouldn’t have dared to dream.

“Not only was it amazing in itself but it equipped me to come back home and make this new album with a new boldness and confidence and a quickness.

“It took about three weeks.

“Working with Kanye gave me ideas and ways of working so when I got back to make Straight No Chaser it was a one-round knock-out.”

When asked about the parallels between working with an American superstar such as West and travelling around the UK promoting his album at events such as this, Hudson is refreshingly humble.

He said: “There’s only one Kanye and there are thousands of people out there.

“At end of day, if just me and Kanye buy the record it’s not viable.

“I just want to reach as many people as possible and I want to travel the world.

“I haven’t travelled the world much in my life so I’m looking forward to it.

“It just feels like the beginning, it feels like I’ve just scratched the surface.”

Mr Hudson went on to entertain the crowds at the outlet village along with The Saturdays and Basshunter.