Elton John and Brandi Carlile talk new artists as they grace the cover of Rolling Stone UK

As Elton John and Brandi Carlile grace the cover of Rolling Stone UK, the pair have both shared their key tips for making it as a new artist – while Elton discusses how music saved his life.

The pair grace the April/May issue of Rolling Stone UK (order your copy here) to discuss Who Believes In Angels?, their anticipated joint album which arrives later this month.

While they’re both legendary musicians in their own right, Elton says it’s playing live that will help emerging talents hone their craft on the way to greatness.

“Just keep trying to play live. That’s the way you improve as a musician and songwriter. It doesn’t matter if you’re playing to 40 people. The more experience you get playing to nobody, the better. Because when I played in Musicology, we played to hardly anybody sometimes,” said Elton. 

“That experience stood me in great stead for when I became Elton John because I had backbone. And backbone is so important, because the worst thing that can happen to you in the industry are things like X Factor and instant fame on television where you have no experience of playing live. You get put on stage, you go, and you can’t do it. That’s the worst thing. American Idol — just the worst. Take risks. Go and play in a pub.” ” 

For Carlile, meanwhile, it’s a close-knit group that can help artists elevate their talent. “And honestly, make friends,” she added. “Get a community around you.”

“I can’t live without music. It nearly killed me, but it also kept me alive, and it keeps me alive today. But not the music of the past so much. Although I do listen to jazz and stuff like that, but it’s the music of the future that keeps me alive,” Elton said.

As for their own friendship, Elton said of Brandi: “I love her so much and not just as a person, but I love what’s inside of her musically and creatively. And it hasn’t really touched the surface. I think it’s beginning to, but it’s got so much further to go. She’s like an embryo at the moment, and she’s done a hell of a lot to be an embryo, but she’s going to just burst.”

Taken from the current issue of Rolling Stone UK. You can buy it here.