Synth-pop pioneer Gary Numan recently sat down with BBC Radio 6 Music’s Chris Hawkins to discuss his storied career spanning over four decades. Despite his well-deserved place in the industry, Numan revealed a surprising reluctance to collaborate with other artists. This hesitancy extends to LCD Soundsystem‘s James Murphy, a celebrated musician, and producer in his own right.
The singer behind the iconic hit ‘Cars,’ Numan, has had a lasting influence on the electronic music landscape. However, listeners of the interview may have been surprised to hear Gary’s admission of self-doubt, given his impressive career and trailblazing contributions to the industry.
The synth-pop legend’s wariness to work with other artists highlighted the challenges even successful musicians could face when stepping outside their comfort zone. In particular, Numan’s hesitation to collaborate with Murphy showcased the pressures of working with other accomplished figures in the industry.
Gary Numan’s words about collaborating with LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy read:
“I’m really nervous about collaborations because I’ve never really felt that confident about what I do, and I’ve got anything to offer; you know, there are lots of people out there that are very clever and very talented, and I’ve never really felt like I belong in that company. I’ve always felt lucky to be doing what I’m doing and lucky to have been around for as long as I have. I’m afraid it’s a lack of confidence that makes me work really, really hard to make sure that I do the best that I can.”
The singer always considered himself lucky to have been in the industry for this long. However, he is often nervous about collaborations as he doesn’t believe he has anything special to offer. Whether Gary will ever collaborate with Murphy is unknown; however, the candid discussion of his insecurities reminds fans and fellow musicians alike that even the most successful and influential artists can grapple with self-doubt.
