Jai McDowall on joining G4 and Britain's Got Talent memories

BGT winner Jai McDowall on a huge new challenge after joining G4 and performing back at home.

How has joining G4 for their 20th anniversary tour been?

It’s been daunting but exciting – an intense learning curve for me going from being solo for 13 years to being in a group. We’ve got 28 dates left through September and October.

We’ve done some Scottish dates already. We’ve done Ayr, my hometown, which was great and we’ve got Dundee, Elgin and Aberdeen coming up. Dundee’s Whitehall Theatre is a really lovely space to play and I’ve got friends up that way.

Isn’t a soloist joining a group the opposite to what usually happens?

I know! Even in my head I was like, is this really weird? I’d toured with Jonathan Ansell before and he called up and said there’s a space because Lewis Raines was leaving and asked if I’d be interested.

I said no because I’m not opera-trained, I’m solo and I didn’t know how it would work. I also didn’t know the other guys that well. It was scary but he convinced me. I was freaking out because I don’t do harmonies and I don’t sing in different languages!

How has it been adapting to G4?

I could do harmonies when recording, but doing it live is something I’d only done a few times in panto or a duet. It’s really different going from just two voices to four. Then there’s learning Italian, French and even Mandarin for one song.

The plan next year is to try and do more international stuff, hopefully over in Asia, so we might get to perform the song out there. It’s been a bit mad but it’s going great and I’m looking forward to the next leg back home.

The group always make fun of me because I’ve got friends coming to every show!

We’re starting to learn the Christmas stuff already as well…

Come join the journey… #G420
20th Anniversary Tour & Albumhttps://t.co/1S5KWHtSdY pic.twitter.com/KKEpbHY2pr

— G4 Official (@G4Official) July 6, 2024

Despite the international tours, you still live in Ayrshire. How important is home to you?

I love where I’m from. I live in Maidens, looking at the sea. It’s so beautiful. Last night, I drove in and could see Arran as the sun set… People, especially in London, are always asking why I still live up here and I’m like, let me show you some pictures!

Before BGT, I auditioned a lot and kept trying through rejection and knock-backs. All the people that were there during that journey are still here. It’s a beautiful place to live and such a disconnect from the industry craziness.

The more I travel, the more I appreciate where I’m from. I remember coming into the industry they told me to slow down my speech and not use slang. I really panicked about that and sometimes I still do a wee bit with the G4 guys because they’re all really posh English!

I had almost shied away from focussing on Scotland, but I did Tartan Week in New York back in April and was in a kilt for four days straight. Abroad, you tune into a Scottish accent and are instantly pals.

The first time I was interviewed by Lorraine Kelly after BGT, my mum said it was funny to watch both of us fall back into the Scottish way of speaking and being relaxed with each other.

The older I get, the more I fall in love with Scotland.

It’s been 13 years since you won BGT, have you been able to take it all in?

It took me a long time to take stock. I went into this whole different industry and way of life. They wanted to get me gigs. I said yes, not knowing my entire next year would be mental. I was all over the place. I wish I’d signed up for air miles!

It took me years to realise that I’d done this. This was now my life. Sometimes it’s really difficult to just sit and take stock because you’re always thinking of what’s coming next. It was so busy back then, I didn’t have time to reflect.

13 years.

It’s been a rollercoaster of a ride since @BGT 🥰

Never did I think I’d end up doing all the stuff I have. Can’t wait to see what the future has in store. 🎉

Thanks to everyone who’s helped along the way xx#bgt pic.twitter.com/IcXI8UBUCd

— Jai McDowall (@Jai_McDowall) June 4, 2024

A wee regret is my dad said to me to write it down and I didn’t. I was so tired. I wish I’d kept a diary. I’ve got the odd Facebook memory.

I’ve been really lucky. I’ve got a good network that keep me grounded. I’ve done some incredible things. Going onto BGT, my dream was just to be a singer. To do this as a career and be still managing to do it; there were points where I didn’t think that was going to happen. And it could disappear, it’s such a fickle industry.

It’s another reason why I think I said yes to G4 eventually because I was like, no, you need to stop worrying about what might happen and just take the opportunity, take a chance.

G4 play Whitehall Theatre, Dundee, Sept 19; Tivoli Theatre, Aberdeen, Sept 20; Town Hall, Elgin, Sept 21 g4official.com