Jamie T opened up about his current headspace in the run-up to his long-awaited new album, as he spoke to NME backstage at Reading 2026.
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The musician, real name Jamie Treays, released his first piece of new music in three years earlier this month with ‘3310’. He kicked off Reading & Leeds down south with a last-minute “surprise” set on the main stage, The Grid.
Shortly after his 33-minute and 10-second set, he joined NME backstage, where he talked about how he was feeling about his return and impending sixth album, ‘Ghosts (100 Days Of Mourning)’.
The record, which will arrive on October 9, was created using voice memos that span his career.
He continued to describe it as a “really helpful experience”, adding: “It’s all a mindset, isn’t it? If you get yourself caught up in a mindset of looking at the hard times – because there were hard times for me during that period, and ups and downs.
But I’m really happy to be where I am. I think that’s because I did that record and because I managed to look back through all those things and put it to bed.”.
Treays explained that the voice memos that formed the album were old “sketches and stuff”.
Asked how he’s feeling now, the musician said he feels “great at the moment” and is “really happy to be back around”. “I’m really proud of the new record and excited to play it to people,” he said.
During his performance on The Grid, Treays delivered a set of old fan favourites plus new single ‘3310’, asking the crowd if they were “ready for a little dance”.
Backstage later, he reflected on being back at Reading, a festival he has played “five or something” times in the past. “It’s so lovely to be back,” he said. “We called them just two days ago or something and asked to be on, and they were so nice.
They let us play a little set at the beginning, and I felt really welcome.”.
Last week (August 20), Treays played his first gig in two years at London’s Scala, during which he performed more beloved songs from across his discography and previewed ‘Ghosts (100 Days Of Mourning)’ with ‘Waist 36” Leg 32”’.
At one point in ‘Ghosts (100 Days Of Mourning)’, Treays references being the soundtrack to people’s university days – and fans’ connection with his early material was still palpable at the Scala gig.
So I will keep playing them for people as long as they want to hear them.
Reading 2026 continues today with performances from Geese, Charli XCX, Fontaines D. C. and many more.
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