Carol Jarvis Unveils "I Want You To Stay" and Connects With Us on the Journey Behind Her Bold New Release
- STAFF
- Aug 8
- 8 min read
By: Staff
Carol Jarvis delivers an electrifying anthem with "I Want You To Stay," a masterpiece of energy and artistry.
Carol Jarvis, one of the UK’s most accomplished and versatile musicians, is back with a track that will make waves. "I Want You To Stay" is not just a song; it’s an electric surge of energy, featuring Carol’s signature trombone alongside infectious electronic beats that make it impossible to stay still. This fresh sound promises to be your new go-to anthem, perfect for summer playlists, road trips, and all the moments when you just want to feel alive.
But Carol isn’t just any musician. A world-renowned trombonist, session musician, arranger, and educator, her career spans over two decades and covers genres from classical to commercial to contemporary. She’s toured with the likes of Sting, Queen, Amy Winehouse, Bon Jovi, and Ellie Goulding, performed alongside legends like Taylor Swift and Michael Bublé, and contributed to Grammy-winning albums and Hollywood blockbusters. She regularly performs with prestigious orchestras, including the London Symphony Orchestra and the BBC Orchestras.
Despite her extensive work in the background, supporting global superstars and orchestrating musical masterpieces,I Want You To Stay" marks a bold statement of independence and artistic evolution. With this new release, Carol steps into the spotlight as a solo artist, offering a unique glimpse into her multifaceted musical world.
We spoke with Carol about the journey that led to this moment, the challenges she faced in carving out her own path after years of collaborative success, and how her experiences with icons like Paul McCartney, Seal, and Amy Winehouse shaped this project. Carol also opened up about her creative process, the inspiration behind this new sound, and how she finds balance in a career that spans live performance, orchestral work, session music, and education.
What does it take to maintain such versatility while staying true to your artistic voice? How did Carol turn her years of session work into something uniquely her own? And after working in some of the world’s most iconic music spaces, what’s it like to finally release her own music to the world? We dive deep into these questions and more, as Carol Jarvis shares the story behind I Want You To Stay" , revealing not only what it took to create the song but what’s next for this trailblazing artist.
Here’s how it went:
Begin Interview:
Hello Carol Jarvis, we’re thrilled to have you here for this interview! We've had an amazing time exploring your music and diving into your creative journey. Now, we’re even more excited to get a deeper look into both your brand and your personal and professional inspirations.
Q: We read, “Carol Jarvis is one of the UK’s most in-demand and versatile freelance trombonists, session musicians, arrangers, orchestrators, and voiceover artists.” How did you break into this coveted genre, and what do you feel became your standout superpower (beyond your obviously incredible musical talents) that makes you so in demand?
A: Firstly, thanks for having me! I feel very lucky that I naturally just enjoyed creating a bit of a portfolio career, spanning all genres. Little did I know that the profession would move that way too - it meant that during the pandemic I stayed really busy! Taking up the trombone (the most versatile instrument there is!) turned out to be an amazing choice, as it has lead me all over the world, working in every genre of music. I think being versatile is one of the most useful skills you can have as a musician - it comes as part of being a session musician, because when you turn up to a session the music might still be being written and printed, so you need to be able to play anything and sight read it first time when the red light goes on. I love that high pressure situation!
Q: We loved the powerful vocals, and your presence was undeniably infectious. The edits and rhythmic beats had us ready to hit the dancefloor. What was the moment you decided this genre specifically was now time for you to engage in and make into your new artist persona?
A: Thank you! I’m so glad you like it! When I decided to start writing and releasing my own music I didn’t want it to just be another classical or jazz trombone album (trombonists seem to generally stick to those two genres). As I’ve played keys all my life, a bit of drums, etc, I thought why can’t a trombone go with electronic house/dance music too?!
Q: As a teaser, what would you tell someone about this song to intrigue them about its meaning if you only had 1 sentence to get them interested in listening to it?
A: It’s a summer anthem! I can’t say much more than that, but once you’ve heard it, you’ll absolutely know what I mean.
Q: You’ve become renowned for your exceptional musicianship across classical, commercial, and contemporary genres. Are these genres your personal favorites, or do you see them as tools that are most in-demand?
A: Yes, I’d say these genres are where I work most, but being able to cross-genres with ease has absolutely opened doors for me in the profession.
Q: Your career spans studio, stage, and screen, and you’ve worked with artists like Sting, Paul McCartney, Queen, Amy Winehouse, Rod Stewart, and Bon Jovi. Honestly, there is no level above these artists—how does it feel to work with such legends? Is it smooth sailing or does it ever feel nerve-wracking?
A: I feel very lucky to have worked with legendary artists like this. I remember when the phonecall came to work with Sting and I just kept repeatedly saying “did you say Sting?” (sometimes I have to pinch myself!). But when it comes to working with them, you just focus on what you’re doing as a session or touring musician to do the best job you can. I had a few tacet numbers on stage, touring with Sting and I do remember just sitting back and being in awe. It was honestly just so magical.
Q: You’ve been invited to perform as Principal Trombone with prestigious orchestras like the London Symphony Orchestra and all of the BBC Orchestras. What is the highest moment and the most difficult challenge of being involved with such elite ensembles?
A: This is also usually a pinch-me moment! I think when it comes to classical music, there is so little room for error. Again, it’s a thrill, so I love it, but it can be a little nerve-wracking at times. Strangely, I find sitting still in the bars rest difficult sometimes! It obviously depends what the programme is, but playing somewhere like the Royal Albert Hall in London at the BBC Proms is always a highlight - the atmosphere, the venue, the sound of the orchestra, it’s just so exciting.
Q: You’re a distinguished graduate of the Royal Northern College of Music, where you earned the institution’s highest qualifications and won several prestigious awards. With a career like yours, do you ever see these accomplishments as challenges you’re meeting, or do you prefer to let experiences unfold in a more organic, fun way?
A: Absolutely I just follow the way everything unfolds. I always decided that I’d wait for my career to decide which path it’s going and which genre I’d end up working in. I did get offered a full-time position in a major symphony orchestra in 2008, but for a few reasons I chose to turn it down and remain freelance: 1, I was about to undergo a bone marrow transplant (I had a decade long battle with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma) and I felt it would be wrong to take on a full-time job and immediately ask for two years off. And 2, I love the variety of what I do and I think I would have missed that. I'm now a professor at the same conservatoire where I studied, so it's a lovely full circle moment.
Q: What sparked the decision to step out with your own original music and release this new track, "I Want You to Stay"? Is it just a case of running out of things to conquer, or was there something specific that pushed you to this moment, ie this has been a personal goal?
A: It was getting to ten years in remission that made me want to mark that milestone! I’ve also got such a creative mind (which I can’t switch off!) and I love having projects on the go. Writing and releasing my own music is just my own little creative outlet. It’s a bonus that people listen to it and enjoy it!
Q: This new release, with its bold and infectious electronic beats mixed with your signature trombone, is quite a departure from your past work. What made you choose this style and sound, and is it a new direction for you musically, or will you continue to balance it with your other projects?
A: I released an album in 2010 which was during the years I was told I wouldn’t survive (when I exhausted all avenues of cancer treatments), so that album was to raise funds for a cancer charity and for me to leave something out in the world. It was lovely to do, with strings, rhythm, playing lots of ballads, but then being told I’ve got a life ahead of me, and getting to live again, it had to be more lively music!
Q: You’ve worked on both large scale productions and smaller sessions. Is there a particular type of project you gravitate towards more—something where you feel you truly thrive?
A: I don’t think I could choose. I love everything from playing in a small chamber ensemble, to coaching on kids music courses, to playing huge Mahler symphonies to playing with a legend on a pop tour! That’s the beauty of playing the trombone, every week is different.
Q: Where do you start the raw production of your music, i.e., in a home recording studio or with an outside producer? And how do you finalize your finished work, such as self-mixed/mastered, or do you collaborate with another source to perfect it?
A: It begins at home in my own studio, and collaborating with my producer George Holliday. I love working with him! We have worked in the same space together, but we also work in our own studios and throw files back and forth at each other. It’s a great creative process.
Q: What are your top 3 venues where you’d love to perform this song live, places that would feel like the perfect fit for this track to shine?
A: I think at a summer festival, or by the sea in Ibiza. It shouts summer vibes - there’s an incredible remix coming out by Ryder DJ soon too, and I can see that being played at clubs, for sure!
Q: Outside of music, who or what has had the biggest influence on your personal growth or artistic perspective?
A: It’s got to be my parents and my brother for everything from work ethic to just keeping putting one foot in front of the other when times get tough. When I got ill back in 2004 it really brought us all very close. We lost my dad to cancer a few years ago now too, and we all miss him to bits still - he would always play my new music over and over and over!
Q. Your journey so far has been nothing short of incredible, and it’s clear there’s so much more to come. So, what’s next for you? What exciting plans or projects do you have on the horizon that fans can look forward to?
A: I’ve got a few more tracks up my sleeve that may come out as singles, so watch this space! I’m heading over to the other side of the pond on a US/Canada tour with a British band called Elbow in Sept/Oct which I’m really looking forward to. Apart from that, just saying yes to all the work that comes my way and see where it takes me… so far it’s taken me all over the world and I can’t wait for whatever comes next.
Carol Jarvis, thank you so much, we appreciate you taking the time to talk to us!
End Interview
We’re happy to have shared Carol Jarvis’s exciting journey with you and uncovered such inspiring insights about their creative process.
