Jake Bugg: 'I had to write with other musicians for my record label'

Jake Bugg has claimed his record label forced him to write with other musicians on his second album, Shangri La.

The 19-year-old Nottingham musician's rock n' roll persona was discredited last year when his sophomore LP's credits revealed a roster of industry-approved songwriters had been drafted in to co-write tracks with Bugg - which he's now said he was forced to do.

Speaking to Mojo, the 'Lightning Bolt' singer said being told he must work with songwriters on Shangri La was the unfortunate side effect of signing with a major label.

"The one thing I was adamant about was signing to a major (record label)," said Bugg. "I knew I needed money to get on the road and make the album I wanted to make. But to sign with a major these days you have to agree to write with other people. I saw other people say 'no', and then the label weren't interested.

"I was... sceptical," he continued. "I thought about it, but then I decided, why not? I might learn a thing or two. And the thing is, I have...It's more of a guide than writing the songs. It has to be my idea. It will be swapping this bit or that bit, or pointing out that really an idea is only half a song."

"What frustrated me was that, when it was done, I knew I could've written it myself," he explained. "He wanted a bigger share. I didn't feel that was right...But working with Crispin was a good experience and, like all these things, you must take at least one good thing away from it."