He’s sold 18 million albums worldwide and has been playing to packed audiences during a year-long world tour, but James Blunt has revealed he plans to retire from the music industry.

The 38-year-old, who served as an officer in the Life Guards cavalry regiment and saw action in Kosovo before embarking on a hugely successful singing career, wants to settle down and enjoy the fruits of his labour.

‘I just want to take some time out for myself,’ James told me at the relaunch of nightclub Barbarella in Fulham, West London.

‘I haven’t got any plans to do more songwriting. I have been chilling out since I finished my world tour and I’ve spent a lot of time in Ibiza, where I have a villa.’

James, who was in town with his girlfriend of nine months, model Sofia Wellesley – the couple are pictured right – said he had really enjoyed his first summer off in seven years.

‘Sofia and I had a great time hanging out with friends on my yacht but we partied as well,’ he added.

‘I do like a good night out and that is why it’s great fun to hang out at Barbarella. London needs more nightclubs like this.’

After quitting the Army in 2002, the singer rose to fame three years later with his ballad You’re Beautiful, which stayed at the top of the UK charts for five weeks. His debut album, Back To Bedlam, sold six million copies.

Since then James has won two Brit Awards and received five Grammy nominations.

His final performance in Britain was a concert at the Shepherd’s Bush Empire in February – a gig which was attended by his entire family.

沪江娱乐快讯:据英国媒体报道,著名流行歌手James Blunt(詹姆斯-布朗特)日前宣布,自己将终止音乐生涯,“想多花些时间在自己身上”。自去年全球巡演过后,James Blunt就与模特女友Sofia Wellesley前往西班牙小岛伊比萨,在那里度过了他出道七年以来最放松的时光。

James Blunt现年38岁,目前为止共发行了11张专辑。2004年10月11日发行首张个人专辑《Back to Bedlam》(不安于室),凭借单曲《You're Beautiful》(美丽的你)一举成名,有杂志评价他的声音为“堕落的天使”,由于《You're Beautiful》热播,《Back to Bedlam》在全世界流行开来,相继在英国、爱尔兰、澳大利亚、新西兰、加拿大、德国、瑞士、瑞典、丹麦、希腊、比利时及奥地利等国获得冠军专辑,全球销量达850万张。

Blunt的家族从10世纪开始就服务于国家军队,而他也曾于1999年于北约布置在科索沃的装甲侦察部队任军官。James Blunt表示自己没有兴趣继续下去音乐事业了,他在不久前接受《每日邮报》的采访时称,未来他没有音乐方面的计划,“我只是想多花些时间在我自己身上,我没有计划去继续创作歌曲。自从我的世界巡演结束后我一直在放松,我在伊比萨带了很多时间,在那里我有一栋别墅。”

《You're Beautiful》经典重现: