Josef Salvat on Googling himself, pre-show rituals and launching his new album.

The Haunt, Pool Valley, Brighton, Saturday, March 12

“HIS voice is the reason why people have orgasms.”

One can always rely on YouTube to give an insight into why a new artist is suddenly creating a buzz around the world – and eight months ago, commenting on Josef Salvat’s video for Hustler, Pocketlarry may have hit the nail on the head.

And it’s likely Salvat himself may have seen that comment – although he admits he has tried to stop Googling himself.

“When I’m feeling particularly adventurous I search for my name on Twitter,” he says. “It’s either a terrible idea or wonderful thing. Usually 90% of the time it is about the music, and the rest of the time it’s emotionally cutting – so you move on a stronger person!”

Salvat first came to public notice through his minimalist cover of Rihanna’s Diamonds on YouTube earning him almost five million views to date.

He earned a further four and a half million views for Open Season which, like Diamonds, came from his 2014 debut EP In Your Prime – and even topped the French charts.

Salvat is unleashes his debut album Night Swim today – admitting the last two months have felt like being in limbo.

“I’m not sure what any of it means anymore,” he says. “It’s super exciting to have the album coming out – but not for the reasons you might think.

“I have noticed when I release a song and people start listening to it, talking about it, enjoying it and making it part of their lives it doesn’t matter how sick of the song I am it takes on a totally new life. “Hopefully that will happen with the whole album. I want to fall in love with my album, but in a new way – I have been singing it for a long time.”

His songs are generally piano driven – but singles Paradise and Hustler have shown an appreciation for electronica and the dancefloor.

For the album he tried to choose songs which would hang together in a coherent way.

“They all deal with this bittersweet thing about life,” he says. “In the same breath you can have tragedy and triumph – and that’s a part of existence that interests me immensely.

“There are two sides on this album – there’s the sad, like Diamonds, This Life, Hustler, Secret and Shoot And Run. Then there’s the more aspirational side – with Paradise, The Days and Closer.

“Half this album is me writing myself a future, the other half is dealing with the vagaries of the past.”

On the flipside of releasing his 13-track debut is the fact he will be relinquishing control of the album to the public at large.

“I find it exciting and frustrating,” he says. “I used to have this almost obsessive thing about being understood – I have realised relatively recently that I am always going to be misunderstood, and that not everyone is going to understand the ideas in there.

“It’s incredibly rewarding – even when the interpretations are totally wrong it doesn’t matter – because it’s no longer about you.

“The song is a really nice form of communication with a complete stranger from me to them. I want to leave more space for that in my lyrics – may be not be so specific.”

His biggest challenge now is getting the songs on Night Swim onto the road.

“When I was in the studio I didn’t hold back,” he says. “You can’t take that on tour – you have to find ways around it.”

His three-piece band is led by Brighton’s own Jonny Coote on guitar, who has ensured that “99% of the show is played or triggered live”.

“All the songs started in this intimate way and developed into huge grandiose productions,” says Salvat. “We’ve been trying to find the balance.”

He now has to get into the rhythm of touring – especially dealing with the nerves, indiscreetly revealing one pre-show routine most performers go through, the nervous poo.

“I get tense and anxious before the show,” he says. “Apart from plugging my piano in I can’t do very much on stage to help set up. I try not to speak to anybody – I can’t take part in a conversation because my mind is racing.

“My nerves have changed though – I used to worry whether my voice was good, now it’s about doing the best show.”

He is particularly looking forward to returning to The Haunt.

“My first ever support was at The Haunt for Willy Moon in 2013,” he says.

“In my memory it felt quite large – I thought at the time it would be cool to come back with my own show.”

Doors 7pm, tickets £10. Call 01273 606312.