Longtime clients Mick Jagger, Ringo Starr, and Rod Stewart might have inspired Nicholas “Nicky” Haslam, as the AD100 decorator recently released his first music video. The video, showcasing enviable singing chops and intuitive phrasing, is for “Total Control,” a haunting version of a song by the Motels. It’s the first single from Haslam’s debut album, Midnight Matinée, a collection of eight standards and pop covers, which will be released at the end of November, just in time for the holidays.

So how does a legendary interior designer segue into a music career? Haslam began singing professionally in 2009, and in 2010 spent a few nights crooning Cole Porter songs at the Beaufort Bar in London’s Savoy hotel. “I was doing my cabaret at the Savoy,” Haslam explains. “Afterward a friend of mine who is a record producer rang me up and said, ‘I think I can do something with your voice.’ And I said, ‘What?’”

Although the designer has no formal musical training, the powerhouse collaborators on the album certainly don’t lack experience—Bryan Ferry, Bob Geldof, and Cilla Black are each featured on different tracks. (There are also spoken-word performances by Rupert Everett and Tracey Emin.) “It’s not just pop songs,” Haslam says. “It’s a weird audio journey.” The result is, as he puts it, “a mad mix of toff and posh.”

As for the design of the “Total Control” video, moody interiors naturally play a supporting role, providing Haslam with an expressive stage to display a bit of swagger. From the elegant decay of a ballroom in Romania to a bedroom with dark-green mohair walls and a perfectly unmade white bed, the sets reflect the sensibility of someone who clearly understands the power of a seductive backdrop.

Expect more videos from Haslam in the coming months, with one for the Bryan Ferry collaboration scheduled to debut next, plus a third for a song written by Guy Chambers, best known for his work with Robbie Williams and Kylie Minogue. But don’t assume a film career will follow: “I can’t act, though I can follow direction,” Haslam says modestly. “And as long as I don’t have to say anything I’m all right. I sing better than I talk.”

“Total Control” performed by Nicky Haslam