Just recently, I explained how I have a weak for raspy soul vocals, like Amos Lee and James Morrison, but now I’ve discovered we have our very own raspy singer in Europe. His name is James Bay.
It took a while to put a name to a song I’d been hearing on the radio every once in a while, “If You Ever Want To Be In Love”. To me, these kind of songs get to me, but they don’t linger or stay with me, but every time I hear it again, it’s like meeting an old friend.
I remember most the words and the song gets to me in the exact same way, it had done before. In this case, I think the words just have something sweet about them. It’s both hopeful and hopeless, all at the same time.
While doing my research for this blog, nor his name nor any of the other song titles seemed to ring a bell, until I hit play on “Hold Back The River” and “Let It Go”. Oh yes, I’ve heard these songs before.
Of course I checked out some of his other videos as well. This is the type of music I could listen to on a slow evening when I want to listen to music on my headphones and drift off.
It doesn’t matter whether a song of his may sound a little upbeat, all his videos do show a bit of a moody setting, perhaps due to dim lighting and a bit of smoke in the air or something.
He seems to have a career for himself in the blink of an eye. Musically, he admits he’s a bit of a loner, who’s had to learn to write music to play with a band, but he is just as skilled as an acoustic solo musician. That flexibility could very well have been what got him to play important venues, opening for George Ezra and get his career going so quickly.
James Bay has been traveling the world for the last 2 or 3 years, and when asked which city he would love to see on his day off, he answered in true music obsessed fashion: “Bozeman, Montana, because that’s where Gibson guitars are made”.hich city he would love to see on his day off, he answered in true music obsessed going so quickly.
udio. .
Fact wise, his musical journey is impressive: His official debut single was certified platinum. All of his EP’s climbed the iTunes charts and he’s already been nominated for a Grammy and won a Brit Encouragement Award. No wonder he calls his fans “good people”. They are certainly supportive.
So, if this is only the beginning, I can’t wait to see where this will lead.
