Award-winning singer-songwriter releasing new music

James Jones, an award-winning multi-instrumentalist and singer from Caerphilly, is releasing new music – with an album in the works.

The 24-year-old’s first EP, Landscapes, saw him win the Music Producer Award at the 2023 Youth Music Awards.

Expressing his gratitude after the win, James, said: “I wasn’t expecting to win but it was a great night and I met some amazing people. 

“It was a huge honour as a new producer and artist. It gave me a lot of confidence to keep going.”   

Since this win, James has recorded his music at Metropolis Studios in west London, paid for by Amazon Music. 

His next single, Satisfied With Life, is due to be released on June 21. The song is described as a vibrant bluesy track, which celebrates life’s simple pleasures with upbeat lyrics and a joyful melody. 

James is also working on a self-titled album, which is expected to be released in July.

It has mostly been produced at Metropolis Studios, but includes tracks recorded at Shabbey Road Studios, on Caerphilly Business Park.

James explained that his album will be self-titled to represent a fresh start in his career, as an instrumentalist now expanding into a singer-songwriter. 

“I’ve kept a lot of my music to myself until now, I can’t wait to see how it will be received.”

The album includes the singles Wildfire and Love is a Maze.

The latter is a duet with Mollie Crammond, who is a studio engineer at Metropolis. Mollie has previously worked with artists such as Raye, AJ Tracey, Stormzy and Burna Boy. She also features as a singer and co-writer with James on the song.

James said: “Mollie told me that she sang a bit so I asked if she would be up for doing backing vocals. But after hearing her amazing voice, I asked if she could co-write and record the song together.”

The song serves as a powerful anthem for those who have found themselves lost in the complexities of love, portrayed through the metaphor of a maze.

James described working with Mollie as inspirational and said: “She was really excited to work on the song and she has a great voice.”

James’ music career so far has been purely instrumental, but since working with Mollie he has explored singing and songwriting. 

He explained: “I had the idea of using a maze as a metaphor for love. With Mollie’s help we were able to write a song and record the first verse in a day.

“The metaphor is meant to represent how romantic relationships are complex, it’s like going through a maze trying to understand someone.”

Having dabbled in a variety of genres, notably pop, indie, and jazz, James has described himself as an ‘unconventional artist’.

Some of his musical inspiration comes from his love of artists like Stephane Grappelli, Remi Harris, and The Beatles. 

James described Stephane Grappelli as a “Jazz legend” and cited him as the reason he got into the genre. 

Having taught himself how to play the violin as a child, James showcased his natural talent aged 11 when performing to 5,000 people in his first gig at Cardiff International Arena. At age 15, he supported the late folk artist Dave Swarbrick by opening a show for him. 

James would go on to begin producing his own music remotely during the Covid-19 lockdown, when he worked on the 2020 album Grit, Gravel and Gold, which features songs from artists from across the globe.

Away from his solo work, James is part of the band She Died in Coventry, which was formed in March 2023.

The band makes bluesy rock music and have been shortlisted for the ‘Band Single Of The Year’ award at the International Singer Songwriter Association Awards (ISSA). Not long after the release of the band’s first single, the nomination was announced.  

The band consists of three members including James, drummer Ka Long Tung and guitarist Morgan Turner.

James expressed his admiration for his bandmates and said: “There is no one else I’d rather be in a band with, they are both talented musicians and such amazing and uplifting people.

“I look forward to playing with them for many years to come.”