Welsh indie-folk/Americana heart-throb Vince James recently announced his new single The Man I Want To Be.
An instantly noteworthy new voice on the scene, singer-songwriter Vince James brings simple, yet skillfully-constructed songs, combined with whiskey-soaked vocals and insightful storytelling through his lyrics, which are packed with astute observations from growing up in a small town in his native South Wales.
Coming off the back of a string of high profile festival appearances this summer including The Great Escape Festival, Focus Wales and The Big Cwtch, as well as a headline UK tour that took him as far north as Scotland, Vince James have wasted no time venturing far and wide across the UK, receiving support from BBC Introducing in Wales and leaving each city with a stronger fan base which continues to cultivate with every show he plays.
James had been performing for years on the streets busking until he met Welsh music producer Adam Richards. Since that meeting, Vince James came into existence and has since developed his own unique sound, which is a captivating blend of indie-pop, folk and country. Building on that classic songwriter vibe and drawing influence from legendary artists such as Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan and Ryan Adams, Vince James adds his own refreshing, modern combination that’ll draw you in and have you strumming your fingers along to his songs before you know it. There is a seamless incorporation of free-flowing rhythm into folk music, creating a sense of serenity and light-hearted enjoyment that leaves a lasting impact.
The release of his first offering Forget Last Night resulted in performances for BBC Horizons at Glass Butter Beach Festival, a special 10th edition Sŵn Festival appearance, and a support offering from Billie Marten. Establishing himself and allowing no constraints, Vince James is embarking on a journey to make his mark in the world of music. Check out the latest single below!
We managed to catch up with Vince as he talked about the latest single and more!
How has the release of ‘The Man I Want To Be’ gone down so far?
Really positive so far. There’s been a big increase in new listeners and the single has also found itself being featured on various online playlists, even one in Japan which is new for me. It’s only been out for a week so hopefully there’s still some more great things to come from it!
Tell us something about the release that not many people know?
I wrote the song in a night (the night before my Granddads 80th birthday) which is who the song is for, it was my gift to him because I couldn’t think of a better gift to give him other than a song. It’s got a lot to do with all the fun me and the other Grandkids had whilst growing up, which my Granddad was always a massive part of. It was easy to find lyrics to put to this song because it’s so personal to me and so many amazing times have been had with my Granddad, he’s one of my biggest inspirations in life.
Will you be releasing a EP/Album this year?
I’ve always got ideas about making an album in the back of my mind, and it really excites me. I can’t wait for those ideas to become a reality. but for the moment I’m trying to focus on releasing one single at a time. If they start to gain enough attention then I think I’ll definitely be making an album sooner than intended. I’ve even got a list of studios that I want to record in and a title for the album, so I’m definitely prepared for something like an album or an EP.
How was the Great Escape Festival earlier this year?
Probably the best festival I’ve played to date. Great venues, amazing location and just an overall exciting atmosphere about the place. I was fortunate enough to be able to perform twice, once at an indoor venue not far from the beach and once on an outdoor stage in the town centre. I’d have to say I preferred playing the outdoor stage just because the sun was shining and the crowd were amazing! I’m definitely planning on returning to play at next years Great Escape.
Do you prefer playing festivals than venues?
I normally tend to find I can engage with a crowd more easily at venues, there’s a sort of intimacy that makes it easy to get the message across to the people plain and clear. I’m also more used to playing at venues so I find they just make me generally more comfortable. I still love playing festivals though. The atmosphere is amazing and there’s always a sense of togetherness. Which I think is what makes them so special. But still I’d probably have to choose venues between the two.
Have you got any live dates planned for this year?
26th October – Monusk deli/Newport and whole lot more live dates to be announced soon including a repeat of a UK tour I did in January, follow me on Songkick to be notified first 😉
If you could work with any band or artist on a new song, who would it be and why?
I’d probably like to work with someone like Jack Johnson. I grew up on his music and it’s always a good time to stick one of his records on. He’s completely original, there are not many people out there who have done what he has. he’s a true master. Every album he has put out has been consistently good in my opinion. I also just love his style of playing, I’dz be more than happy to be locked away inhere’s some really cool venues in South Wales, big and small. But the amount of dedicated, passionate music lovers is what makes the scene so great I think. Whenever I play a gig in Cardiff the atmosphere is always warm and everyone seems to appreciate live music. There’s so many talented artists/bands in South Wales, it’s easy to find some good live music to watch.
What was the first gig you ever attended?
The first proper gig I went to see was The Cribs and they played the Cardiff students union. I must have been around fifteen at the time, and it was probably the most exciting night I had as a fifteen-year-old. They packed the place out and it was absolute carnage! Got way out of hand. But that’s what made it so great, everyone was in it together! The Cribs played a blinding set too, from what I can remember. Even though it was the first gig I ever saw it was also one of the best by far!