Having spent much of the last three years playing residencies in Dublin pubs – our idea of heaven, really – Gavin James is now sharing his prodigious talent with the rest of the world. Debut EP, Say Hello, entered the Irish iTunes album charts at Number One, after which he coolly went on to pick up the Choice Meteor Award (like an Irish Mercury Prize) for ‘Song Of The Year’. With a voice smooth and agile enough to charm the birds from the trees, we wouldn’t be surprised if this is James’s year.
Tell us a bit about your latest release?
I’ve just released a stripped-back version of one of my songs called ‘Carolina’. It’s available for free from my Facebook page at the moment.
What was your best ever gig?
The Union Chapel with Ingrid Michaelson last year. It was an unbelievable venue to play and the crowd were unreal, I’d love to play there again.
What’s the worst thing about being a musician?
Nothing bad about it really.
What inspires you?
Mm.. I tend to listen to lots of different types of music, from Frank Sinatra to the chart stuff, anything that inspires me to write. Also breakups and all that sort of stuff too.
If you won a billion pounds what would you do with it?
Buy a massive pool and fill it with strawberry jelly? Don’t know what I’d do with the rest, I’d just give it away I’d say…
Which of your songs is your favourite and why?
‘Two Hearts’. It’s gonna’ to be on the album and it’s just fun to play live and seems to get people going.
What are you plans for the future?
To finish off the album, try to play as many gigs as possible, and just keep writing.
Finally, we’re always looking to expand our musical horizons. Do you have any recommendations of bands or artists we should be looking out for?
I’m loving Tom Odell at the moment. I saw him at Trinity Ball Festival a few weeks ago and he was unreal, also Kodaline, gotta love Kodaline.