James Humphrys (hier bereits vorgestellt) hat das Zeug, eine steile Karriere hinzulegen. Nachdem der junge Musiker aus Bristol mich als Support von Gurr und New Carnival überzeugen konnte, imponieren seine sommerlichen Tracks wie „The river“ oder „For another“ immer mehr Musikfans. Seine letzte Single „I’m not your man“ startete mit ihrem flockigen Groove richtig durch und sorgte für Features auf diversen Spotify-Playlisten. Zur Feier des Tages habe ich mit James Humphrys gechattet. Im #nofilter-Interview erzählt der Musiker mehr über die Entstehung seines letzten Songs, dem Leben als Indie-Musiker, seinem Studium an der BIMM Bristol, dem Verhältnis zu seiner Band und natürlich seinen Zukunftsplänen.
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hi james, so nice that you are doing this with me.
James
Thanks for having me and happy birthday!!
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haha thanks!
I hope you’re having a great day. And for the beginning, I’d always looove to know what you’ve been doing today. (lame question but hey, icebreaker!)
James
Sure! It’s been a slow start to the day to be honest.. I answered some emails then headed down to this cafe near my house to meet my sister who works there, so not overly exciting so far.. haha
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haha. so are you still in that cafe?
James
Nope I’ve returned home, but I could have stayed there to be honest, although there’s only so many free iced lattes I can get
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haha
iced latte… that sounds so nice
James
Tres sweet
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I’ve been walking around the city looking for a cafe with wifi…sooooo hard in germany
anyway!
let’s talk music. you’ve got this great single that you released just the other week
and it’s been a massive success
great feedback, addition to several spotify playlists. did you expect this?
James
That’s right! Thank you man, it’s early days but I’m super happy with the reception so far.. I was no expecting the Spotify playlists at all! For every release I’ve always wanted to land a spot on a good playlist but it’s never been immediate to be honest. So waking up on the day of the release to a message from my manager saying it was on New Music Friday Uk was amazing! I hadn’t even shared it myself at that point haha so yes very happy!
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that’s great
and did you have the time or possibility to party a bit about the succesful release?
James
I was staying at my friend Jack’s house at the time so yeah the whole of that day involved a variety of different pubs and me drunkenly refreshing my Spotify throughout the day haha
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fair enough!
:p
I imagine that THE dream however is to hear the own song being played in the radio, no? is that still a thing?
James
Yeah I’d love that obviously! It was played on BBC Introducing in the West on Saturday.. But of course the more people that are able to hear it the better. I think
Radio still has its charm
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true
can you tell me a little more about „I’m not your man“?
like when it was written and why exactly that song as a release right now?
James
Sure! So It started out as this little chord progression that I had.. slightly cheesy but infectious, I couldn’t stop playing it or thinking about it. Then one time after an exam I was walking home and started singing this chorus melody and the words ‘I’m Not Your Man’ was just the first thing I sang and I couldn’t sing anything else to be honest. I think it’s about the stage when you’re seeing or dating someone when you know it’s more than that, but still unsure to whether they feel or want the same! A conversation everyone has at some point. The songs been around for a while now but was released now because it was put out via HUBB Records but I’m glad I waited because it was also my first ever summer release
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Which is odd since I always get that summer feeling listening to your songs!
James
Yeah exactly!!
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but nice! talking about HUBB. it’s a Bristol record label, right? how did you guys first connect?
James
I’m happy to be a placebo summertime vibe throughout the rest of the year though haha
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haha
James
That’s right they’re a new Bristol label from BIMM where I studied. BIMM releases an album every year and students were able to submit tracks to feature. This year they did things a bit differently and created a student run label and it’s worked great to have that kind of support in my opinion. I’m excited to see where they all take it next
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oh, that is so nice
so the label is run by students too?
James
Exactly! Some present and others who have just graduated
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do you think that in the future, you might be able to release an album via that label. or does that rather stay in EP and single territory?
James
I’ve been thinking about that recently actually whether they’d wanna put out my next single but I don’t know what their plan is! An album sounds great for the future but there’s a few more singles left in me I think
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okay, so let’s take it rather slowly and see where it goes
it’s funny you’re talking about BIMM since I was gonna ask you some questions about that
basically, it’s a modern music school, right?
James
Exactly! Slow and steady. See where things go. I want to build up my fan base and listeners before I start thinking about an album haha
That’s right! It stands for the British and Irish Modern Music Institute. Started off in Brighton and now is everywhere to be honest haha There’s one in Berlin and Hamburg also
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haha
and you’re studying songwriting, is that right?
what interests me: what do you actually do all day in school?
James
Just finished studying songwriting yep
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oh then congrats to your degree!
James
Yeah it’s sounds pretty open to be honest. You can sort of sculpt the degree to best suit your interests. So I chose like a producer module and business one
So it’s not just like rhyming structures every single day haha
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haha
(since I am always depressed about how theoretical studying can be)
James
Very much so! It’s like a solid balance of the two.. Sort of like a three year boot camp to prepare you for the industry! You’ve just got to keep things going out of the Uni to make the most of the skills I believe
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ok
so it did influence you and your music a lot I guess?
James
Definitely, maybe without even releasing. I’d say it’s given me the confidence to explore my sound and make mistakes, discover what it is I want from music etc!
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that does sound nice
speaking about what you want from music
and your sound
I feel like you manged to really create a signature sound
in what way was that planned? I mean what kind of music did you want to create in your head?
did you sit there and thought: oh I want to do that summer-y, groovy guitar music with a lot of tropical influences and so on=
?
James
Thank you! I didn’t intend to have a signature sound to be honest. I think it’s because I play all the instruments and in a way that restricts me but yet also creates the audible picture of me which is cool! There’s certain guitar things I was taught when I was younger which must have really stuck, so it’s like a classic pentatonic scale a lot of the time haha I just start on guitar and if I find something that really sticks with me, I can paint this picture you talk about in my head there and then, visualise and hear the other instruments and then I start recording and it’s fun. Not intentionally tropical or groovy but I guess I’m also inspired by what ever I’m listening to at the time!
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🙂
what is influencing you right now for example?
James
I’m recording a song at the moment actually and I’ve been channeling a lot of Gavin Turek, she’s just effortlessly super groovy and I love the production of her tracks and the percussive vocal rhythms she uses but also dare I say it.. Some house tunes have been grabbing me recently
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Ouh la!
Haha, now it’s said!
😉
Is DJ Humphrys gonna be a thing?
just joking haha!
James
You heard it first!
I’m down for that! DJ Hump
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The HUMP!
Bristol Underground is yours
James
Amazing
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ok, James, if you still have a little bit of time, there’s one more thing I wanted to talk to you about
James
I’m all yours!
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awesome
I digged deep in the Internet
and I found out that when you were younger, you not only played in an indie-band but also had a project called „Pharaoh Colour“. is that right?
James
I wondered where this was going..
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haha sorry!
James
Yeah that’s right! My first band where I started songwriting was a sort of lo fo dream pop band called Wolf Choir. We released a EP during my first year of Uni actually. We’re more of a studio band to be honest
And yes Pharaoh Colour was something.. But switched to my name when I stared Uni
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And how did the band finish? Everybody moving away?
lo fi dream pop does sound good though!
James
We still play some Pharaoh tunes in our set though! Yeah it was great actually, real proud of the songs we put out! Yeah everyone moved to different cities so I wanted to put my energies into a project full time, so I started recording my own songs!
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Ok
James
I feel Wolf Choir is an ongoing project though haha
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so basically Pharaoh turned into James Humphrys
and Wolf Choir is on hiatus
and your friends from Wolf Choir, are they still doing music too?
James
Pretty much! Yes they are. The bass player Aram has just graduated from Birmingham conservatoire studying jazz bass, Ed is in a couple of bands and also produced my solo EP and my single The River and Tom is still shredding on guitar somewhere. So yes haha
They love it
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hahaha
that does sound great!
James
They’re great
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soooo which Wolf Choir should we check out?
*song
James
You should check out our 2015 EP called Zoo of the New
Take your pick haha
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I will haha!
okay, one last thing I was wondering since I’ve gotten to know you
when I first saw you (supporting the amazing Gurr and New Carnival), I thought that you guys were a band, since the music sounded so… band-y (if you know what I mean). And even though I of course discovered through the studio recordings that it was just you, I’m still asking myself how your relationship with „the band“ is?
I mean, it’s always the same lineup, no?
but do they also work with you for the studio recordings? 🙂
(sorry, that got way more complex than I thought lol)
James
Yeah we get that a lot after we play, which is brilliant actually cause it just sums up how great our connection is and we’re all the best of friends. There’s a solid lineup but it does vary sometimes for gigs, although they’re more than just session players but also each member has their own projects going on also!
Sam my bass player has a band called Parowan, Beth is front women of a band called HUN IYA and Charlie plays guitar also for a dude called Joe Probert! Studio recordings I record everything but we adapt it when we play live, which does create a different vibe than the recordings but I like that
Nope it’s a good question
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okay, that is great that you’re all so close
James
Very important to me!
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but why don’t form a band then? is it because everybody has his/her own solo projects mroe or less?
I really do like it though when artists sound different on recording and on stage!
that is worth so much
James
I guess so and James Humphrys might be something different in a year or even next week, it’s constantly evolving! Recording is also a massive escape for me so to have the control and drive is important if that makes sense
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yeah, I think I get that
James
I agree! It’s like two different products I guess and when you watch us live it is a band, they’re not session players
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I’ll definitely check out your friends‘ projects. seems like Bristol has sooooo much to offer
that would be it from my side, James
do YOU actually still have a question ? :p
James
Definitely do!
I do.. What’s the plan for the rest of your birthday?
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hahahaha
James
And what German band should
I check out right now?
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to keep it secret but that won’t work now :p
yes
no, seriously, I’m used to spend my birthday on festivals, so I never really cared (since I’d usually be drunk by now)
James
Haha I feel you
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but right now, I’m actually looking for an apartment in a brand new city where I arrived just this morning
James
Oh busy times!
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I might tell someone I meet later though
or not
don’t know yet, haha
and as for the German band
that is THE most difficult question
but let me try and give you a Top 3
James
Even better!!
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if you want a true Indie band, you should check out „Leoniden“. The Mars Volta meets Portugal. The Man and Justin Timberlake. Probably the most interesting band around. but don’t make fun about the slightly German accent when they sing in english!
James
Hahaha okay I won’t! My German friend Leon sings in English and I like it. I’ll check em out
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for psychedelic/folk rock, there is a really unknown but awesome band around that just released its first EP. they have like 200 likes on Facebook and are called Electric Horseman. Go listen to „Wild flowers“ and you will get Neil Young and Pink Floyd!
James
Oh okay amazing
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and then you should check out Laura Carbone, a berlin based rock songwriter. she released an awesome second album where you’ll find a bit of Cat Power, a lot of PJ Harvey, Jeff Buckley guitars and absolutely amazing hooks. My tip: „Old leaves shiver“
damn, they all sing in English hahaha
James
That’s great! Thank you
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so German singing band: Turbostaat. THE best punk rock band from here. might scare you in the first listen though!
voilà voilà
James
What a mix
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and, what I always wanted to tell you: check out the French band L’impératrice. you have a lot of things in common 😉
anyway, you should stop me now!
James
Oh I know them!!! Love the remix Parcels did with them
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YES !
James
Thanks for that comparison.
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alright, James, thanks so much for taking the time!
I’m really looking forward to the next releases!
Germany is waiting for you, man!
James
Thank you for your time on your Birthday!! Thank you mate
Brilliant! Danke
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See you soon !
James
Have a good rest of your day!
Ihr solltet James Humphrys definitiv auf dem Zettel haben. Hier könnt ihr euch nochmal seine gesammelten Tracks auf Spotify anhören: