Influenced by:
James Michael Bay (born 4 September 1990) is an English singer and songwriter from Hertfordshire.
He started his career in 2013 and released his first album Chaos and the Calm in 2015, where the singles "Let It Go" and "Hold Back the River" proved to be massive successes. His second album Electic Light was released in 2018, his third Leap in 2022 and fourth Changes All the Time in 2024.
Discography:
- Chaos and the Calm (2015)
- Electric Light (2018)
- Leap (2022)
- Changes All The Time (2024)
Trope back the river, let me look in your eyes:
- Alliterative Title: Chaos and the Calm.
- Break-Up Song: Some of his songs, notably "Let It Go", which is about the narrator accepting that his relationship is beyond saving and asks his partner to let it go so both can focus on themselves.Now we're sleeping on the edge
Holding something we don't need
All this delusion in our heads
Is gonna bring us to our knees
So come on, let it go
Just let it be
Why don't you be you
And I'll be me? - Cover Version: Covered "If I Ain't Got You" by Alicia Keys.
- Deliberately Monochrome: The cover of Electric Light, with only the album name in red.
- Face on the Cover: The cover of Chaos and the Calm shows a picture of James in front of an open door.
- Longest Song Goes Last: "Dogfight" ends Changes All the Time and is the longest at 5:46.
- Lyrical Dissonance: "Best Fake Smile" is rather upbeat for a song whose message is to discourage people from covering their sadness by pretending to be happy.
- Special Guest: Noah Kahan and The Lumineers in "Up All Night".
- Stepford Smiler: "Best Fake Smile" shows how hiding your sadness is a bad thing.No, you don't have to wear your best fake smile
Don't have to stand there and burn inside, oh oh oh
If you don't like it - Take This Job and Shove It: The verses of "Best Fake Smile" tell the story of a waitress dealing with a sucky job until she has enough and retires.
- Wanderlust Song: Has a song called "Wanderlust".