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An independent singer/songwriter and musician for over 30 years with his songs taking him from church to prisons to pubs to concert halls. Fortunate enough along the way to have collaborated with many other artists such as Lorraine King, Wal Coughlan, Iolo, Rob Ash, etc. Also provided backing vocals on countless artists' albums (sounds pretentious doesn't it), that in all honesty he says he can't remember! Shame really!
Produced two albums to date as a solo artist,in the acoustic genre, This Way Up! in 2001 and Shine Like You in 2005. Both received good reviews and airplay on a number of radio stations with tracks from the last album playlisted by BBC Radio Wales and others regularly played on Folk shows.
Lyrics-wise, Phil says he's a recovering melancholic! Someone once wrote that he'd be great if only he lightened up! Truth is he never shys away from writing about life's uncertainties as well as hope and redemption however, the last few years he's ended up writing on a brighter, more commercial note. He still sings about about love and stuff but a lot more contented and less intense. He says he never wrote many songs about relationships til he was 40. Obviously grown more grateful with age! He's been married to the same woman for ** years (he's saving her self-respect) and got four children which he's really proud of - and a few grand children so plenty of inspiration there.
Finally, workwise.... he still needs to pay the bills. Hence in the absence of a record contract he alternates between working in a prison and whichever Pub/Function/Fest has booked him for the weekend. It's a great life he says but one which he'd gladly exchange for fame and fortune. He's really just looking for that one song he says he can live off for the rest of his life and retire....!. Aren't we all!
Back to reality. He's twice opened for Hummingbird in the last 2 years and more than twice shared a stage with the Storys. He's also appeared live on BBC Radio Wales, I'll Show You Mine with Amy Wadge and Frank Hennessy who have been really kind to him and regularly feature his songs on I'll Show You Mine and Celtic Heartbeat. He's also more than grateful to Mike Longley, BBC Radio Wales who regularly champions his cause and become a true friend, without which Phil's PRS royalties would be a lot less!
"The Welsh singer/songwriter produces an album of warmth, subtlety and deft musicianship. Pride of place goes to Phil's beautifully played acoustic guitar which when picking bluesy figures on "Take Me Back", finding clever jazz chords on "Be With You" or finding a haunting folk figure on "Best Years", always gives his hauntingly, wistful songs their depth and texture. This album is more than brilliant guitar work however. Phil's voice is expressive and easy on the ear, the arrangements, accompaniments are satisfyingly organic while his lyrics, taking in topics such as the ways of an unfaithful lover (Once Bitten), travelling home to that special loved one (Honey Blue) and childhood reminiscence (Best Years) are carefully crafted. And there are spiritual themes as well with the title track and its memorable images of light and darkness. All in all, a fine set from an eloquent songsmith."
(Tony Cummings Cross Rhythms 2006)
Would like to purchase CD's? Get direct from CDBaby http://cdbaby.com/cd/philjames or
itunes http://www.itunes.com/philjames
or through PayPal at http://www.philjames.info
Hey Phil :) Sorry for the late reply - I've been mega busy with gigs and schoolwork lately.. but now i'm kind of free for a while - so I'm just going to chill! Glad to hear your gig went well .. haha I love outdoor gigs in lovely weather with a brilliant drunken audience ! :) A total summer festival vibe :)
Hi there Phil! Just popped by to say thank you for being my friend. I appreciate your friendship greatly and wish you all the best, and feel free to drop by any time.....much respect...Mojo! PS. Would you like to come and join my mailing list! Come and support the Hoochie Coochie Band....much respect...Mojo! ..
Hey Phil :) How are you ? Thanks a lot for downloading "So Into You" - i'm trying to spread the word out to as many people as possible to listen to my music !! :) Hobo's was good, there was a good crowd - how did your gig go ?
Hopefully catch you at a gig sometime. I would love to see you play live! Kadesha x
We're getting pretty excited that 'Superhero' will be released on iTunes on 1st June!!
Loads of things coming up for us, including our brand new music video which is currently being animated as we speak. So make sure you keep checking back and keep in touch!
Hi there, Passing thorough to say thank you for the add. You have a great sound. Looks like your into getting your music out there. Have you checked out MAXMOUTH AT WWW.MAXMOUTH.COM yet? Check out my page where you can get a synopsis of what it's all about. It's a great place to get exposure for you and your music. Upload your videos and Be Seen, Be Heard, Be Found! That's the motto. Check it out! I wish you the best.
Hello, it's that time of the month again when we add more lovely music to our site. This month's happy foursome are The Barker Band in wistful mode, the summer of love-ish Old Californio, the anything but summer love-ish Christopher Rees and, wait for it..."Travelling Salesman's Young Wife Home Alone On Christmas In Montpelier, VT" from Casiotone For The Painfully Alone, which evenr if it was rubbish (and it's not) just had to be included for the names alone.
Itâs that time of the month and our site has four new tracks up for your listening enjoyment.
This monthâs box of delights include the swaggering groove of Blackie & The Rodeo Kings, the insanely catchy folk-pop of Antje Duvekot, the languid Great Lake Swimmers and, a little belatedly but better late than never, The Young Republic.
A particularly strong month, even if we do say so ourselves. Check them out, you won't regret it.
Haha cheers Phil,been very self critical lately, so need to get around that and work on the poetic, lyrical side of things to help with that actually, so hopefully quite soon there will be some
Hello, we're back again with great new tracks on our page. This month we have some rural bleakness from The Roe Family Singers, the dark intensity of Eamon Dowd, a new song from roots legend Neal Casal and frenetic but compelling from Novillero on the delightfulyl titled but not-at-all-smelly Paco Rabanne. Hope you like them all.
Hello. For our final update of 2008 we have a track from the wonderful Todd Snider, classic sounds from The Snakes, the spellbinding voice of Kate Campbell, the atmospheric Iguanas and some leftfield rock'n'roll from Slithering Beast. Merry Christmas/Solstice/whatever and a Happy New Year!
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