Jamie Burnham
Pictures by Ami Barwell. For more of her genius work go to www.musicphotographer.co.uk
Live photos by Anuli
Influences
Tom Waits, Johnny Cash, Jeff Buckley, Bright Eyes, Howe Gelb, Cursive, Richmond Fontaine, Bruce Springsteen, M. Ward, Shelby Lynne, Decemberists, Tori Amos, Calexico, Brian Eno, Holy Fuck, Battles, Sigur Ros, Sixteen Horsepower, Smashing Pumpkins, Stellastarr, Erich Bachmann, Nina Simone, Sarah Vaughn, CAKE, Aimee Mann, Astrud Gilberto, Lyle Lovett, The Cure, Pixies, Tim Burton and Thomas Pynchon
Sounds Like
“Oh my goodness, a voice that could warm any room. When she started singing, everyone sat up and listened right away. Her voice is so eloquent and ranges from very low to very high notes with such ease.. accompanied by gorgeous guitar and a confident but gentle stance, she stole our hearts and minds.. softened them, then gave them back.”
Jess Martin, SuqeezeIn Presents, May12th 2009***"Your soul is in your music, your music is in your heart and that's the way you are" (Thank you Paco for your beautiful words and hope I'll see ya in London soon)
Sitting in my kitchen I’m reading about Tom Waits, and he’s turned me into dust and salt water and makes me feel like I’ve come home. I grew up with his music, I grew more with that of Jeff Buckley, and I turned myself into a kid again with Bright Eyes, to arrive at my own sound. I’ve found that Alt-Country is the genre to encompass my musical ambitions and express what I want to share. ***
I was born in a landlocked no-man's land in 1978. I have lived on a Welsh mountain. I have lived in the grayest city in Scotland, to watch the oil-riggers stumble ashore and get lost in cheap liquor. A great time to listen to Tom. ***
I have lived in Airstream trailers and apartments and houses in California, I have burned myself to a crisp in her sun, leaned into her wind, and skidded down her snowy mountain sides. A great time to listen to Jeff. ***
I moved to London, England five years ago and I love this dirty city, the Hollywood of Singers and Songwriters. Creating music is what makes me alive. Often the fire of my gypsy soul and the wind’s pull at my bones tell me to hit the road again. So there are times I have to chain myself down with my melodies to know I’m still staying the course. A great time to be a kid. ***
I have been a student but never earned a degree. I have been a wayward wife. I have worked cleaning houses and on ranches and farms. Every car I’ve ever owned was a hunk of junk, but I loved driving them all, even the old beater with the broken choke I was given for free. Wherever I lived, I’ve always owned a cat. ***
There is no specific time when I started making music. My being is defined by the fact that I am a singer, I believe I was born as such, and my task has been to find my voice. I chose the guitar to be my orchestra and have been playing for many years, with more or less competence. I take the cheater’s way out in alternate tunings, and cannot tell you the names of some of the chords I’m finding along the way, only that they touch me, and so I know they are mine. Perhaps owing to a dischord in my psyche, I favor lilting melodies and melancholy chords. ***
As well as the aforementioned, I pull musical influences from the great Johnny Cash, Emmilou Harris, Richmond Fontaine, M.Ward, Calexico, Brubeck, Getz, Nina Simone, Sarah Vaughn and others too diverse and numerous to list. ***
Lyrically I try to contain the wildness of my mind and heart. My favorite writer isThomas Pynchon. He is my great literary love and inspiration to many of my songs, though I also have a great affection for Haruki Murakami, DBC Pierre, David Sedaris, and Flann O’Brien’s “Third Policeman”. The last book I read from cover to cover was Anthony Kiedis’ “Scar Tissue”. ***
It’s always been my dream to run away and join the circus, though I am told I don’t hold many relevant skills. So in the meantime I keep writing music and letting my restless soul drift around the world that way. Should you decide to wander along a while I look forward to meeting you on the road, ***
Your friend and mine,
Jamie Burnham
Whats up, hope your enjoying the music, whenever you get a chance, check out the page and tell me what you think(good or bad). So please comment me with your thoughts. Thank you, logan
Hey my dear Jamie Thanks for yours nice comments how are u? I'm rarely on the net these last times but I dont forget u a big hug and lot of kisses olivier
Hey, you are quite good and if you knew me better then you'd know that that's high fucking praise. I'm a Promoter/Manager, do you need any help? comment back
Hey! Thanks for becoming our friend! We really appreciate it and as always hope things are going well for you :] Please feel free to hit us up anytime and we hope see you out at future shows!
