Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?
I was born in Shrewsbury but grew up in Gloucester. Somehow I got involved in DJ-ing around the local scene, which gave me an opportunity go out to Mallorca. From that summer season, I started singing and never looked back. Since then, I’ve travelled the world, met my wife and become an adopted Wiganer.
Exposed Vocals: Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any smaller or local bands or artists looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?
Practice and hustle. Get to know people, either online or at local open mic nights. Play wherever you can and don’t be afraid by the word no, it just means you are one step closer to a yes.
Exposed Vocals: Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you handle that?
All the time, lyrics usually. You get use to making something up that was similar to the original line. I pretend that it helps with my songwriting.
Exposed Vocals: Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy hearing about?
I played a gig in Putney once when a very drunk girl just came up to me in the middle of the song and showed me what she had had for her lunch. I’m proud to say I didn’t drop a note!!
Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?
My studio work is done with Airtight Productions, who also work with Shaun Ryder, Thea Gilmore and Wiley to name a few. I’m so non-techy when it comes to recording and production that I leave it to the experts. Every project I do is very much ‘Team Jamie’, I stick to what I’m good at. Delivering emotion and telling the story.
Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?
I use a lot of social media, I tweet, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube though I don’t get Snapchat (probably too old). I email a lot too, it’s a great way of keeping fans up to date.
Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why?
The Sands in Vegas with the Rat Pack is one that springs to mind. Those orchestras, that vibe, it was just the height of cool. Being an adopted Wiganer, to have done a PA at Wigan Casino would have been cool too.
I’d love to go back and done something with the original Motown crew, bands like the Four Tops and The Temps, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye. Another hero of mine is Bob Marley, to have jammed with him would have been “irie”.
For people that are still alive, Jools Holland and Tom Jones are heroes of mine. But I love my dance music too so Rudimental, Sigala and Sigma are all people I love.
Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?
I have my new single ‘Love You In Colour’ coming out on April 7th. It’s a song about becoming a Dad for the first time and has got shades of Al Green and Bobby Womack to it. It’s the kind of song that would have been played at the end of a Northern Soul night.
Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?
Sitting in my underpants, eating Pot Noodle and playing FIFA, wondering why I’m still a virgin!!
Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in the next year or so?
More music, a new album and some gigs across the country. Looking forward to getting across the UK, meeting people and playing my music. Check me out at
Exposed Vocals: Any Shout-outs?
To all of Team Jamie, the music makers, Airtight Productions, my PR team at Lime Jam, Martin Sutton and the guys at the Songwriting Academy, my co writers, my family and friends and to all the people that keep listening to my music. You give me the fire and the energy to keep going, thank you 🙂
