Gavin James (singer)

Gavin James
Gavin James performing in 2017
Background information
Birth name Gavin Wigglesworth[1]
Born (1991-07-05) 5 July 1991
Ashington, Dublin, Ireland
Genres Pop, acoustic
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter
Instruments
  • Guitar
  • vocals
Years active 2013–present
Labels
Website gavinjamesmusic.com

Gavin Wigglesworth,[1] known professionally as Gavin James, is an Irish singer-songwriter. In March 2013 and March 2016, he won the Choice Music Prize Irish Song of the Year award.[2]

Early life

James was born in Dublin on 5 July 1991 and grew up in a household surrounded by music. James' dad would play Cat Stevens, Sam Cooke and Bob Dylan whilst his sister Emma sang and toured with a musical in Ireland.[1] James' great-grandparents were opera singers and his grandfather was a stand-up comedian and whistler.[3]

James began playing music in a rock band at the age of 8 and writing his own songs. The rock band was short lived, after a falling out over an alleged "paranormal experience." However James continued to perform solo, playing numerous gigs for years and building his audience. By age 21 he had begun focusing on his songwriting and playing open mic nights. In 2013, James independently released the single "Say Hello", which won the Meteor Choice Award for Song of the Year. By 2015, James had signed deals with Sony in Europe and Capitol Records in the US.[4]

Musical career

In the spring of 2015, he appeared on US television's Shark Tank and released a four-track EP titled For You. Later that year, he was invited to open for chart-toppers Ed Sheeran and Sam Smith on their respective tours, and released singles including "Bitter Pill" from his full-length studio debut of the same name.[5]

James released his debut album and homage to Alanis Morissette Bitter Pill on 20 November 2015 through Warner Ireland. It was awarded Platinum certificate for sales in Ireland. Subsequently, Bitter Pill has won the Choice Music Prize for Best Single released in 2015.[6]

In May and November 2015, James appeared on James Corden's Late Late Show[7] and Jimmy Kimmel in December 2015.[8] In January 2016 James appeared on the BBC One Show, C'est A Vous and RTE and was included in Buzzfeed's[9] and The Sun's 'Ones to Watch 2016' lists.[10]

He has been supporting act for Kodaline, Tori Kelly,[11] Sam Smith and Ed Sheeran on their tours.[12] In 2016 James performed at RTÉ's Centenary Concert to mark the 100-year anniversary of Ireland's Easter Rising.

Spotify have announced Gavin James to be a 'Spotify Spotlight Artist of 2016' and he has total streams of over 250 Million. On 21 January James set off on his debut European headline tour, starting with three sold out back-to-back dates at the Olympia Theatre in Ireland. James travelled back to America to support Ben Rector on his US tour in March 2016. James' cover of David Bowie's "Changes" relaunched the new Virgin Radio UK at 11 am GMT on 30 March 2016, he later performed live and was interviewed for the show.[13]

On 7 October James sold out Shepherd's Bush Empire in London and he headlined his first arena show at 3Arena on 9 December in Dublin and played to 15,000 fans.[14] James also won the 'Breaking Artist' award at the 2016 Music Business Worldwide A&R Awards on 2 November.[15]

James collaborated with Australian hip hop trio Bliss n Eso on the ARIA award winning song "Moments" in 2017.

Bitter Pill

Work began on his debut album Bitter Pill album in 2015. It was recorded in London and Los Angeles with producers Fraser T. Smith and Cam Blackwood. James said of the album: "I've always wanted to hear how my songs would sound properly produced, but I didn't want them to lose the edge they had live. We recorded the song Bitter Pill first and once we found the sound for that the rest was easy."

Bitter Pill was released in Ireland on 20 November 2015 and was subsequently certified Platinum. It was released worldwide on 11 March 2016.[16] Simon Neil plays the guitar on "22"[17] and James' older sister Emma provides backing vocals on the song "Coming Home".

The song "22" was later used in the 10th episode of the 13th season of the American TV series House Hunters.

Singles and EPs

The Mark McCabe remix of "Nervous (The Ooh Song)" has been streamed over 130 million times to date and certified double platinum in Ireland, Sweden, Norway and Holland.[18]

Winter Songs, a collection of Christmas songs recorded by James, was released in November 2016 and achieved over three million streams on Spotify as well as airplay across Europe and the US.[19]

Charity

James is an avid supporter of The Down Syndrome Centre who’s mission is to help children with Down syndrome to reach their full potential by providing cutting edge early intervention services and to create a family focused centre for parents of the children using the Service.

Discography

Albums

Studio albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions
IRL BEL
(Fl)		 BEL
(Wa)		 FRA
[20]		 NED SWI UK
Bitter Pill 533171170172852

Live albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions Track listing
BEL
(Fl)		 NED
Live at Whelans
  • Released: 6 January 2015
  • Label: Good Soldier Songs
  • Formats: CD, LP, download
 7035

Extended plays

Title Year Track listing
Remember Me 2014
For You 2015
The Book of Love EP

Remixes

  • 2015: For You (Remixes)

Singles

As lead artist

Title Year Peak positions Album
IRL BEL
(Fl)
[21]		 BEL
(Wa)
[22]		 NED
Dutch
Top 40
 NED
Single
Top 100
[23]		 NOR
[24][25]		 SWE
[26]		 UK
[27]
"Say Hello" 2012 ———————— Non-album single
"The Book of Love" 2014 —1022
(Ultratip)		3531——— Bitter Pill
"For You" 2015 ————————
"Bitter Pill" —4
(Ultratip)		——————
"22" —53
(Ultratip)		——————
"Nervous" 28 4
(Ultratip)		 47 5 20 5 17 79
"Nervous (The Ooh Song)" (Mark McCabe Remix) 2016
"I Don't Know Why" (Danny Avila Remix)[28] 2017 42
[29]		———————
"Hearts on Fire" 92
[30]		——————— TBA
"Always"[31] 2018 53
[32]		25
(Ultratip)		—————[upper-alpha 1]—
"Glow" 86
[34]		31
(Ultratip)		——————
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Title Year Peak positions Album
IRL NOR
[24]		 SWE
[26]
"Tired"
(Alan Walker featuring Gavin James)		 2017 78
[35]		5
[36]		21
[37]		 Non-album single

Other charted songs

Title Year Peak positions Album
IRL
[38]		 BEL
(Fl)
[21]
"Fairytale of New York" 2016 77— Non Album Singles
"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" —21
(Ultratip)
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Notes

  1. ↑ "Always" did not enter the Swedish Singellista Chart, but peaked at number one on the Swedish Heatseeker Chart.[33]

B. "Always" peaked at #99 in Brasil Hot 100 Airplay[39].

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Gavin James". Hot Press. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  2. ↑ "And the Winners Are ..." choicemusicprize.com.
  3. ↑ "Gavin James Plus Guest Support". Brudenell Social Club. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  4. ↑ "Gavin James signs to Sony Music in Europe – Collective Management & PR". Collective Management & PR. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  5. ↑ Billboard http://www.billboard.com/artist/6448972/gavin-james/biography. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  6. ↑ "2015 Shortlist | Choice Music Prize". choicemusicprize.ie. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  7. ↑ "Gavin James renews acquaintances with James Corden | Music | News | Hot Press". Hot Press. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  8. ↑ "Gavin James to perform on Jimmy Kimmel tonight | Music | News | Hot Press". Hot Press. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  9. ↑ "15 Artists To Look Out For in 2016". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  10. ↑ "Gavin James featured as 'One To Watch' by The Sun | Good Soldier Songs". goodsoldiersongs.com. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  11. ↑ "Gavin James: 'There was no plan, let alone a master plan'". The Irish Times. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  12. ↑ "One to watch: Gavin James". London Standard. 3 July 2015.
  13. ↑ http://virginradio.co.uk/highlights/video-were-back-relive-launch-virgin-radio-uk-1603302282
  14. ↑ http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/music/music-news/kodaline-and-gavin-james-set-to-rock-the-3arena-tonight-for-2fm-xmas-ball-35265838.html
  15. ↑ http://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/ar-awards-winners-big-night-uk-music-biz/
  16. ↑ "Gavin James – Biography | Billboard". Billboard. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  17. ↑ "Premiere: Gavin James – '22'". Clash Magazine. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  18. ↑ https://open.spotify.com/track/5FoYSQF0IaVwS6M9mlk6C4
  19. ↑ https://open.spotify.com/album/12D7hRwbz2rQLin3AVHZce
  20. ↑ Lescharts.com: Gavin James discography
  21. 1 2 "Gavin James discography". ultratop/be/nl/. Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  22. ↑ "Gavin James discography". ultratop/be/fr/. Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  23. ↑ "Gavin James discography". ultratop/be/fr/. Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  24. 1 2 "Gavin James discography". norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  25. ↑ "VG-lista – Gavin James". VG-lista. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  26. 1 2 "Gavin James discography". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  27. ↑ "CHART: CLUK Update 23.07.2016 (wk29)". Official Charts Company. Zobbel.de. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
  28. ↑ https://itunes.apple.com/ie/album/i-dont-know-why-danny-avila/id1192438399
  29. ↑ "IRMA – Irish Charts". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  30. ↑ "IRMA – Irish Charts". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  31. ↑ Murtagh, Natasha (13 April 2018). "Gavin James releases highly anticipated new single 'Always' | Music | News". Hot Press. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  32. ↑ "IRMA – Irish Charts". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  33. ↑ "Veckolista Heatseeker – Vecka 16, 20 april 2018". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  34. ↑ "IRMA – Irish Charts". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  35. ↑ "IRMA – Irish Charts". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  36. ↑ "VG-lista – Alan Walker feat. Gavin James / Tired". VG-lista. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  37. ↑ "Sverigetopplistan – Sveriges Officiella Topplista". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  38. ↑ http://irma.ie/index.cfm?page=irish-charts&chart=Singles
  39. ↑ "Billboard Hot 100". October 8, 2018. Archived from the original on October 8, 2018. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
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