After a busy summer of gigs and festivals James is ready to release his next single. Written during the pandemic about the experience of being in lockdown, ‘Black Dog’ is a foot stomping folk rock song, exploring the feelings of mental drift and detachment caused by the measures. Written with a slight gypsy folk style, the track feels on the edge of control. The rushed pace of the mandolin hook gives it an air of urgency which intentionally seems at odds with the longer more mournful notes featured within the violin part. Despite the track being inspired by and about lockdown, James attempted to write the lyrics in a way that once the pandemic was over, it would not lose relevance. ‘I wanted the line ‘I’m stuck in here, going crazy’ to be ambiguous. It could be literally about the four walls of a house, just like those times during the pandemic, or it could be about the walls of your own mind.’

Black Dog

Songs of shipwrecks, drinking and love lost… James recently recorded his debut album ’Shine the Light’ which is made up of folk and country infused rock. From North Devon, James draws on traditional acoustic sounds and combines them with pop-punk and rock rhythms. If you are a fan of early Mumford & Son’s, Frank Turner,  The Levellers or Mad Dog Mcrea then this is definitely for you!

New tracks tagged #Lockdown Song