Artist Facts
Active: 2013-present
Name: Gavin James
Genre: Contemporary, Pop/rock
Birth date: July 5, 1991
Place of Birth: Ashington, Dublin, Ireland
Artist Background
With music in his DNA, Dublin, Ireland native Gavin James started on his journey at the young age of eight by songwriting and playing in a rock band. After years of refining his craft, James debuted the 2013 single “Say Hello” before gaining attention with his Alanis Morrisette tribute album, “Bitter Pill.” The album sent him touring with the likes of Ed Sheeran and Sam Smith in 2015 before opening his 2016 headline show to sold-out audiences and receiving the ‘Spotify Spotlight Artist of 2016,’ the 2016 Music Business Worldwide A&R Awards “Breaking Artist Award” and being named to multiple One to Watch in 2016 lists.
Gavin James grew up in a household filled with music in Ashington, Ireland. His father filled the air with the tunes of Cat Stevens, Bob Dylan and Sam Cooke. Meanwhile, the music bug bit his sister Emma, sending her singing and touring Ireland with a musical. His legacy started generations earlier with great-grandparents who were opera singers and a grandfather who performed whistling and stand-up comedy.
James started playing music early writing original songs and performing in a rock band. That venture was cut short by a supposed paranormal experience that caused a falling out. But it didn’t sidetrack James’ love of performing. Instead, he struck out on his own, taking on many gigs over the years and developing a following. By the time James turned 21, he honed his songwriting skills and performed them at mic nights. James finally released his first independent single “Say Hello,” in 2013. This earned him the Meteor Choice Award for Song of the Year. Two years later, he signed with Capitol Records in the United States and Sony in Europe.
Musical Career
In the spring of 2015, James dropped a four-track EP, “For You.” That year he opened for Ed Sheeran and Sam Smith. He also and released “Bitter Pill, his first full-length studio album and the single of the same name. This album honoring Alanis Morisette was released through Warner Ireland on November 20, 2015, with the title track earning him the Choice Music Prize for Best Single released in 2015. His singles “C’est A Vous” and “RTE” were included in Buzzfeed’s and “The Sun’s” “One to Watch 2016” lists.
James TV appearances include James Cordon’s “Late Late Show” in November 2015, Jimmy Kimmel in December 2015, BBC’s “One Show.” In 2016 James has opened for Kodaline, Sam Smith, Tori Kelly, and Ed Sheeran, and performed at RTÉ’s Centenary Concert to mark the Centennial of Ireland’s Easter Rising.
Artist Major Works and Achievements
Spotify named James a ‘Spotify Spotlight Artist of 2016’ for exceeding 250 million streams. He also kicked off 2016 European headlining tour that opened with three sold out shows at the Olympia Theatre in Ireland.
In November 2016, James went on to win the ‘Breaking Artist’ award at the 2016 Music Business Worldwide A&R Awards.
“22” was used in season 13, episode 10 of “American TV series House Hunters.”
James’ remix of Mark McCabe’s “Nervous (The Ooh Song)” exceeded 130 million online clicks to date and is certified double platinum in Ireland, Holland, Norway, and Sweden.
In November 2016, James released “Winter Songs,” a compilation of Christmas favorites, earning more than 3 million downloads and streams on Spotify and enjoyed plenty of airplay on both sides of the Atlantic .
