James Bay: Everything you need to know about the 'Leap' singer
From 'Hold Back The River' to his new fourth album
James Bay, the singer who's provided big hits 'Hold Back The River', 'Let It Go' and 'Us', has toured with some of the biggest names around including Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran. The award-winning artist now has four albums under his belt, and with him taking his latest record on tour, what better time to get clued up on everything there is to know about him?
After taking his third album 'Leap' on a UK tour, he delighted fans with a one-off gig in London to raise money for UK food banks. Not stopping there, James released album No. 4 - 'Changes All The Time' - on 4th October 2024! Here's everything there is to know about his incredible rise to fame, and what's to come...
Take a look through James Bay's career:
2013: James Bay released first EP and toured with Kodaline
James released his first EP 'The Dark of the Morning' in 2013 and also toured with the band Kodaline in the UK and Ireland.
2014: James Bay released 'Let It Go'
James Bay released 'Let It Go' in September 2014, the song was his first release from his second EP, as well being on debut studio album 'Chaos and the Calm', released in the same year.
'Let It Go' was a Top 10 song for James after it was re-released, following the success of 'Hold Back The River'.
2014: James Bay toured with Hozier
In 2014, James joined the band Hozier on tour, for their North America leg. He also released his debut album 'Chaos and the Calm' which was nominated for a Grammy Award, for Best Rock Album, while the song 'Hold Back the River' was nominated for Best Rock Song and Bay for Best New Artist.
2014: James Bay released 'Hold Back The River'
'Hold Back The River' was a huge success for James reaching Number 2 in the UK, it was also nominated for a Grammy and used in the film The Space Between Us.
2015: James Bay released 'Scars'
'Scars' was the third single released from James' debut album 'Chaos and the Calm' on 8th January 2015.
2015: James Bay had his first headline tour
After supporting bands on two tours it was his turn to be the headliner. In 2015 and 2016 he took his 'Chaos and the Calm Tour' on the road, performing in Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle and more places around the UK.
2015: James Bay opens for Taylor Swift on her '1989' tour
James Bay joined Taylor Swift on her '1989' tour in 2015. It was also the year that he won the Critics' Choice BRIT Award and GQ Men of The Year's Breakthrough Solo Artist.
2016: James won a BRIT Award for British Male Solo Artist
James was nominated for four BRIT Awards in 2016, winning British Male Solo Artist. This would make it is second BRIT in total.
James also won an Ivor Novello Award - Most Performed Work for 'Hold Back The River', a Q Award for Best Solo Artist, and Echo Music Prize for Best International Newcomer.
2018: James Bay released 'Us'
James released 'Us' in 2018, both as a solo artist and a collab with Alicia Keys. The pair performed the song together on The Voice in 2018 and you can watch their performance here.
2018: James Bay joined The Rolling Stones on tour
In 2018, James also joined The Rolling Stones on their 'No Filter' tour.
2019: James Bay toured with Ed Sheeran
James Bay joined Ed Sheeran on the Europe leg of his '÷' Tour. James later reflected on the experience writing on Instagram: 'Our time on the #dividetour has finally come to an end. What a beautiful, brilliant summer it's been! 3 months of shows I will honestly never, ever forget. Can't give enough thanks to my band and crew for all the endless hard work, love and laughs during this chapter.'
2020: James Bay released 'Chew on My Heart'
In 2020, James released 'Chew On My Heart', the song didn't chart in the UK, however the music video has now had more than 5 million views on YouTube, since its release.
2022: James Bay releases comeback single, tour and album
James Bay released his comeback single 'Give Me The Reason' on 24th March 2022. He also teased a new album and had previously announced his tour.
James' tour will see him performing with his band for the first time in three years and taking to the stage in several locations across the UK.
2022: James Bay releases third album 'Leap'
On Friday 8th July, James dropped his hugely-antipcated third studio album titled 'Leap'. The album features 12 new songs including 'Give Me The Reason' and 'One Life'.
2023: James Bay announces a one-off charity gig
James Bay announced a one-off gig to raise money for food bank charity Bankuet. All profits from the gig go to the charity which works with food banks across the UK.
2024: Album number four and upcoming tour
2024 was another big year for the singer, with him teasing new music before revealing that his fourth album, 'Changes All the Time', would be released on 4th October. Prior to its release, James released two singles from his fourth album - 'Up All Night' with The Lumineers and Noah Kahan, and 'Easy Distraction'. James described the songs on his fourth album as the best music he's ever made, saying: "I believe in this music."
Not only that, but in building the anticipation of his fourth album the singer also announced UK & Ireland tour dates for 2025. James revealed that throughout February 2025, he would be performing in cities including Glasgow, Newcastle, Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham, Dublin and London - taking on the world-renowned Wembley Arena.
2024: Announces several acoustic gigs to celebrate new music
To celebration of his new music, James announced several acoustic gigs which will take place across England and Scotland in September and October 2024 - starting in Dundee, before playing across the country and ending in Brighton in October.
How was James Bay discovered?
It was all thanks to a fan, that James Bay was discovered. A fan uploaded a video to YouTube of him performing at a Kentish Town pub which was noticed and the rest, they say is history.
Who is James Bay married to?
James is married to Lucy Smith, they have been together since he was 16-years-old and they have a daughter who was born in October 2021 called Ada Violet Bay.
The couple got married in August 2022, and James shared a couple of beautiful photos from their special day, one photo is black and white showing the couple walking as confetti falls from the sky, the second photo is a colour one showing the happy couple looking towards each other.
How old is he?
James was born on 4th September 1990, making him 34-years-old at the time of writing.
What is James Bay doing now?
Following the release of James' third album 'Leap' in 2022, 2023 saw him begin to tease new music. Fast-forward to 2024, and the singer released his highly-anticipated fourth album 'Changes All the Time'.
'Changes All the Time' was released on 4th October 2024, with James saying of his latest work: "Every artist that makes new music always says: 'This is the best music I've ever made', and I do believe that about this album."
He continued: "I believe in this music. These are some of, if not my favourite songs I've ever written. I'm looking for something real in the songs I listen to, that I go and enjoy and love, and the songs that I make as well. I think I found it in these ones."
James will also be heading on tour throughout the UK & Ireland in 2025, from 1st-13th February.
Speaking to Guitar.com James said in February 2023: "With all my heroes, a lot of my favourite work of theirs was recorded in the first or second take. It had that sort of carefree (nature), 'Let’s just do it. Emote and move on to the next thing.' I’m trying to do that at the moment."
He went on to say: "(Recording an album) piece by piece by piece? I’ve done that a lot. I totally respect it, it really worked for me in the past. But lately, I’ve been standing in front of a microphone with my acoustic guitar, like I used to do on an open-mic night.
"I’m just singing the song in. No click. Nothing. Just a performance. And it’s fun! It’s sort of freeing to not have to sort of stress over all the minute details."
Speaking about the sound of his new music, he said: "I do see myself moving towards showcasing more guitar playing in my songs. So maybe (fans’ perceptions) will change as time goes by... but it depends on what the songs dictate.
"The songs are still the most important thing to me, what the melody is doing, what the lyrics are saying, the performance and the delivery of the song. But I will always stand up on stage with a guitar in my hand, so I think, in the studio, I’m gonna give myself a little bit more to do with the guitar."
When is James Bay on tour?
Right now! James is carrying out an acoustic tour in autumn 2024, as well as further tour dates in 2025! The singer will be heading on his 'Up All Night Tour' in February 2025, with shows in Glasgow, Newcastle, Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham, Dublin and London.
James Bay's acoustic gigs
To celebrate his forth album 'Changes All The Time', James announced several acoustic gigs taking place across England and Scotland in autumn 2024. The gigs started in Dundee on 28th September, before playing across the country and ending in Brighton on 17th October.
He said in a post on Instagram: 'Very excited to announce some special solo acoustic shows up and down the UK in a few weeks time to celebrate the release of 'Changes All The Time'. Limited ticket + album bundles go on sale tomorrow, Saturday 7th September, at 11am BST x'.
Was James Bay a contestant on The Voice?
No, James Bay was not a contestant on The Voice, but he has appeared as a performer on the show. James sang 'Us' with Alicia Keys in 2018, you can watch their performance below.
You can hear songs by James Bay on Forth 1.
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