Interview
How long Have you been in the music industry = I'm new to the industry its been 1 year now since this all began wow.. it seems to have flown by but it been a packed year with writing recording and performing gigs and releasing my E.P and the promo interviews and radio plays its been nonstop so I'm just getting started really.
How long have you been performing under your present name = a year this all began in 2019 and I haven't stopped since I've only ever been known as James Reid I've never been in any other bands or performed as anyone else like tributes or anything just simply me.
What genre would you call your music = my music and my style has been described in few different ways in reviews and write-ups e.g. soulful-heartfelt-powerful-emotional some have said Soul /RNB/ indie - but I would agree with soulful, one presenter described my sound as NEW AGE SOUL I quite like that one haha
Who are your major influences = I would have to say some of the great voices and songs of years gone by like Stevie wonder, Billie paul, James Brown, Marvin Gaye, etc as well as more current artists like Adele, Sam Smith, Rag & bone man, Jp Cooper, etc a real mixture I love music with substance a story and emotion that’s what draws me to an artist.
How old were you when you started following a musicians path = when I was younger I was surrounded by great music as my mum used to be a soul/ Motown/blues singer and had a collection of amazing music on vinyl she used to play in the house so I've always had an interest in that kind of sound but it wasn’t until much later literally a year ago 2019 I realized that this was something I wanted to do and could now actually pursue.
Tell me a funny story that has happened to you as you have traveled to play = I was asked to perform at a live music venue in an area I was unfamiliar with so I set off thinking I had plenty of time had major issues getting anywhere near the venue with roadworks and major traffic I was running late and as this was a direct appearance a had to be on a set time slot crowd waiting, etc as I'm solo I had my gear and equipment and had to set up yet so I was panicking and rushing making me even worse as I eventually arrived it was loud and I could hear them mention my name as all the door windows were open.. oh, no better run so I'm running with equipment falling behind me venue guy is waving me into the back entrance picking up my trial of kit, I run in drops everything (said guy picking up all my bits as I enter) on the mic the organizer shouts and now we have James Reid I throws my jacket off jumps on stage get my mic and stand passed to me and just caught my breath and shouts hello Manchester as the first bar of the intro started tried to look as though I've been relaxing backstage and I was ready haha phew..
Where would you like to be in five years = That’s a great question in the last year I have made great progress and so far I have ticked off a lot of my initial targets, based on that I have set some larger targets now, I would want to be headlining a successful tour and have my music heard all over the world but ultimately to play large stadiums/festivals and have a capacity crowd sing the lyrics of my songs back to me whilst on stage that would be amazing.
What inspires you to write = Life, heartache, past relationships, feelings, emotions sometimes just something that was said to me can lead to a lyric or a melody my inspiration comes at some strange times like 3 am ill have an idea haha that’s why I keep a pad and pen at my bedside haha.
What is your philosophy of life and how does it affect your music = I have a mantra tattooed on my chest that says – ONE LIFE, ONE CHANCE, NO REGRETS this is my attitude to things in life your only here once so make the most of the time you have, life is a bizarre twist of situations that help mold and change you as a person, but to change you have to learn and to learn you have to experience things like success and failure, pain and heartache, love and loss and I think all these things influence me and how I write (hence the name of my Debut album FEEL due out soon)
Add the names of the places you have played and the cities they are in= Manchester – Liverpool – Leeds – Burnley – Blackburn – Stoke on Trent – Saddleworth- Midlands -Glasgow -to name a few
Do you have any causes that tug on your heartstrings or that you support= I am currently involved with several charities that I have donated time and performances for to help aid and assist in gaining them exposure and helping raise funds for the -Help for heroes (military veterans) CMK –(help with the education of underprivileged children in Africa) and a few more but the 2 that are close to heart are Cancer Research UK and Dementia UK these have both affected family and friends of mine and do continue to be heart-breaking illnesses that affect millions of people every day.
Do you have any new releases coming out soon = Yes I do I have singles and an album due out very soon this will be my DEBUT ALBUM following on from the success of my E.P VERSIONS that is out now and it will be titled FEEL it will be 10 tracks that I have written and I am very proud of it. I will be releasing the first single from the album asap and that will be titled COME AND LOVE ME followed by a second single leading up to the release of the album.
What is your upcoming performance schedule = I have a lot planned for the coming months firstly I have the launch night for the single this will be a great event hosted in MANCHESTER OR LIVERPOOL with me promoting the album and the singles, it will be me and support acts entertaining the crowds then we will progress into the Album tour including promo nights gigs large and small and showcasing events as well as festivals and shows in the community and scheduled charity events. Then radio and promo interviews and more live shows up and down the country and possibly further afield and that’s just for starters I will also be in the studio recording and writing new material.. the full schedule and gigs and performances will be on my Facebook page, twitter, Instagram and the brand new website that is coming soon.
Facebook = https://www.facebook.com/Reidvocals/
Twitter = https://twitter.com/Jreidmusic1
instagram = https://www.instagram.com/jreid_music/?hl=en
you tube = https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCozusfYqVHiO-JFdEuCcj2Q…
Spotify = https://open.spotify.com/artist/7BqMBsDhmnmxIgiFBJ4a6c?si=rQ2wHjqmSgGRZGWTYmfKVQ
