GAVIN JAMES Shares Acoustic Version of His No.#1 Hit ‘BOXES’ | We Talk New Music & TIK TOK
Gavin James grew up with the sound of his parents spinning the records of Bob Dylan and Cat Stevens on loop. As soon as he was old enough James took to playing music himself, following in the footsteps of his great grandparents who were opera singers. He began penning his own material and performing at open mic nights and small gigs around Dublin. Fast forward to 2015 his debut EP “For You’ is released followed by his first studio album “Bitter Pill,” the title of which is a nod to Alanis Morisette.” The same year he opens for Sam Smith and Ed Sheeran, After exceeding 250 million streams, being named as one of Spotify’s Spotlight Artists 2016, and touring all over the world; a self-confessed highlight was three sold-out nights at the famous Olympia Theatre in his beloved Dublin. If you come across his music your likely to become a fan ‘Nervous’ which reached #1 in Brazil, to over 100 million people after gaining exposure on the soundtrack to the country’s biggest soap opera Pega Pega. Despite the pandemic, James has taken the chance to write and release ‘Boxes’ #1 on iTunes Ireland and the Top 10 at Shazam, while its accompanying lyric video shot to #1 on YouTube. ‘Boxes’ has added to his growing list of accomplishments, which include over a billion global streams, 250,000 ticket sales, and two sold-out nights at Dublin’s 3Arena.
His new single is an uplifting and empowering anthem with the message that you should not listen to the naysayers, but trust yourself and pursue your goals. James accompanied the release of the TikTok viral single with a stunning acoustic version of the track recorded in Dublin’s Gaiety Theatre. It showcases James’ raw and distinctive vocals in a beautifully vulnerable way while bringing the poignant lyrics to the forefront.
Thank you for joining us, your latest single ‘Boxes’ is extending the huge global following that you have established through your music. Tell us how the song was created? What is the premise behind it?
I wrote it over a year ago and I just could not get the production right, until earlier this year. It’s a song that partly tells my story of not being interested in school and only loving music, and being told that you would not make it in life with music. But I kept dreaming and just like the lyric of the songs says “Don’t Wake Me Up” from your dreams and don’t let anyone put you in a particular box just be you”!
Congratulations on its success. The single, while having a massive global impact so far, has skyrocketed in Ireland, hitting #1 on the national airplay chart and almost immediately becoming one of the ten biggest songs of the year. Of course, achieving a hit single anywhere is amazing, but is getting top 10 in your home country that little bit more special?
My Irish fans and radio are really supportive and over the last two years, I’ve had a few No.1 at radio in different countries so to finally have a No.1 back home was brilliant!
Since the release, the single has gone viral, with over 20,000 videos on TikTok showing people expressing their individuality via the hashtag #WeAreDifferent. How does it feel to be TikTok famous as they say? What do you make of the platform that has taken the world by storm and launched several musicians into the spotlight?
TikTok is the new in thing right now, I’m only getting an update on how it all works now, so when the feature happed it was amazing to see such a response from all around the world and so many creative ideas posted and to see the #WeAreDifferent being used was amazing!
On the theme of talents, you also shared your own take on ‘Boxes’ using nothing more than a traditional Irish Tin Whistle. Where/when did you learn to do that?
In Ireland everyone learns the Tin Whistle in school, it really the only musical focus in school but I found I was good at it, very quickly I played Led Zeppelin, Metallica, etc on it so my parents who don’t play any instruments decided to get me a guitar, which was lucky as I don’t think playing Tin Whistle would have worked out :)
The acoustic version’s accompanying video was shot in the famous Gaiety Theatre in Dublin, a historic venue that holds personal significance to you as it’s where your grandfather once performed as a comedian. Is that where you get the love of performing from?
I still have not played a gig in the Gaiety Theatre where my grandfather who was a comedian and whistler performed all his life, so it was really special to shoot the video there and as it was acoustic I made it sound a lot sadder :) I learned a lot from him and he definitely been an inspiration for me.
What advice would you give to aspiring musicians particularly those that are being discouraged to pursue music as a career?
Find out what you love if it’s music, focus on that and become the best you can at it no matter what others say just be your best and give it your full attention.
You recently received the news that your drive-in tour dates in Limerick, Cork, Waterford, and Kilkenny were canceled due to government restrictions due to COVID 19. This has obviously been an incredibly tough time for all, with the music industry being one of the worst-hit. How do you think the music industry will bounce back, and how excited are you to get back on stage?
It was hugely disappointing especially for the crews, musicians, promotors, marketing, venues, etc, it's a very difficult time and the government needs to support the sector until we can all get back to work.
You’ve opened for the likes of Sam Smith, Ed Sheeran, and Niall Horan. It must be like asking a parent to name a favourite child, but what is your favourite gig you’ve ever played?
’I’ve been really lucky to tour with such great acts, there have been so many highlights. To pick one playing 'Red Rocks' with Sam was a bucket list moment, it’s a place for me that was made iconic by U2’s album Under a Blood Red Sky but my favourite gig was this year in Dublin at my last headline show of the year at the 3Arena, there’s nothing like a sold-out Dublin audience.
Boxes’ also has a brilliant animated lyric video with yourself as the main character walking along the streets of Dublin, and subsequently around the world (quite literally), and then on to New York and Tokyo. The video was directed by Ivan Dixon & Sean Zwan who has worked with the likes of Childish Gambino, Gotye and The Simpsons. Are you a cartoon/animated movie fan yourself and was the animated video idea something you yourself wanted to do?
It was so much fun working with the guys, we could not shoot any videos due to COVID so an animated lyric video by these legends was even better, they got all the little details in there including a pint of Guinness.
Finally, what can we expect from Gavin James in 2021? Apart from hopefully more gigs and tour dates of course!
More new music I have an EP coming on Oct 2nd and a live Stream Concert on Oct 3rd, but in 2021 I’m going to do as many gigs are possible!