Imagesound Sessions - James Walsh

It's a busy April on the Imagesound Sessions and next up this month is James Walsh who we met in Nottingham ahead of his gig at Bodega.

After almost a decade with his enormous yet somehow tender, fragile voice fronting Multi-million selling band Starsailor, James Walsh has emerged as a singer-songwriter in his own right, with the arrival of his debut solo album, 'Turning Point'. The album is a collection of 11 incredible compositions, which showcase James’ maturity as an exceptional songwriter and unique vocalist.

After taking the difficult decision to put Starsailor on extended hold, James has barely looked back. He’s written songs with Eliza Doolittle, Melanie C, Suzanne Vega, amongst others, recorded Live At The Top Of The World EP with Norway’s Tromsø Chamber Orchestra in the closest major settlement to the North Pole. He also collaborated songwriter/producer Sacha Skarbek (Adele), in the album ‘Lullaby’,which imagined a soundtrack based on a script by acclaimed author Chuck Palahniuk (Fight Club).

This sense of rejuvenation has fired his own new music. Working with Skarbek, he was able to bring more diverse influence (Randy Newman, Rufus Wainwright) – which, he chuckles – “the [Starsailor] lads weren’t very into”, acquiring a new maturity and a new sound. Playing with musicians often ten years his junior has resulted in a “mix of styles.” This has given him a new found confidence as a solo artist, resulting in his stunning debut solo album.

Here's 'Broken You'.