Reflecting on his first post Covid performance in Inverness singer-songwriter, James Mackenzie, said “You weren’t just there for the songs. You were there for me. You sing every single word with me. Thank you from the bottom of my Invernesian heart”.
Later in the month James returns to the town but with a full band for the first time in a good while as part of the Lost in the Ocean tour. We were really appreciative of the opportunity to ask him a few questions.
Given that you have returned to Scotland from some time in Germany, how has your time away (and possibly your return) informed your music and your approach to music?
I feel I take the whole process more seriously now. Since we had the lockdown and tried to make use of doing things at home I took some time to learn the craft. Living in Germany meant I was miles away from everyone and my stories are different. Everything I write is about missing home or self-evaluating. Catching my breath for 7 years before returning to Scotland meant I could write what was really deep down inside me.
You do mix up performing your music with a full band and solo sets, how does that impact on your approach to composing your music?
I always write my songs with a band vibe in my head. When I get into the production process I can usually tell within the first hour of a session if I’ll release it acoustically or with the band. I always prefer to play live with the band but logistics and budgets don’t allow me to fulfil that all the time.
The tour is interspersed with a couple of festival slots, what festivals top your wish list for playing?
Of course coming back to Bella is exciting. I would love to play Glasto one day.
‘The Honeymoon’ is 2 years old, I was struck by how much of an old fashioned album narrative feel it has, was that the intention?
I want the Honeymoon to age like a good wine. My approach to songs has always been to let them play themselves out. If we all sit in studios and try and write the next pop song it’ll fail at the first hurdle because you’re already 6 months behind. I stick to what I enjoy and thankfully I still listen.
From KT Tunstall to Lewis Capaldi, Scotland is full of solo sing song-writers, are there any Scottish acts that particularly inspire you and why?
Paolo Nutini is fantastic. There are so many Scottish artists I could throw at you but I have to give a special mention to Katie Gregson-Macleod. She’s younger and way more cooler than me but she stuck to what she believed in and her craft paid off.
One of the things that has struck me in my time knowing you is the absolute commitment to creating and playing music, what is it that drives that commitment?
My determination to prove the critics wrong. I always feel I’m overlooked by a lot of people in the business. The relentlessness keeps me focused and helps me up my game. I compete with my previous song.
James Over The Years
Courtesy of AI our last random question; If you were granted the ability to have a conversation with any musical instrument, which instrument would you choose and what would you ask it?
I would love to talk to the piano and I would ask if to play what’s in my head.
Forthcoming dates as per poster, with tickets for the Inverness Gig here.;
