Introducing Piers James

Words Cal McIntyre

June 12, 2020June 12, 2020

It's time to introduce yourself to Piers James, the multi-hyphenate wordsmith who grabs you by the hand and takes you on a journey through his thought-provoking soundscape.

Singer, rapper, producer and storyteller Piers James crafts emotive and seminal works that feel fully-packaged due to his unique and kindred experiences that he pours from his soul.

James’ new project, ‘A Dying Breed’, is a prolific and raw depiction of James’ outlook on life, taking into account his past and present self, with lessons to be learned from either side. A father himself, James’ sonic universe is filled with reflection, evaluation and hope – succumbing to fate’s way of learning from the good and bad hurdles that it throws your way.

Piers’ wavering and graceful production make it hard to put him into a musical box which is exactly the point of his music. James floats effortlessly between many musical chairs as the message of his tracks is ultimately the DNA of his works. Sitting at the intersection of where old meets new, you can expect a plethora of references and influences embedded throughout James’ work – jazz, hip hop, R&B, reggae and grime just to name a few.

We caught up with the rising trailblazer to get you in the know of this stunning craftsman and the sonic tales he has to tell you.

Hi Piers, how have you been doing spiritually and mentally during lockdown?

I’ve been okay! At times I’ve definitely felt cabin feverish but I’m usually locked away making music so I don’t mind the isolation to be honest. I think when you have so much time at home or in the studio, you naturally become a bit more introspective of your life, who you are as a person and whether you’re leading a life that feels fulfilled. Right now I can honestly say spiritual and mentally I’ve never felt better, it feels great to be releasing my art into the world and for people to be truly be connecting with the songs in such a positive & soulful manner, especially during these times.

Have you discovered any tips on staying creative and positive throughout all of this?

A really good way to stay creative is to not put so much pressure on ‘trying’ to be creative and more so find ways to utilise the times you feel inspired or when you have the urge to create something new. Forcing myself to constantly create new things all the time can become counterproductive, acknowledge that you need a break, give yourself time to grow and experience new things, so when you are ready to create or be creative you are creating something out of love, not for the necessity.

It’s not always easy to stay positive especially when you are going through a pandemic but I always try to see the silver linings in bad situations, sometimes things are out of your control but as long as you keep yourself 100 and do everything you possibly can then, you’ll always be able to remain positive and understand that there is light at the end of the tunnel, no matter the hurdle.

Has your creative process changed at all?

I’m still creating the same amount of music as I was previously – I guess that’s the joy of being able to produce and record my music from home! So I’m always experimenting with different sounds.

What is your favourite subject to write about currently?

don’t necessarily have a favourite subject matter to write about, it’s more about what I’m feeling at the time. I get inspired by things I’ve watched or read, I love quotes and reading the way people say things. Even a normal conversation with a friend could spark an idea that could become a topic that I write about. One thing I always try to keep consistent within my music is the message. Music for me has always been a form of expression, so it’s important that I try to portray the concepts behind the song in the best way possible.

What is the main message you wanted to get across within your music?

Music was such an important part of my life growing up, I was inspired by the people who were fearless, created their own sounds and who shared their own personal experiences and struggles to the world – in return, they were able to connect with their fans and I want to be able to give back to mine and hopefully inspire the younger generation to create music with the same feelings that I felt.

But also to just be yourself, if you have an idea or a vision do what your heart tells you to do, don’t worry about what anybody else thinks. As long as you’re true to yourself you will always find your path in life. There’s so much negativity in the world, we need to lift each other up as people and support each other, together we are stronger.

What is something you want to tell your younger self?

Keep going, you’re doing great!

What is your star sign? Do you think you’re like your star sign?

I’m a Scorpio… To some respects I do think I am a bit like the characteristic’s of my star sign, I know we get a bad rep but I’d like to think I’m a good one.

What would the name of your autobiography be?

I think it would have to be my motto ‘Born Artistic to Achieve’ – from a young age I truly believed that I was put on this earth to be an artist and share my talents with the world.

What are you most looking forward to right now?

I’m most looking forward to going back out into the world and to be able to spend time with my family and friends. But being in lockdown has also only intensified my urge to travel, I wanna experience the world and see different things in different cultures and if I just so happen to have a show in that country then it’s a win-win!