Ex-Yell! vocalist and actor Daniel James is back with a self-penned single ‘Set Your Spirit Free’, a song filled with emotions about coming out of lockdown that sends a message of hope.
After the dust settled on Yell! he didn’t think he would ever sing or record again and felt very wounded and scarred. But after several years away from music was persuaded to go back in the studio again by a female friend and singer and they recorded a duet – a version of the old Minnie Ripperton track ‘Loving You’. Once standing in the booth with the earphone over one ear and the track playing he suddenly realised what he had been missing. His fear and sense of hurt and loss disappeared and his passion for singing and recording returned, as if it had never been away. After years caring for his elderly mother who sadly passed away, he decided there and then that he wouldn’t let past experiences hold him back
It was the COVID-19 lockdowns that really pushed Daniel James back into the recording studio.
“When the first lockdown happened I was miles away from family and friends and used to go on very long walk each night alone. I began to think about things I had seen on the news – people struggling with lockdown, families separated, elderly parents in care homes, children stuck indoors not able to play with friends, people losing jobs and small business crashing. No matter who or where you were in the world life had changed and people were struggling to cope. Each night I walked at a fast pace and as I processed my thoughts the words to Set Your Spirit Free came to me.”
– Daniel James
Read the full Q&A with Daniel James below.
Q: How did it feel coming back to music after such a long time?
A: It wasnt planned. I wrote some new music during lockdown and some local and internet radio stations started playing the first track and inviting me to do some interviews. I am very grateful to each and every one of them for giving me what has been a wonderful opportunity. It has been a special few months. Waking up on a morning to my single being played on the radio has been amazing. I have really enjoyed all the interviews I have had with radio stations right across the UK as I had forgotten how much fun promoting a record could be. I have had the opportunity to chat about my career and my work. They are always very lively interviews….
To see my single climbing into the Top 20 of The Heritage Chart has been a huge, huge thrill. The feedback from radio hosts and DJ’s have been fantastic. They have all been so welcoming, I have enjoyed talking to all of them. We have lots of fun. Although at times some of the memories have been quite emotional. I have thoroughly enjoyed chatting to every journalist. It’s been quite therapeutic.
Q: Who are your main musical influences?
A: I love great songwriters and composers. Bacharach and David . Benny and Bjorn from Abba. The Bee Gees. Barry Mann and Cynthia Weill. Marvin Gaye, Henley, and Frey. Neil Diamond, Neil Sedaka. Gamble and Huff. Holland Dozier Holland. Carol King. Gerry Goffin. Smokey Robinson. John and Paul. All wonderful songwriters. A feast of talent.
Q: The COVID-19 lockdowns were difficult for everyone, but do you think you would have returned music if it weren’t for that time to be creative?
A: It’s quite extraordinary how this has happened. The lockdown created some very difficult and unique circumstances for everyone. In my case being solitary during the lockdown was very difficult. However the frustration inspired me to write about my feelings and about things that I saw going on around me and in the wider lockdown world…. I never thought I would perform as a recording artist again, I had totally lost my singing and recording confidence. I had written a few ideas for others but not myself. That’s why this last few months have been such a thrill for me and very cathartic. Before lockdown I had absolutely no idea that any of this would happen. It was not in my plans.
Q: When you create music, what is your personal purpose or goal?
A: I don’ t think I have a specific purpose or goal if I’m writing for myself other than to tell a story. If I am putting down ideas for other artists. I think about the style of the artist or if I have been given some kind of brief. If I am writing for other artists. It’s a different kind of feeling. In some ways it gives me a different kind of freedom as the songs are not usually about me or my experiences….there are no personal limits. Its great having my own songs and songs I write for other people too. They’re quite separate emotionally.
Q: What can we expect from you within the next 6 months? Any releases planned? Future gigs?
A: This has been such a fantastic experience I am now planning a follow single for late July. It’s a very summery song called ‘ Dont Wanna Lose That Girl’. I may also release a duet later in the summer and possibly another solo track in the autumn. Let’s see how things go.
I’ve been fortunate to have another 5 minutes in this industry. It would be great to continue enjoying this journey. However, I take nothing for granted. I would love to play some roadshow gigs if possible. That wonderful feeling of having an audience with you on stage. It can be quite intermate and at other times quit euphoric…. There’s very little that is as thrilling as that feeling….in public at least!
Check out more Entertainment Now Music news, reviews and Q&A’s here.
