Admit it, despite your age, gender, and political affiliation, you’ve jammed out to One Direction’s “Story of My Life” or “You & I” at least a few times since they’ve been released. And, maybe, just maybe, you’ve gone around the house unintentionally serenading the plants you’re watering with their tunes of bouncy-pop-boy-band-love. You may say that you’re not a fan of those tunes because of your “cool person” reputation (as displayed by your collection of vintage records and knock-off designer sunglasses), but if you’re belting out love songs to your fern, it still counts.
So who is the mastermind behind these catchy lyrics? British singer-songwriter Jamie Scott who has been writing and producing for artists such as One Direction, Christina Perri featuring Ed Sheeran, and Enrique Iglesias for the last half-decade. If that list just made you freak out, good. It should. Maniac’s Jamie Scott interview is one for the books.
Don’t be thinking this rising star is a rookie either—he has certainly paid his dues. He was songwriting at age fifteen and signed by the time he was twenty. “My mother was a musician and my father was a big fan of music, so I’ve always had a lot of music in my life, and that’s how my passion began,” Jamie explained.
He is known in the States mostly through his work with soul/indie-pop band Graffiti6, a collaboration between himself and producer Tommy “D” Danvers. They spent the better part of four years producing the bluesy, indie rock album Colours that would be released in the United Kingdom in 2010. A year later, Capitol Records signed and released the album in America. This opportunity to do promotional work here in the United States left fans with an undeniable conclusion: they needed Jamie Scott’s music in their lives.
And his time to shine has finally come. On January 20th, Virgin Records will release his first solo album, My Hurricane. When I asked Jamie about the main difference between writing songs for others versus writing music for himself, he said, “They’re just completely different things. When I write for others, everyone has to like the song. When I write for myself, I am my own judge.” And he’s a very good judge, to say the least. His emotional lyrics tug on your heartstrings, and his graceful voice (insert British accent here!!!) combine to create a sophisticated album. He’s learned from some of his most treasured inspirations too, including the renowned singer-songwriters Ron Sexsmith and Ryan Adams.
My Hurricane was greatly influenced by his experiences with the difficult act of growing up (let’s be honest – we’ve all felt that struggle) and becoming a father to his sweet little boy. “I started worrying about things I never knew existed – trying to deal with the idea of growing old with someone, and the losses I might face in my lifetime.” His hope for the album is that fans can relate in a positive way. After all, isn’t the beauty of music the connection we feel to the lyrics as we belt them at the top of our lungs?
However, Jamie is a down-to-earth, humbled guy who isn’t worried about the success of his album. “It either will or it won’t. I’m just happy to play in front of people and do what I love.” His hit single, “Unbreakable” is already available for pre-order, and trust us, you will love it! The rest of the album promises to be just as wonderful. Hint: Jamie’s favorite song is “Carry You Home,” and the song does just that.
You can purchase Jamie’s new album on his website, jamie-scott.com.
