James Bay

How it started.

James grew up in Hitchin and picked up the guitar after hearing “Layla.” He learned by ear, then built his confidence playing open mic nights in Brighton and London. A video of a London performance reached a record label and helped turn those small-room shows into a recording career.

The songs that opened doors.

His debut EP, The Dark of the Morning, arrived in 2013. “Let It Go” and “Hold Back the River” introduced him to a wider audience, and Chaos and the Calm reached No. 1 in the UK in 2015. He won the BRITs Critics’ Choice award that year, followed by British Male Solo Artist in 2016 and three Grammy nominations.

Following the guitar.

Electric Light arrived in 2018 and Leap in 2022. On 2024’s Changes All the Time, James co-produced with Gabe Simon and brought members of his touring band into the studio. He told 1883 that the record let him give more space to the guitarist who spent his teenage years learning riffs and solos in his bedroom.