James Marriott (musician)

Last updated

James Marriott
James Marriott on stage at Koko, London, in 2024 (cropped).jpg
Marriott performing in London, 2024
Background information
Birth nameJames William Marriott
Born (1997-07-07) 7 July 1997 (age 26)
Switzerland
Genres Indie rock
Occupation(s)
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Years active2012–present
Website jamesmarriottmusic.com
Twitch information
Channel
Years active2019–present
Followers377 thousand
YouTube information
Channel
Subscribers2 million [1]
Total views220 million [1]
YouTube Silver Play Button 2.svg100,000 subscribers
  • 2018
  • 2021
  • 2022
YouTube Gold Play Button 2.svg1,000,000 subscribers2019

Last updated: 13 March 2024

James William Marriott (born 7 July 1997) is an English musician, YouTuber and Twitch streamer. Born in Switzerland, Marriott grew up in Buckinghamshire, and first became interested in music after attending an ABBA tribute concert as a child. After uploading videos of his instrumental acoustic music, he attracted attention after diversifying into caustic YouTube commentary videos and Twitch livestreams. A debut single, "Slow Down", was released in May 2020, followed by the extended plays (EPs) No Left Brain and Bitter Tongues. He released his debut album Are We There Yet? in 2023, which charted at number 17 on the UK Albums Chart. Marriott cites Foals and The Strokes as major influences, and his music is generally described as indie rock.

Contents

Life and career

Early life and social media

James William Marriott [2] was born in Switzerland on 7 July 1997 and grew up in Buckinghamshire. [3] Marriott was interested in music from a young age and his father was a pianist. [4] In 2008, he began attending Bishop Wordsworth's School [5] and uploading animations online; by 2012, he had diversified into uploading videos of his instrumental acoustic work. [3] [6] He went on to study modern languages at University College London, spending six months of the course in Granada, Spain, to foster a trilingual proficiency in Spanish and Portuguese alongside his native language, English. [3]

While at university, Marriott attracted attention for his YouTube channel as a commentator on popular culture and music, [3] for which he attracted over two million subscribers; in an interview with Dork, he described his content during this period as "taking the piss out of other YouTubers' music". [4] In 2020, during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Marriott established a YouTube group, "the Eboys", with his peers ImAllexx, WillNE and Memeulous. They hosted a podcast of the same name, [7] and Marriott later gained a following as a live streamer on Twitch. [4] [8]

No Left Brain, Bitter Tongues and Are We There Yet?

Marriott released his first single, the yacht rock-inspired, "Slow Down", in May 2020, [3] though he later expressed his disdain for the song [4] and even called it "horrendous". [9] He then released the single "Him", which appeared on his January 2021 extended play (EP) No Left Brain, [10] which was more guitar-based. [3] In July 2021, Marriott released the single "Wake Up!", which GoldenPlec described as a combination of "angsty alt-rock" and indie rock, [11] and in 2022 he released the single "Grapes", a take on developing into young adulthood, [12] and then his second EP, Bitter Tongues. [4] The EP depicts his experiences with heartbreak, sexuality, love, and his creative persona on social media. [13]

James Marriott, performing with Lovejoy, 2023 at Electric Brixton JamesMarriottAndLovejoy.jpg
James Marriott, performing with Lovejoy, 2023 at Electric Brixton

In March 2023, Marriott announced his debut album Are We There Yet? , [8] joined Jake Bugg in his Royal Albert Hall performance [14] for the Teenage Cancer Trust, [15] and supported Lovejoy on tour. [16] In May 2023, he performed at Brighton's annual Great Escape Festival, [3] [4] and later that month, it was announced that he would support Lewis Capaldi in an acoustic set in June 2023, [17] [18] though Capaldi later cancelled the gig due to poor mental health. [19] He then released the singles "So Long" and "Romanticise This", the latter a deeply personal track about suicidal ideation. [4]

Thereafter, Marriott performed at the Reading and Leeds Festivals in August, [20] [21] at which he debuted "Don't Blame Me", which was released officially in October 2023. [22] That month saw Marriott perform his first ever Australian tour dates; two shows in Sydney and Melbourne. [23] In November, he announced dates for a UK and European tour, [24] and released Are We There Yet? , [14] whose name was taken from a regular utterance of his during family road trips and which narrates a hypothetical return to Spain. [25] It charted at number 17 on the UK Albums Chart [26] and was produced and written in close collaboration with guitarist and keyboardist Jono Suter of Marriott's live band, as well as Aleksi Kiiskinen. [6] [27] In February 2024, Marriott was announced to be playing at the annual Reading and Leeds Festivals on the BBC Radio 1 stage. [28]

Artistry

Marriott initially "fell head over heels in love with music" after attending an ABBA tribute concert with family as a child. [29] His early guitar work was inspired by Rodrigo y Gabriela, a flamenco and metal music duo. Marriott later deemed the guitar in his music as a "priority", and said he often sits down with an Epiphone Casino whenever emotions hit. [14] In an August 2023 interview with Dork, Marriott cited The Strokes, Bloc Party, Foals, and Kelly Clarkson as influences, the latter for her "in your fucking face" vocal production, and stated that many of his inspirations came from video games he played, describing his music as "somewhere between Guitar Hero 3: Legends of Rock and any FIFA soundtrack between '06 and '13". [4] He also stated that he likes "having choruses that feel Sam Fender-y", [29] a name that Clash 's Robbin Murray used to describe his lyricism. [12] Marriott also cites Jacob Collier, as having "an interesting way of writing melodies" and wants crowds at his shows to feel like how he did when seeing Delta Sleep perform "The Detail". [9] Marriott also noted that a Dodie concert he attended "made [him] fall in love with having a string quartet over indie music". [29] Speaking to the Official Charts Company, Marriott compared his song "Denial" to Biffy Clyro's "Mountains" and The 1975's "Sex." [30] James Wilkinson of AllMusic wrote that Marriott produced "Foals- and Strokes-inspired indie rock." [3]

Members

James Marriott (centre), performing at The Garage, 2023, with band members (from left to right) Horsley, Gavin, Shakoori and Suter James Marriott.jpg
James Marriott (centre), performing at The Garage, 2023, with band members (from left to right) Horsley, Gavin, Shakoori and Suter

Live members

Discography

James Marriott discography
Studio albums1
Music videos15
EPs2
Singles8

Albums

List of albums, with selected chart positions
TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart
positions
UK
[26]
UK Indie
[26]
SCO
[26]
Are We There Yet?
  • Released: 10 November 2023 [31]
  • Format: CD, digital, LP
  • Label: Independent
17214

EPs

List of EPs, with selected details
TitleDetails
No Left Brain
  • Released: 15 January 2021 [32]
  • Format: Digital
  • Label: Independent
Bitter Tongues
  • Released: 24 June 2022 [32]
  • Format: Digital
  • Label: Independent

Singles

TitleYearAlbumVideo director(s)Ref.
"Slow Down"2020Non-album single [32]
"Him"2021No Left BrainThomas Pearson; James Marriott [32] [33]
"Wake Up!"Non-album single Will Dawson
"Gold"Bitter TonguesTed Nivison
"Sleeping On Trains"2022James Marriott
"So Long"2023Are We There Yet?Kieran Wall
"Romanticise This"Maya Katherine; Orr Piamenta
"Don't Blame Me"James Marriott

Tours

Headlining

Supporting

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Traffic (band)</span> English rock band

Traffic were an English rock band formed in Birmingham in April 1967 by Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi, Chris Wood and Dave Mason. They began as a psychedelic rock group and diversified their sound through the use of instruments such as keyboards, sitar, and various reed instruments, and by incorporating jazz and improvisational techniques in their music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Frampton</span> English-American musician and songwriter (born 1950)

Peter Kenneth Frampton is an English-American guitarist, singer and songwriter who rose to prominence as a member of the rock bands the Herd and Humble Pie. Later in his career Frampton found significant success as a solo artist. He has released several albums, including his breakthrough album, the live recording Frampton Comes Alive! (1976), which spawned several hit singles and has earned 8× Platinum by the RIAA in the United States. He has also worked with various other acts such as Ringo Starr, the Who's John Entwistle, David Bowie, and both Matt Cameron and Mike McCready of Pearl Jam and Joe Bonamassa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Knopfler</span> British musician (born 1949)

Mark Freuder Knopfler is a British guitarist, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He was the lead guitarist, singer and songwriter of the rock band Dire Straits from 1977 to 1988, and from 1990 to 1995. He pursued a solo career after the band dissolved, and is now an independent artist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Busted (band)</span> English pop-punk band

Busted are an English pop-punk band from Southend-on-Sea, Essex, consisting of James Bourne, Matt Willis and Charlie Simpson. Formed in 2000, the band has had four UK number-one singles, won two Brit Awards, released four studio albums and sold over 5 million records worldwide. The band released the albums Busted in 2002 and A Present for Everyone in 2003 before disbanding in January 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Capaldi</span> English musician and songwriter (1944–2005)

Nicola James Capaldi was an English singer-songwriter and drummer. His musical career spanned more than four decades. He co-founded the progressive rock band Traffic in 1967 with Steve Winwood with whom he co-wrote the majority of the band's material. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a part of Traffic's original lineup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Bourne</span> English singer-songwriter

James Elliot Bourne is an English singer-songwriter and musician. He is known as the co-founder of pop-punk bands Busted and Son of Dork, and he also created his own electronic project under the alias Future Boy. From 2013 to 2015 he was a member of McBusted, which consisted of himself, Busted bandmate Matt Willis, and McFly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Humble Pie</span> British rock band

Humble Pie are an English rock band formed by singer-guitarists Peter Frampton and Steve Marriott in Moreton, Essex, in 1969. Often regarded as one of the first supergroups in music, Humble Pie experienced moderate popularity and commercial success during the 1970s with songs such as "Black Coffee", "30 Days in the Hole", "I Don't Need No Doctor", "Hot 'n' Nasty", and "Natural Born Bugie" among others. The original line-up featured lead singer and guitarist Steve Marriott from Small Faces, singer and guitarist Peter Frampton from the Herd, former Spooky Tooth bassist Greg Ridley and a 17-year-old drummer, Jerry Shirley, from the Apostolic Intervention.

Son of Dork were a British pop punk band formed by James Bourne after his previous band, Busted, split in January 2005. The name of the band came from a scene in the 1990 film Problem Child where the chant "Son of Dork" is used. Their debut single, "Ticket Outta Loserville", was released in November 2005, reaching No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart. Their second single, "Eddie's Song", reached No. 10 in January 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Everything Everything</span> English art rock band

Everything Everything are an English art rock band from Manchester that formed in late 2007. Noted for their eclectic sound and complex, avant-garde-inspired lyrics, the band has released seven albums to date Man Alive (2010),Arc (2013),Get to Heaven (2015),A Fever Dream (2017),Re-Animator (2020), Raw Data Feel (2022) and Mountainhead (2024) — and has been widely critically acclaimed. Their work has twice been shortlisted for the Mercury Music Prize and has received five nominations for Ivor Novello Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The 1975</span> English pop rock band

The 1975 is an English pop rock band formed in Wilmslow, Cheshire in 2002. The band consists of Matty Healy, Adam Hann, Ross MacDonald (bass), and George Daniel. The name of the band was inspired by a page of scribblings found in Healy's copy of On the Road by Jack Kerouac that was dated "1 June, The 1975".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catfish and the Bottlemen</span> British indie rock band

Catfish and the Bottlemen are a British indie rock band formed in Llandudno, Conwy, Wales, in 2007. The band's debut album, The Balcony, reached number 10 in the UK Albums Chart and achieved Platinum status on 30 December 2016. The band have toured in South America, Japan, Europe, North America, and Australia performing a wide selection of festivals including Lollapalooza, Glastonbury, Latitude, Falls Festival, Community Festival, Reading and Leeds, T in the Park, Governors Ball, All Points East, Bonnaroo, Splendour in the Grass, and TRNSMT. They won a Brit Award for British Breakthrough Act on 24 February 2016. On 27 May 2016, they released their second album, The Ride, which reached number 1 in the UK Albums Chart and has sold 300,000 units in the UK since its release. On 26 April 2019, they released their third album, The Balance, which reached number 2 in the UK Albums Chart. The band will be headlining the Reading and Leeds festivals in the UK in 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lewis Capaldi</span> Scottish singer-songwriter (born 1996)

Lewis Marc Capaldi is a Scottish singer-songwriter and musician. He was nominated for the Critics' Choice Award at the 2019 Brit Awards. Capaldi also won the 2020 Brit Award for Best New Artist. In March 2019, his single "Someone You Loved" (2018) topped the UK Singles Chart where it remained for seven weeks, and in November 2019, it reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100; it was nominated at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards for Song of the Year and won the 2020 Brit Award for Song of the Year. "Someone You Loved" was the bestselling single of 2019 in the UK. In May 2020, it was announced that Capaldi's song "Someone You Loved" had become the longest-running top 10 UK single of all time by a British artist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lewis Capaldi discography</span>

This is the discography of Scottish singer-songwriter Lewis Capaldi. He achieved global mainstream success in 2019 with his breakthrough single "Someone You Loved", which charted in over 29 countries and spent seven weeks at number one on the UK Singles Chart. His debut album Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent followed in May, which became the best selling album in the UK in five years, spending five weeks at number one in its first six weeks of release. It includes the top 10 single "Grace", the UK and US number one single "Someone You Loved" and "Hold Me While You Wait", among several songs previously included on Capaldi's 2018 EPs Bloom and Breach. Capaldi went on tour in support of the record in May 2019, and finished the tour in October 2019. It peaked at number one in the UK and Ireland, becoming the fastest-selling album of the year and also outselling all of the top 10 combined in both countries. It was certified gold in the UK a week after its release. The album was the best selling album in the UK in 2019 and 2020, with "Someone You Loved" being the best selling single of 2019 in the UK.

<i>Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent</i> 2019 studio album by Lewis Capaldi

Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent is the debut studio album by Scottish singer-songwriter Lewis Capaldi. It was released on 17 May 2019 through Vertigo Records in Europe and Capitol Records in the United States, and distributed globally by Universal Music. It includes the top 10 single "Grace", the UK and US number one single "Someone You Loved" and "Hold Me While You Wait", among several songs previously included on Capaldi's 2018 EPs Bloom and Breach. Capaldi went on tour in support of the record in May 2019, and finished the tour in October 2019. It peaked at number one in the UK and Ireland, becoming the fastest-selling album of the year and also outselling all of the top 10 combined in both countries. It was certified gold in the UK a week after its release. The album was the best selling album in the UK in 2019 and 2020, with "Someone You Loved" being the best selling single of 2019 in the UK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holly Humberstone</span> British musician (born 1999)

Holly Ffion Humberstone is an English singer-songwriter from Grantham, England. In 2021, she signed a recording contract with Interscope and Polydor Records. Her first extended play (EP) following the signings, The Walls Are Way Too Thin, was released in November 2021. Afterwards, she won the Brit Award for Rising Star at the 2022 Brit Awards. She released her debut studio album, Paint My Bedroom Black, in October 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wilbur Soot</span> English Internet personality and musician (born 1996)

William Patrick Spencer Gold, known professionally as Wilbur Soot, is an English Twitch streamer, YouTuber, and musician. He first became known in 2017 for his work with the group comedy YouTube channel SootHouse, where he made recurring appearances and was the lead editor and a co-founder. He later started his own channel, Wilbur Soot, in March 2019. Gold released his first single, "The 'Nice Guy' Ballad", in January 2018. His sixth single, "Your New Boyfriend", peaked at No. 64 on the UK Singles Chart. Gold is co-founder of the British indie rock band Lovejoy, where he is one of the songwriters, the lead vocalist and the rhythm guitarist. In 2021, they released Pebble Brain, their second EP, which debuted at No. 12 on the UK Albums Chart, and their third EP Wake Up & It's Over, released in 2023, debuted at No. 4 on the UK Albums Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lovejoy (band)</span> British indie rock band

Lovejoy are an English indie rock band formed in Brighton in 2021. The band consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist William Gold, lead guitarist Joe Goldsmith, drummer Mark Boardman and bassist Ash Kabosu, with all four also sharing songwriting duties.

<i>Are You Alright?</i> (EP) 2021 EP by English rock band Lovejoy

Are You Alright? is the debut EP by English indie rock band Lovejoy, released independently on 9th May 2021. It contains four tracks and runs only 12 minutes and 7 seconds. Due to this, it was not able to chart by itself. However, three out of the EP's four tracks charted on the UK Singles Chart, and the band debuted at number 10 on Billboard's Emerging Artists chart on 20 May 2021. The name of the band's label, Anvil Cat Records, is a nod to the cover art of the EP. Over a year after its release, it was released on vinyl as a compilation album with Lovejoy's second EP Pebble Brain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Call Me What You Like (Lovejoy song)</span> 2023 single by English rock band Lovejoy

"Call Me What You Like" is a song by English indie rock band Lovejoy. It was released independently through Anvil Cat Records and AWAL on 10 February 2023, as the lead single from their third EP, Wake Up & It's Over, which was released on 12 May 2023. It is their first original song since 2021. It debuted at number 32 on the UK Singles Chart.

<i>Are We There Yet?</i> (James Marriott album) Debut studio album by James Marriott

Are We There Yet? is the debut studio album by English indie rock artist James Marriott. Released on 10 November 2023, the album includes a total of 10 tracks.

References

  1. 1 2 "About James Marriott". YouTube.
  2. "Marriott James William". ASCAP . Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Wilkinson, James. "James Marriott Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 18 February 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Firth, Abigail (1 August 2023). "James Marriott Is the Biggest Dork We Know". Dork . Archived from the original on 6 August 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  5. Blake, Morwenna (3 March 2014). "Bishop's boys interview PCC". Salisbury Journal . Archived from the original on 19 February 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Caddick, Daniel (13 July 2023). "One on One: An Interview With James Marriott!". Hive Magazine. Archived from the original on 4 March 2024. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  7. O'Driscoll, Aoife (21 April 2023). "YouTuber Memeulous: 'I'm better off not showing my face'". Varsity . Archived from the original on 17 February 2024. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  8. 1 2 3 Longmore, Annaleece (13 March 2023). "James Marriott: Musician exclusively reveals new album after show at Sheffield's Leadmill". ShefLive. Archived from the original on 13 March 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  9. 1 2 Warner, Emily (8 November 2023). "Interview W/ James Marriott: 'It feels like you're dipping your soul into something'!". Boot - - - Music. Archived from the original on 18 February 2024.
  10. Harris, Ellie (19 February 2021). "EP Review: James Marriott – No Left Brain". Redbrick . Archived from the original on 19 February 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  11. Conway, Orla (6 July 2021). "James Marriott Releases Wake Up!". GoldenPlec . Archived from the original on 6 July 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  12. 1 2 Murray, Robin (29 July 2022). "James Marriott's New Single 'Grapes' Is A Playful Take On Adulthood". Clash . Archived from the original on 1 August 2022. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  13. "Exclusive Booking Agency for James Marriott". Wasserman .
  14. 1 2 3 Hansen, Susan (27 December 2023). "'This Overwhelming Feeling': James Marriott Interviewed". Clash . Archived from the original on 26 January 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  15. Krol, Charlotte (23 February 2023). "Jake Bugg announced for Teenage Cancer Trust at the Royal Albert Hall". NME . Archived from the original on 3 February 2024. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  16. "Lovejoy - Sold Out". Electric Brixton . Archived from the original on 26 January 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  17. "Lewis Capaldi and James Marriott announce intimate gig at The Wardrobe ahead of Leeds Festival". ITV News . 23 May 2023. Archived from the original on 24 May 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  18. Skinner, Tom (23 May 2023). "Lewis Capaldi announces intimate Reading & Leeds warm-up show". NME . Archived from the original on 23 May 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  19. "Lewis Capaldi cancels intimate Leeds gig at The Wardrobe as he tells fans he needs to 'rest and recover'". Yorkshire Evening Post . 6 June 2023. Archived from the original on 26 January 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  20. Muir, Jamie (26 August 2023). "James Marriot Proves He's Main Stage Material at Reading 2023". Dork . Archived from the original on 17 November 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  21. Wilkes, Emma (28 April 2023). "Mae Stephens, Cordae, Venbee and more among 20 new names for Reading & Leeds 2023". NME . Archived from the original on 19 February 2024. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  22. Taylor, Sam (20 October 2023). "James Marriott has shared a new cut from his upcoming debut album – check out break-up song, 'Don't Blame Me'". Dork . Archived from the original on 20 October 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  23. 1 2 "James Marriott Australia Tour 2023". Untitled Group. Archived from the original on 17 July 2023. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  24. Taylor, Sam (3 November 2023). "James Marriott has confirmed dates for his Are We There Yet? UK and EU tour". Dork . Archived from the original on 15 December 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  25. "Breakthrough Music Star James Marriott Talks to Dscene". Dscene. 7 December 2023. Archived from the original on 27 January 2024. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  26. 1 2 3 4 "James Marriott UK Chart History". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  27. Marriott, James William [@JamesMarriottYT] (11 February 2024). "Someone mention Jono Suter and Aleksi Kiiskinen as prominent writers/producers for Are We There Yet please I don't know how" (Tweet). Retrieved 2 February 2024 via Twitter.
  28. Morton, Dennis (1 February 2024). "Leeds Festival 2024: Popular music festival reveal huge line-up and poster including Renee Rapp and Pendulum". Yorkshire Evening Post . Archived from the original on 23 February 2024. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  29. 1 2 3 Ross, Olivia (22 August 2022). "James Marriott: "I like the fact that there's levels to me on a public level"". The Indie Scene. Archived from the original on 17 February 2024. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  30. Griffiths, George (14 November 2023). "James Marriott on debut album Are We There Yet?: "I don't plan on stopping"". Official Charts Company . Archived from the original on 18 December 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  31. "Are We There Yet?". Spotify. Archived from the original on 12 April 2024. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  32. 1 2 3 4 "James Marriott Singles and EPs" . Retrieved 11 April 2024 via Spotify.
  33. "Music videos" . Retrieved 3 February 2024 via YouTube.
  34. Marriott, James William [@JamesMarriottYT] (17 January 2023). "My first tour" (Tweet). Retrieved 2 March 2024 via Twitter.
  35. Taylor, Sam (3 November 2023). "James Marriott Has Confirmed Dates for His Are We There Yet? UK and EU Tour". Dork . Archived from the original on 15 December 2023. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  36. @livejoy (16 February 2023). "ALL SUPPORTS ANNOUNCED for Lovejoy Inselaffe Tour '23!" (Tweet). Retrieved 2 March 2024 via Twitter.