Jamie N. Commons

Last updated

Jamie N. Commons
Jamie N Commons (cropped).jpg
Background information
Birth nameJames Nicholas Commons
Born (1988-10-22) 22 October 1988 (age 35)
Bristol, England
Origin New Cross, London, England
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Years active2011–present
Labels
Website www.jamiencommons.com

James Nicholas Commons (born 22 October 1988) [1] [2] is a British singer and songwriter, based in New Cross, London.

Contents

Early life and education

Commons was born in Bristol, England, but was raised, in part, in Chicago, Illinois, United States. [3] At age six, Commons' family moved to Chicago, which would lead to his appreciation of American blues, folk and swamp rock music, [4] and of artists, notable among which are The Allman Brothers Band. [5]

Commons returned to the English West Country at the age of 16. [6]

Aged 18, Commons relocated to London and commenced reading classical music at Goldsmiths College, alongside contemporaries including James Blake and Katy B. [4] [7]

Career

His second EP, Rumble and Sway, was released in March 2013 with Interscope, produced by Alex da Kid, who early signed him to his label KIDinaKORNER. The title song would later be used in the trailer for the Coen Brothers film Hail, Caesar!, season three of American supernatural teen drama television series Teen Wolf and season three of American legal drama television series Suits as well as making appearances in commercials for Levi's in 2014 and for Butterfinger in 2020.

In June 2013, Commons opened for Bruce Springsteen in Nijmegen. [8] [9]

He is featured on Eminem's eighth studio album The Marshall Mathers LP 2 , in the track "Desperation" which is only included in the deluxe edition bonus disc.

His song with X Ambassadors, "Jungle", is featured in the trailers for Season 2 of Orange Is the New Black , the video game Battlefield Hardline, season 4 of American supernatural teen drama television series Teen Wolf and the film Pitch Perfect 2 . In addition, the song also appeared in the advertisements for Beats by Dre, which ran during the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, and the film Horrible Bosses 2 . WWE used the song in the commercial for WWEShop.com and as the theme song for the PPV WWE Battleground. "Jungle" played in the end credits for the 2014 film Hercules as well as Project Almanac and the Hitman: Agent 47. This song also plays during an end scene in the TV series The Blacklist. The most recent version of Jungle has been used by Boston, American beer company Sam Adams for their beer.

He is also featured on Big K.R.I.T.'s second studio album Cadillactica, in the track "Saturdays = Celebration." This song is featured in the Sicario - 'Welcome to Juarez' Trailer.

His track 'Not Gonna Break Me' was used in the BBC's trailer for the 2016 Summer Olympics.

He wrote and produced the title track for the film Skyscraper .

In 2018, he started a project called "The Fever Dreams", a series of singles released leading up to his debut studio album scheduled for release in 2019. [10]

In 2019 Commons co-wrote "Hold Me While You Wait" the lead single to Lewis Capaldi's debut album Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent, which debuted at #1 on the UK Album chart and went on to achieve Gold status after just 8 days. In May that year, he covered Soul Asylum's Runaway Train along with fellow artists Skylar Grey and Gallant in collaboration with National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Commons co-wrote "Testify", the lead track of Conrad Sewell's album "Life" was released the same week, this album debuted at #1 on the Australian charts.

Artistry

Voice

Commons' baritone vocals, influenced by Gregg Allman, [7] are notable for their authenticity of the blues genre, reflected through his Americanised accent and deep, "raspy" [7] and "gritty" [11] singing voice, earning him comparisons with Tom Waits, [12] Johnny Cash, [13] Leonard Cohen, [13] Nick Cave, [14] Greg Dulli [14] and Mark Lanegan. [14]

Influences

In a BBC America interview, Commons said The Allman Brothers Band, the soundtrack for O Brother, Where Art Thou? and Moby's Play were important, early influences. [15]

Personal life

During his childhood, Commons attended church with his religious mother, [16] while his father, an atheist, stayed at home. These experiences informed him of religion, which is a theme explored in his music. [17]

Discography

EPs

Singles

Music Videos

Other appearances

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bruce Springsteen</span> American rock musician (born 1949)

Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen is an American rock singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Nicknamed "the Boss", he has released 21 studio albums during a career spanning six decades, most of which feature his backing band, the E Street Band. Springsteen is a pioneer of heartland rock, combining a commercially successful rock sound with poetic and socially conscious lyrics reflecting the issues of working class American life. He is known for his descriptive lyrics and energetic concerts, which sometimes last over four hours.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian Setzer</span> American singer, songwriter (b. 1959)

Brian Robert Setzer is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He found widespread success in the early 1980s with the 1950s-style rockabilly group Stray Cats, and returned to the music scene in the early 1990s with his swing revival band, the Brian Setzer Orchestra. In 1987, he made a cameo appearance as Eddie Cochran in the film La Bamba.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steven Van Zandt</span> American musician and actor (born 1950)

Steven Van Zandt, also known as Little Steven or Miami Steve, is an American musician and actor. He is a member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, in which he plays guitar and mandolin. He has appeared in several television drama series, including as Silvio Dante in The Sopranos (1999–2007) and as Frank Tagliano in Lilyhammer (2012–2014). Van Zandt has his own solo band called Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul, intermittently active since the 1980s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Kills</span> English-American rock duo

The Kills are an English-American rock duo formed by American singer Alison "VV" Mosshart and English guitarist Jamie "Hotel" Hince. They are signed to Domino Records. Their first four albums, Keep On Your Mean Side, No Wow, Midnight Boom, and Blood Pressures, all reached the UK Albums Chart. Their fifth studio album, Ash & Ice, was released in 2016 and reached the top 20 of the UK Albums Chart.

Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band: Live In New York City is the name of a concert film done by HBO, featuring the first ever major televised Bruce Springsteen concert. It was later released on DVD with eleven extra songs not televised, and as a CD of the same name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Warren Haynes</span> American guitarist, singer and songwriter

Warren Haynes is an American musician, singer and songwriter. He is best known for his work as longtime guitarist with the Allman Brothers Band and as founding member of the jam band Gov't Mule. Early in his career he was a guitarist for David Allan Coe and The Dickey Betts Band. Haynes also is known for his associations with the surviving members of the Grateful Dead, including touring with Phil Lesh and Friends and the Dead. In addition, Haynes founded and manages Evil Teen Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Bonamassa</span> American musician (born 1977)

Joseph Leonard Bonamassa is an American blues rock guitarist, singer and songwriter. He started his career at age twelve, when he opened for B.B. King. Since 2000, Bonamassa has released fifteen solo albums through his independent record label J&R Adventures, of which eleven have reached No. 1 on the Billboard Blues chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skylar Grey</span> American singer (born 1986)

Holly Brook Hafermann, known professionally as Skylar Grey, is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. In 2004, Grey signed a publishing deal with Universal Music Publishing Group and a recording contract with Linkin Park's Machine Shop Recordings under the name Holly Brook. Her debut studio album, Like Blood Like Honey (2006), served as her only release with the label.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Garland Jeffreys</span> American musician (born 1943)

Garland Jeffreys is an American singer and songwriter in rock and roll, reggae, blues, and soul music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Run Through the Jungle</span> 1970 single by Creedence Clearwater Revival

"Run Through the Jungle" is a 1970 song by American rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival. It was released as a double A-side single with "Up Around the Bend" and on the album Cosmo's Factory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyler Posey</span> American actor and musician (born 1991)

Tyler Garcia-Posey is an American actor and musician. He performed in his early years in a number of children's film and television roles, for which he was twice nominated for a Young Artist Award. He was known for his roles as Raul Garcia in Doc (2001–2004) and Ty Ventura in Maid in Manhattan (2002). As an adult, he is known for playing the central character Scott McCall in the MTV series Teen Wolf (2011–2017), although he has since been cast in a number of film roles and has also performed in voice acting roles. In late 2011 to 2012, he won a number of youth acting awards, including a Teen Choice Award, and was nominated for several others. He was active for several years in the band Lost in Kostko, which he co-founded in 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reese Wynans</span> American keyboard player (born 1947)

Reese Wynans is an American keyboard player, who has done session work and has been a member of Double Trouble and progressive rock band Captain Beyond. In 2015, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Double Trouble.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timber Timbre</span> Canadian folk music band

Timber Timbre is a Canadian music group, featuring Taylor Kirk. The moniker refers to an early series of recordings made in a timber-framed cabin set in the wooded outskirts of Bobcaygeon, Ontario.

Fever Dream(s) may refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Devon Allman</span> American rock musician

Devon Allman is an American guitarist, vocalist, songwriter, and record producer. He is the son of musician and singer-songwriter Gregg Allman and has appeared occasionally as a guest musician for Gregg Allman and The Allman Brothers Band. Allman was the founder and bandleader of Honeytribe, also known as Devon Allman's Honeytribe, with whom he released two albums and toured across North America and Europe. Prior to Honeytribe, Allman contributed to several other musical recordings, notably Vargas Blues Band and the A Song for My Father compilation album. He was one of the original members of Royal Southern Brotherhood and contributed to their first two studio albums and toured with them. In 2013, Allman launched his solo career as the Devon Allman Band, and has since released three albums. His latest tour, branded as the Devon Allman Project, features special guest Duane Betts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Echosmith</span> American rock and indie pop band

Echosmith is an American indie pop band formed in February 2006 in Chino, California. Originally formed as a quartet of siblings, the band currently consists of Sydney, Noah, and Graham Sierota, following the departure of eldest sibling Jamie in 2016. Echosmith started first as "Ready Set Go!" until they signed to Warner Bros. Records in May 2012. They are best known for the song "Cool Kids", which reached number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified triple platinum by the RIAA with over 1,200,000 sales in the United States and also double platinum by ARIA in Australia. The song was Warner Bros. Records' fifth-biggest-selling-digital song of 2014, with 1.3 million downloads sold. The band's debut album, Talking Dreams, was released on October 1, 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kidinakorner</span> American music company

Kidinakorner is an American record company founded in 2011 by British music producer and songwriter Alexander "Alex da Kid" Grant. The company houses a record label, music publishing, commercial production and a marketing agency. The company is home to some prominent acts in the music industry, including Imagine Dragons and X Ambassadors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jungle (X Ambassadors and Jamie N Commons song)</span> 2013 single by X Ambassadors and Jamie N Commons

"Jungle" is a song by American rock band X Ambassadors and British blues rock singer Jamie N Commons. It was released as a single on 18 December 2013 by KIDinaKORNER and Interscope. The track appeared on X Ambassadors' 2014 EP The Reason and their 2015 studio album VHS.

<i>Rumble and Sway</i> 2013 EP by Jamie N Commons

Rumble and Sway is the second EP by Jamie N Commons. The title song was used in the trailer for the 2016 Coen brothers film, Hail, Caesar!, season 3 of American supernatural teen drama television series Teen Wolf, season 3 of American legal drama television series Suits and the movie Monster Trucks (film) as well as making appearances in commercials for Levi's in 2014 and for Butterfinger in 2020. Steve Leggett writes in his AllMusic review that "Commons is on his way somewhere, and if Rumble and Sway feels like a transitional affair, it also feels like a good transition, pointing to the possibility of a masterpiece just around the bend."

References

  1. "Jamie N Commons". BBC Music. BBC.
  2. James Nicholas Commons Genes Reunited Retrieved 4 May 2022
  3. "BottleRock 2016: Jamie N Commons between continents and on a roll". Riffmagazine.com. 8 June 2016.
  4. 1 2 Clover, Ryan (3 August 2010). "10 Minutes with British Soul Rocket, Jamie N Commons". Swagger New York.
  5. Lee, Andy (1 June 2016). "Jamie N Commons' Blues is the Sound You Need". Provenance Magazine.
  6. Leggett, Steve. "Jamie N Commons - Artist Biography". AllMusic.
  7. 1 2 3 Ferrier, Morwenna (2 October 2011). "One to watch: Jamie N Commons". The Observer .
  8. Commons, Jamie N (20 March 2013). "Jamie N Commons - Bruce Springsteen Support Announced". Tumblr.
  9. Springsteen, Bruce (23 June 2013). "Notes from the Road: Nijmegen". brucespringsteen.net.
  10. Clarke, Patrick (9 November 2018). "Jamie N Commons talks new single 'Paper Dreams' and his "gratuitously eighties" debut album". NME.
  11. Antonetti, Devon. "UK Singer Jamie N Commons on Coming to America, Exploring His Blues Roots". Diffuser.fm.
  12. Copeland, Cooper. "On the Rise: Jamie N Commons". Out of Order. Archived from the original on 24 April 2014. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  13. 1 2 "Jamie N Commons". 1883 Magazine. Archived from the original on 24 April 2014. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  14. 1 2 3 "Act Detail: Jamie N Commons". European Talent Exchange Program. Archived from the original on 24 April 2014.
  15. Wicks, Kevin (11 March 2013). "British Breakout Interview: Jamie N Commons, Modern Bluesman". Anglophenia. BBC America.
  16. Swindells, Chris; Eustace, Chris (1 February 2012). "Blues and bruised in Brighton: Jamie N Commons interview". Virtual Festivals. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  17. "Ones to Watch: Jamie N Commons". Clash Magazine. 3 July 2012.
  18. "lescharts.com - Discographie Jamie N Commons". Lescharts.com.
  19. "lescharts.com - Discographie Jamie N Commons". Lescharts.com.