James Gillespie
Singer/Songwriter
London, England, UK
Described kindly as an bluesier, more soulful and British version of Irish trendsetter Dermot Kennedy or a more accented Rag ‘N Bone Man, UK wordsmith James Gillespie’s rise from the gallows is very calculated. 2014 saw Gillespie tour with one of NBT’s favorites Turin Brakes, but it wasn’t until 2017 when “What You Do” set the wheels in motion and the quietly explosive ascent started. After a few viral covers, single releases and EPs, Gillespie gathered what he had and released 2019’s full-length Safe via Operator Records.
Just last month, Gillespie found himself getting in front of a whole new audience - with a feature on Kygo’s new song “Gone Are the Days”. This, surely, will propel Gillespie into a whole new world, and with a follow-up album slated for late 2021 or early 2022, the sky is the limit for where album number two leads.
James has been on our radar for a hot minute, and we’d be lying if we didn’t say we absolutely, 100% feel he is on the Dermot Kennedy path to success. Will he have the no.1 song in the nation right out the gates? Probably not. But will he get airplay, be featured on other artists tracks, and slowly start selling out venues coast to coast? Absolutely.
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