Kelly Kidgell meets up with local talent James Edward, and finds out more about his 20-year musical journey and first solo single.
Before meeting James, I listen to his debut single in the car park. Eyes of Sunglasses is as mesmerising as the voice and lyrics behind it, and I immediately hit “add to playlist”.
James tells his story of fame, becoming a father and how nurturing his love for music eventually meant fulfilling that long-awaited dream of releasing his first solo.
“It began when I was seven, all I wanted was an ‘ickytar’ (guitar). I went for a few lessons when I was nine, but that’s as far as my formal musical training went,”
says James.
It was at the turn of the 20th century that James became the lead singer for Spoonfeedas. He wrote Alone, from their debut album True North, which went on to reach number one on 5fm.
But after marrying Denise in 2001, and becoming a dad to their first of three children, James had to make the decision between pursuing music in its volatile industry or supporting his family. He decided on the latter. “Although I qualified as a chef, I got into insurance and that’s what I’ve been doing ever since.”
In 2016, James revisited his longing for that solo album, however fate had other ideas and after bumping into Peter Guthrie (who had taken over as lead vocalist for Spoonfeedas all those years ago) at a recording studio, they decided to start Serrotone along with Billie Kruger.
“But that little niggle just wouldn’t go away,” says James. And this year, his dream of releasing a solo single finally came true.
Eyes of Sunglasses is inspired by a picture from a magazine that James had on his wall as a teenager. A poverty-stricken lady wearing expensive sunglasses with reflections that expressed the contrast between rich and poor and how life and situations have different meanings behind metaphorical lenses.
“I’ve opened for Bryan Adams, shared the stage with Prime Circle, Freshly Ground and Wonderboom, but finally hearing my first solo single on the radio was a profoundly extraordinary feeling,” says James. “I’m excited to release my second single later this year.”
James’s story is one that proves how talent is a gift that bears no age or time limits, and how niggles shouldn’t be ignored, and dreams never forgotten.