James Arthur Shares Personal Changes on New Album "It’ll All Make Sense In The End"
British singer-songwriter James
Arthur is finally back with his highly anticipated fourth studio album, It’ll
All Make Sense In The End.
Having written and recorded bulk of the
songs during the lockdown in the comforts of his home, the versatile hitmaker
spent some time ruminating on the changes in his personal life, while using it
as inspiration for his music-making journey. This enabled him and his collaborators
to work on their own convenient time, round the clock, but not to the clock.
“And all of a sudden, the music started
sounding great,” the former X Factor UK winner shares in a statement. “From day
one there was a sound that I wanted to go for. Even early on, it sounded like a
real album, a proper body of work. This is the first time I’ve made an album
all in one place and you can hear this in the music. There’s something really
comfortable about working in your own home – I was able to be more vulnerable
than ever."
After writing the boldly
autobiographical first single “Medicine,” James and frequent collaborator
Andrew Jackson (“Train Wreck”) quickly came up with “Losing You,” an anthemic
electronic-rock song that’s big on heart, riffs and emotive punch.
Arthur reveals, “I wanted this album to
have proper rock elements. The kind of rock I love is emo and pop-punk, so I
wanted to domy take on that genre. Lyrically that song, like a lot of the
songs, is the sound of someone who’s doing a lotof reflecting, a lot of
processing and being really honest about where I’ve been in my head. And in
that song I’m talking to myself: I feel like I’m always on the verge of
losing you.”
Another important track in the album is
the early keeper “Déjà Vu,” written with Jackson and Mark Crew (Bastille,
Rag’n’Bone Man). Demonstrating the full range of his vocal abilities, Arthur
sings, ‘You fucked me up, I can’t get enough,’ with astounding vagueness
that is a bit of everything, depending on how the listeners interpret the material.
“It’s been well documented that I’ve had
my issues with all of those. It’s just quite honest stuff, really,” the iconic
British artist adds.
Second single “September” is also part
of the album, and shines through with its no-holds-barred confessional appeal
and acoustic-meets-trap sound. As vulnerably naked in his lyrics as he ever
was, Arthur also isn’t afraid to sing to the next generation: “Emily” is a
tender, intimate mea culpa to the daughter he might one day have.
"That arose from conversations
about having kids,” the pop/rock dad explains. “Would I even be a good dad?
What if they read about all the shit I’ve been through? It doesn’t matter,
because ultimately I’m the guy who’s going to be there for you all your
life."
The record also includes “SOS,” which
Arthur describes as an album-defining song with 30 Seconds To Mars-esque
chorus and a rap flow reminiscent of Miguel.
In moving out of London, the musician
has created a safe space: a working place, family place, fitness place. In
building that sanctuary he’s felt even more comfortable to be even more open,
not just about the things that are inspiring him but also the things that are
plaguing him.
“Travelling, going to other people’s
studios, doing sessions in new places – for someone like me who has a bit of
social anxiety, all that was difficult,” the multi-platinum musician shares.
“But working at home allowed me to be more vulnerable.”
It allowed him to finesse a sound that
gels over the entire album, that process aided by additional production from
Matt Rad, who’s worked with Taking Back Sunday, one of his favorite bands. He
helps bring cohesion.
“The sound is very simple. It’s
basically raucous guitars with trap beats and strong, strong melodies,” Rad
says of a musical approach he's been honing for years in his collaborations
with superstar artists such as Ty Dolla $ign, Machine Gun Kelly and Juicy J.
To date, James Arthur has sold over 30
million records worldwide and has to date released three hugely successful
albums: James Arthur (UK No. 2), Back From The Edge (UK No. 1)
and YOU (UK No.2), alongside nine solo UK Top 40 singles. He’s had two
No.1 smash hits and was awarded a disc for reaching a billion streams on
Spotify with ‘Say You Won't Let Go’, the
No.1 global hit that brought the singer-songwriter from Middlesbrough back from
the edge (it currently has 1.7 billion streams on the platform).
James recently dominated the airwaves
and charts with his storming collaboration with Sigala ‘Lasting Lover’. The
track was a No.1 airplay song in the UK, No.1 on iTunes and Top 10 on the
Official Singles Chart.
James has announced tours of both UK and
Ireland and North America in 2022, including a date at London's prestigious
Royal Albert Hall.
James Arthur’s It’ll All Make Sense In The End is out now on all digital
music platforms worldwide via Sony Music. For more details, check out his music website.
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