Acoustic Magazine 103 Back Issue

The awards are mounting. The world’s critics have been won over. The legions of fans are waiting. The album is just about to drop. The shows are sold out. James Bay is standing in the eye of a musical storm – and for someone at the epicenter of it all, he’s remarkably chilled. He’s unfazed by everything going on around him, and exudes a calm and collected confidence worn only by those who know they’re truly great at what they do. And great he is. Everything music was lacking at the end of 2014, James Bay is putting back into place. Along with the help of fellow breakthrough guitar newcomer George Ezra, James is putting the guitar back to the forefront of popular music.

We spent the afternoon with James in an East London recording studio, and it’s clear that it isn’t so much “if” James Bay is going to be the next big UK guitar man, but “when”. With critics’ approval pouring in following his Brits Critics’ Choice award and making the BBC Sound of 2015 list, his ascent is all but guaranteed. So, want to know the secret to his success, sound, and what’s it’s like being the most talked about guy in music? Head over to page 44 to find out.

Elsewhere in this issue, we feature Calexico’s Joey Burns who talks about their new album Edge Of The Sun. “Eclectic” doesn’t begin to fully explain the soundscapes Joey and John Convertino cook up. The new album takes them to Mexico City, and we’ve got the lowdown (pg. 38).

There are also interviews with Counting Crows’ Dave Immergluck, Jackson Browne’s long-time collaborator David Lindley, and the newest duo to blaze a trail out of Nashville: Striking Matches.

Enjoy the issue – and be sure to pick up James’ Chaos And The Calm on March 23.