James Arthur: Not quitting music pays off
British singer-songwriter James Arthur said he almost quit music just two years after winning The X Factor UK in 2012. No other word best describes how he survived that dark period in his life than “miracle.” The career dive could have broken any artist who wasn’t made of sturdier stuff.
“In 2012, I won The X Factor, and then two years later, I lost my record deal,” James recalled to the Filipino press last Saturday during a roundtable interview organized by Sony Music Philippines. “Two years after that, I got it back, and then the success of my song called Say You Won’t Let Go, which reached a billion streams on Spotify. And I never dreamed that, that was possible. I felt like, you know, my career was over before that. It felt like a miracle so that’s probably the highlight of my career.”
When asked what made him not quit during those two years of uncertainty, he said, “I don’t know because, I think, I definitely wanted to quit. I wanted to give up because it seemed like… when I look at the statistics and look at the people that have gone before me that won The X Factor, especially the men who’d won X Factor — unfortunately, their careers were over after the first attempt. When they lost the record label, nobody would ever conceive the idea that they would come back and do anything of any worth.
“So, I had that in the back of my head while I was trying to keep going. I was like, you know, why would the radio ever play me again? Why would The X Factor ever ask me to come back and perform again? I didn’t just lose my record label. It really tarnished my reputation. I really like embarrassed myself because I’ve had this public meltdown, if you like.
“So, yeah, I had to contend with all of that and my head was like, ‘You’ve got no chance.’ The mountains seemed pretty high. But I’m a fighter. I’ve always been a fighter and from a young age, I’ve been through some tough times. And it’s just within me to fight, to keep going. So, luckily that paid off.”
Still and all, the X Factor experience became an opportunity to further define and express himself as an artist.
“Know thyself,” James said of one big lesson learned. “In a competition like that, it’s very important to have an identity and to know what kind of artist you want to be. I always knew what I could do and was capable of. And The X Factor tested my integrity. So, yeah, I think The X Factor was good for me to show myself.”
During his time on the talent competition, he was mentored by Nicole Scherzinger, whom we all know as part-Filipino.
James has nothing but fondness and kind words for the former Pussycat Doll.
“I just have endless amounts of love from Nicole Scherzinger and it’s probably her Filipino side, you are just very loving, very respectful and humble,” he said. “Even today, she doesn’t have to be my friend beyond The X Factor but she remains someone who comes to every show, whenever she’s in the same town as me. And she just shows unconditional love towards me and I’ve just got massive respect for her.”
James was in Manila last week for a series of shows as part of an Asian promo tour for his brand-new, 17-track album You, ahead of reported arena dates in the UK, EU and North America. “When I wrote my last (album) Back From the Edge, I was in quite a dark place. I was talking about the pain I was going through and I had a redemption thing basically. Whereas this album, I didn’t want to talk about myself so much. I didn’t want it to be a self-indulgent thing, although it sounds like it is (laughs),” he explained.
“Sometimes, I’m coming from the perspective of other people. Like this song Unconditionally, I’m saying that from the point of view of somebody who’s been in a relationship with me and who’s been heartbroken by me. It’s coming from the perspective of someone else and that’s kind of the place I’ve come from on every song on this record.”
“It’s not me, it’s someone else even if they’re talking to me. Does that make sense? Because it doesn’t make sense to me,” James added, jokingly.
One thing’s for sure, he has earned a following in this side of the world and his songs do make sense and mean something to them. He’s also trying to make sense of the fact that he has fans who are a 20-hour flight away. “It blows my mind,” James said. “I’m just very grateful.”
On Instagram, James happily shared videos of the audience singing their hearts out while he was performing Say You Won’t Let Go on It’s Showtime.
Asked whether he feels any pressure to recreate the success of Say You Won’t Let Go with every new song he makes, James said he would be lying if he didn’t say yes.
“I mean, it’s a hard thing to emulate. It’s one of only 12 songs ever to reach a billion streams on Spotify so like for me to be chasing that goal and that high again, it’s probably not a healthy thing to do (laughs). But, yeah, definitely, I have proven I can write a love song now. So, I’m like, on this mission to prove that I can do other things and not just one thing.”
James just turned 30, a milestone year for most of us. When asked what he wants to accomplish for himself at this time of his life, he admitted he’s been thinking about it a lot, lately. He reflected: “I don’t really want to make pop music anymore. I don’t feel I’ve got anything to prove in pop music, and I’m starting to get known as a guy who writes ballads and well that’s great. At least, people know who the hell I am, which I’d rather (be) than no one knows who I am.
“But I’ve always fancied myself as a guy who could push the boundaries a little bit and didn’t stick to a certain thing. I think, when you go on a show like The X Factor, that’s the price you pay. I’m very happy for the platform that has given me, but the price I’ve paid is that the music industry wants to put you in a box straight away. And once you’re in that box, it’s very hard to break out of it.
“I guess, now that I’ve done my thing in pop music and I’ve made my point and proven what I can do, it’s time for me to start and make music that I really, really love…”
“And I also want to achieve a six-pack!” James was quick to add. “I haven’t seen my abs since I was 12.”