Highly strung..

JAMES ARTHUR A GUITAR STAR

JAMES Arthur believes the UK is “terrified” of guitars, which is why he put so many on his new album.

Out today, It’ll All Make Sense In The End bravely tackles personal mental health issues against a backdrop of darker guitar hooks and loops.

It’s a sound the songwriter knew he had to adopt to tell his story.

James explained: “I pushed the boundaries on this. In pop music today, the radio seems terrified of guitars being loud in production.

“Even my own team were like, ‘You should maybe tone this down.’ On previous records, when I’ve been convinced to dilute the rock elements, I’ve kind of lost myself.

“The vocals are so intense on the record, and it made sense to match that intensity with heavy guitars and the trap drums.”

The former X Factor champ’s incredible vocals coupled with his innate ear for melody perhaps help sugar-coat some of the difficult lyrics on the record, particularly the track Medicine.

James said: “There’s a theme of giving up or wanting to give up. I speak a little bit about suicide on this album. As tough as that was, and as vulnerable as I had to make it, in the end, I figured that it only brings light to the subject.

“Medicine is a good yardstick. The lyric talks about, ‘When I’m suicidal, you don’t let me spiral.’ There’s a lot of appreciation for those people that love me and support me that have kept me from spiralling and going too deep into those dark places.”

James has been getting help but he finds the best medicine is ultimately music: “I’m in therapy right now. And as profound as that is, I always just feel a sense of purpose and stillness when I’m doing music that I can’t get from anything else. It’s the most therapeutic thing that I can do.”