James Bay Biography

James Michael Bay (born 4 September 1990) is an English singer-songwriter and guitarist. In 2014, he released his single "Hold Back the River", which has been certified platinum, before releasing his debut studio album Chaos and the Calm (2015). The album went to number one in the UK and number 15 in the US. In February 2015, Bay received the Brit Awards "Critics' Choice" award. At the 2016 Brit Awards he received the award for Best British Male Solo Artist. Bay also received three nominations at the 2016 Grammy Awards, for Best New Artist, Best Rock Album, and Best Rock Song.

Early life

Bay was brought up in Hitchin, Hertfordshire and attended Hitchin Boys' School. Aged 11, Bay was inspired to play classical guitar after hearing Eric Clapton's "Layla". and he used an old rusty guitar with 5 strings he found in the cupboard in his house. When he moved to study in Brighton seven years later at age 18 he gained a greater education from playing the city's open mic nights, on which he said, "That taught me a lot about writing and performing on my own and trying to hold my own". "I'm trying to make songs that make people feel something, and if I'm lucky, even move them,". Bay caught the attention of a Republic Records A&R after a fan uploaded a video to YouTube of him performing at an open mic in London, and within a week he was signed to the label. His first EP, The Dark of the Morning, was released in 2013. Within a year he was selling out his first UK headline tour.

Career

Bay released his debut extended play, The Dark of the Morning, on 18 July 2013. His second EP, Let It Go, was released on 12 May 2014. The Let It Go EP debuted in the top 10 iTunes album chart and the lead single, titled "Let It Go", peaked at number 10 in the UK charts. Bay has performed live on the Burberry runway and has also recorded a Burberry Acoustic session. Bay toured with Hozier in 2014.

Bay recorded his entire debut studio album Chaos and the Calm at Blackbird Studios in Nashville, with producer Jacquire King. It debuted at number one in the UK charts and has been certified platinum. His single, "Hold Back The River" peaked at number 2 in the UK charts and has been certified platinum.

Bay performed on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury Festival in June 2015.

At the 2016 Brit Awards in London on 24 February, Bay received the award for Best British Male Solo Artist, and also performed "Love Yourself" with Justin Bieber at the ceremony.

Bay recorded a cover of the Tom Petty song King's Highway for the 2017 Disney/Pixar film Cars 3. It is heard in the film and is included on the official soundtrack album.

Bay is an advocate for the international non-profit, WaterAid.

In August 2017, Bay released his fashion collection with Topman, #jamesbayxtopman.

Gear

Bay endorses and plays Tone King amplifiers, a boutique amplifier brand of Premier Builders Guild.

Discography

Studio albums

Title	Details	Peak chart positions										Certifications
		UK	AUS	AUT	BEL	GER	IRE	NLD	NZ	SWI	US
Chaos and the Calm	Released: 23 March 2015 Label: Republic Formats: CD, digital download, LP Producer: Jacquire King	1	3	2	10	3	1	5	6	1	15	BPI: 2 Platinum ARIA: Gold BVMI: Gold IFPI AUT: Gold IFPI SWI: Gold RMNZ: Gold RIAA: Gold

Extended plays

Title	Details
The Dark of the Morning	Released: 18 July 2013 Label: Universal Republic Formats: Digital download, 10"
Let It Go	Released: 12 May 2014 Label: Republic Formats: CD, digital download
Hold Back the River	Released: 21 November 2014 Label: Republic Formats: Digital download
Other Sides	Released: 13 January 2015 Label: Republic Formats: Digital download

Singles

Title	Year	Peak chart positions											Certifications	Album
		UK	AUS	AUT	BEL	GER	IRE	NLD	NZ	SWE	SWI	US
"Let It Go"	2014	10	8	45	73	22	21	15	10	82	94	16	BPI: Platinum ARIA: 2 Platinum MC: 2 Platinum RMNZ: Platinum RIAA: 2 Platinum	Chaos and the Calm
"Hold Back the River"		2	4	4	7	4	1	12	8	17	4	"?	BPI: 2 Platinum ARIA: 3 Platinum BVMI: Gold RMNZ: Platinum RIAA: Gold
"Scars"	2015	48	40	"?	"?	"?	71	"?	"?</ref>}}	"?	"?	"?	BPI: Silver
"If You Ever Want to Be in Love"		96	"?	"?	53	"?	"?	"?	"?	"?	"?	"?	BPI: Silver
"Best Fake Smile"	2016	54	"?	"?	54	"?	87	"?	"?	"?	"?	"?	BPI: Silver
"Running"		60	"?	"?	"?	"?	"?	"?	"?	"?	"?	"?
""?" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released.

Other charted songs

Title	Year	Peak chart positions	Album
		UK
"Craving"	2015	121	Chaos and the Calm
"Move Together"		171
"Incomplete"		179
"When We Were on Fire"		181

Songwriting and other appearances

Song	Year	Artist(s)	Album	Contribution
"Raging"	2016	Kygo	Cloud Nine
"Two Way"	2016	KT Tunstall	KIN
"King's Highway"	2017		Cars 3

Tours

Headlining

• Chaos and the Calm Tour (2015-16)
• Boardmasters (August 2016) - Cornwall

Opening act

• Toured with Kodaline UK and Ireland (2013)
• Toured with Hozier North America (2014)
• Taylor Swift - 1989 World Tour (Europe) (2015)

Awards and nominations

Year	Organisation	Award	Work	Result	Ref.
2015	BRIT Awards	Critics' Choice	Himself
	MTV UK	Brand New for 2015	Himself
	BBC	BBC Sound of 2015	Himself
	MTV Video Music Awards	Artist to Watch	"Hold Back the River"
	MTV Europe Music Awards	Best New Act	Himself
		Best Push Act
	GQ Men of The Year	Breakthrough Solo Artist	Himself
	Q Awards	Q Best New Act	Himself
2016	Grammy Awards	Best New Artist	Himself
		Best Rock Album	Chaos and the Calm
		Best Rock Song	"Hold Back the River"
	BRIT Awards	British Breakthrough Act	Himself
		British Male Solo Artist
		British Single of the Year	"Hold Back the River"
		British Album of the Year	Chaos and the Calm
	Echo Music Prize	Best International Newcomer	Himself
	Ivor Novello Awards	Most Performed Work	"Hold Back the River"
	Q Awards	Q Best Solo Artist	Himself