Listen to 'A Certain Stranger' on Spotify

Twelve months ago, James O’Hurley was ready to hang up his guitar and walk away from music forever. The South London based, singer-songwriter had decided that a decade of touring and performing in various different bands and working in the live events industry had left him at a crossroads, both musically and personally.

Settling into his own fresh start, James reached for his guitar in one final act of love for the instrument that had been his companion for most of his life. “I just started playing and let what was in me come out”. In a single session James penned two extraordinary songs, ‘Wolves’ and ‘Evil’. The next day he sat down again and more songs flowed out him.

Whilst Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and Tracy Chapman are all influences, James also draws inspiration from a diverse family of artists including Mary Black, Muddy Waters, Grant Green, Luke Kelly, Nina Simone, John Martyn and Howlin’ Wolf. His openness to new sounds and directions is also reflected in his own creative process with his debut album featuring production and additional instrumentation from the likes of Erim Ahmet (of Kent Alt Rockers Salvation Jayne), Pete Briley (Pete Briley, The Outlaw Orchestra) and Graham Waller (Strike Eagle, Producer for Pete Doherty of The Libertines)…

Drawing on these resources, James has created a broad catalogue of intelligent and emotively driven songs to build a sound sometimes referred to as ‘Jimi Cash’ or ‘the Country-fied Joy Division’, but is actually built on a much deeper authenticity which is as organic as it is distinctive.

From the darkest shadows, James has emerged to stand on his own and share his music. “The last few years have been so difficult, for all of us, that this feels like a conclusion and a beginning at the same time for me personally. I’m excited to share my music, at long last.”