How did 18-year-old Eran James go from a backyard-produced album of covers to the BIG lights and BIGGER names of New York City? The soul sensation talks about his journey…
The (First) Big Break: I was singing at a talent quest when I was 10. They played my backing track and I started singing, but then my backing track stopped. It wasn’t working, so I went off. Then they thought they had the issue sorted out, so they brought me back on stage. So, track starts playing, I start singing, track stops – again. This time though, I just kept singing the whole thing all the way through. It was sort of embarrassing at that age because you think, ‘What’s going on?’ But I just kept singing a cappella the whole song. It ended up winning the whole show and all the awards. So, it was sort of embarrassing, but it turned out alright.
The Big Title: From the first meeting we knew what the record was going to be called – 10 Songs About Love. We didn’t have any tracks down. We hadn’t written any tracks. We didn’t even have the title track. We started this whole album with the title and we based it around that title, instead of writing an album and then coming up with a title.
The Big Apple: It’s kind of mindblowing to get the opportunity to record the second album in New York. I think recording the album in New York definitely added a different quality and a different sound. I would say there is more of an international feel on the record.
The Big Names: I was working with Norah Jones’s producer Jay Newland on the record, which you think about it, I’m working with these big guns. So I wondered what are they going to think – I’m only this young dude. But they were all very humble, all very cool cats. The musicians were just real people who enjoy making music, just like we do here in Australia.
The Big Time: I can’t say I’ve hit the bit time, but I’m doing what I love doing. I have so many years ahead of me, so I’m just taking my time and enjoying the journey. It’s not about the dollars. I just do music because I love it. I love singing. I love performing. And I see myself doing this for the rest of my life.
