James Bay (singer)

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 was 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. In May 2018, he released his second studio album, Electric Light.

Infobox

Born

James Michael Bay (1990-09-04) 4 September 1990 (age 35)Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England

Genres

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Occupations

Singer-songwriterguitarist

Instruments

Vocalsguitar

Years active

2013–present

Labels

MercuryRepublic

Spouse

mw- Lucy Smith (m. 2022)

Children

Website

jamesbay.com

Tables

· Awards and nominations

2015

Brit Awards

Role(s)

Critics' Choice

Notes

Himself

MTV UK

Role(s)

Brand New for 2015

Notes

Himself

BBC

Role(s)

BBC Sound of 2015

Notes

Himself

MTV Video Music Awards

Role(s)

Artist to Watch

Notes

"Hold Back the River"

MTV Europe Music Awards

Role(s)

Best New Act

Notes

Himself

Best Push Act

Role(s)

Nominated

GQ Men of The Year

Role(s)

Breakthrough Solo Artist

Notes

Himself

Q Awards

Role(s)

Best New Act

Notes

Himself

2016

Grammy Awards

Role(s)

Best New Artist

Notes

Himself

Best Rock Album

Role(s)

Chaos and the Calm

Notes

Nominated

Best Rock Song

Role(s)

"Hold Back the River"

Notes

Nominated

BRIT Awards

Role(s)

British Breakthrough Act

Notes

Himself

British Male Solo Artist

Role(s)

Won

British Single of the Year

Role(s)

"Hold Back the River"

Notes

Nominated

British Album of the Year

Role(s)

Chaos and the Calm

Notes

Nominated

Echo Music Prize

Role(s)

Best International Newcomer

Notes

Himself

Ivor Novello Awards

Role(s)

Most Performed Work

Notes

"Hold Back the River"

Q Awards

Role(s)

Best Solo Artist

Notes

Himself

2019

GAFFA-Prisen Awards

Role(s)

Best International Artist

Notes

Nominated

Best International Album

Role(s)

Electric Light

Notes

Nominated

Year	Organisation	Award	Work	Result	Ref.
2015	Brit Awards	Critics' Choice	Himself	Won
	MTV UK	Brand New for 2015	Himself	Nominated
	BBC	BBC Sound of 2015	Himself	Nominated
	MTV Video Music Awards	Artist to Watch	"Hold Back the River"	Nominated
	MTV Europe Music Awards	Best New Act	Himself	Nominated
	MTV Europe Music Awards	Best Push Act	Himself	Nominated
	GQ Men of The Year	Breakthrough Solo Artist	Himself	Won
	Q Awards	Best New Act	Himself	Won
2016	Grammy Awards	Best New Artist	Himself	Nominated
		Best Rock Album	Chaos and the Calm	Nominated
		Best Rock Song	"Hold Back the River"	Nominated
	BRIT Awards	British Breakthrough Act	Himself	Nominated
		British Male Solo Artist	Himself	Won
		British Single of the Year	"Hold Back the River"	Nominated
		British Album of the Year	Chaos and the Calm	Nominated
	Echo Music Prize	Best International Newcomer	Himself	Won
	Ivor Novello Awards	Most Performed Work	"Hold Back the River"	Won
	Q Awards	Best Solo Artist	Himself	Won
2019	GAFFA-Prisen Awards	Best International Artist	Himself	Nominated
2019	GAFFA-Prisen Awards	Best International Album	Electric Light	Nominated

References

"Songwriter/Composer: BAY JAMES MICHAEL"
http://repertoire.bmi.com/Catalog.aspx?detail=writerid&page=1&fromrow=1&torow=25&keyid=1349658&subid=0
The Irish Times
https://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/ontherecord/2012/11/29/new-music-kimberly-anne-james-bay-little-bear/
"BBC Introducing – On the playlist: James Bay"
https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/introducing/posts/On-the-playlist-James-Bay-Let-It-Go
The Comet
https://web.archive.org/web/20200607174540/https://www.thecomet.net/what-s-on/music/hitchin-guitarist-one-to-watch-says-emi-boss-1-348547
"Brit Awards 2015: Winners list". BBC. Retrieved 26 February 2015
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-30839967
"Brit Awards 2016: Adele dominates with four awards"
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-35656227
Billboard
https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/features/6738196/british-singer-james-bay-conquering-america-classic-rock
Independent.co.uk
https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/james-bay-interview-solo-artist-guitar-i-can-only-write-so-many-weepie-little-bedroom-songs-10121453.html?amp
"James Bay: What I know about women"
https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/james-bay-what-i-know-about-women-20180712-p4zqz6.html
"Who is James Bay?"
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/new-music/11271254/James-Bay-Brits-Critics-Choice-2015.html
irishmirror
https://web.archive.org/web/20151031135132/http://www.irishmirror.ie/whats-on/music/modest-james-bay-not-carried-6605055
Newcastle United F.C
https://www.nufc.co.uk/news/latest-news/the-atmosphere-was-incredible-in-there-james-bay-on-uniteds-win-at-spurs/
Her
https://web.archive.org/web/20140911203109/http://www.her.ie/entertainment/a-name-to-remember-james-bay-is-one-voice-that-you-just-wont-forget/
Music-News.com
https://www.music-news.com/news/UK/84021/Read
"James Bay, artist"
http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/james%20bay/
Glamour Magazine UK
https://web.archive.org/web/20150106100711/http://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/news/celebrity/2014/09/15/who-is-james-bay-burberry-fashion-show-introduction-singer
Sound of Boston
https://soundofboston.com/painted-faces-fantastic-pipes-james-bay/
NME
https://www.nme.com/news/various-artists/81680
"James Bay, Chaos and the Calm, Album - bpi"
https://web.archive.org/web/20180315133328/https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/13205-4002-2
"Official Singles Chart Top 100 (29 March 2015 – 4 April 2015). Official Charts. Retrieved 21 July 2015
http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20150329/7501/
BPI
https://www.bpi.co.uk/brit-certified/
The Telegraph
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/glastonbury/11697251/James-Bay-review.html
"Electric Light by James Bay"
https://music.apple.com/us/album/electric-light/1354016490
Billboard
https://www.billboard.com/music/james-bay
www.officialcharts.com
https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-chart/20180525/7502/
inews.co.uk
https://inews.co.uk/culture/james-bay-interview-new-album-electric-light-wild-love-review-image/
NME
https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/james-bay-electric-light-review
"James Bay, Alicia Keys - Us (The Voice 2018)"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ss-tNM2NXd0
"James Bay - Peer Pressure (Audio) ft. Julia Michaels"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gc8EPDTF4Ho
James Bay's Beautifully Heartbreaking 'Oh My Messy Mind' EP
https://atwoodmagazine.com/jbmm-james-bay-oh-my-messy-mind-ep/
"James Bay on new single 'Chew On My Heart'"
https://www.nme.com/music-interviews/james-bay-chew-on-my-heart-new-album-brandon-flowers-tyler-creator-2703290
Rolling Stone
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/james-bay-chew-on-my-heart-1028347/
NME
https://www.nme.com/news/music/music-venue-trust-launches-save-our-venues-campaign-2654484
Instagram
Variety
https://variety.com/2022/music/news/republic-relaunches-mercury-records-post-malone-1235230034/
NME
https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/james-bay-leap-review-3262367
Guitar World
https://www.guitarworld.com/features-news-interviews/chaos-and-calm-james-bay-talks-songwriting-opening-stones-and-more/%0924583
Epiphone
https://www.epiphone.com/Products/Electrics/Archtop/Ltd-Ed-James-Bay-Signature-1966-Century-Outfit.aspx
"Hitchin singer James Bay marries childhood sweetheart of 15 years"
https://www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/whats-on/hitchin-singer-james-bay-marries-7468171.amp
Peoplemag
https://people.com/parents/james-bay-welcomes-first-baby-daughter-ada-violet/
James Bay
https://web.archive.org/web/20151123193728/http://www.jamesbay.com/news/chaos-and-the-calm-tour-dates-announced/
NME
https://www.nme.com/news/music/james-bay-announces-new-album-single-uk-world-tour-dates-2256890/
NME
https://www.nme.com/news/music/james-bay-announces-new-uk-tour-and-shares-moving-video-for-one-life-3230151
MTV UK
https://www.mtv.co.uk/news/1c4kzf/taylor-swift-announces-james-bay-and-vance-joy-as-support-for-1989-tour
Independent.co.uk
https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/rolling-stones-tour-2018-uk-liam-gallagher-florence-machine-vaccines-james-bay-elbow-a8317611.html
officialcharts.com
https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/ed-sheerans-2019-uk-and-european-tour-support-acts-announced-as-the-darkness-james-bay-and-zara-larsson__25455/
"Critic's Choice Winner Announced"
https://web.archive.org/web/20200919161312/https://www.brits.co.uk/news/critics-choice-winner-announced
"MTV's Brand New For 2015 Nominees announced"
https://www.mtv.co.uk/news/ysqv25/mtv-brand-new-for-2015-nominees-revealed
"BBC Music Sound of 2015 longlist revealed"
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-30250416
BBC News
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-30696624
Billboard
https://www.billboard.com/articles/events/vma/6634773/2015-mtv-vma-nominees
GQ
https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/james-bay-breakthrough-solo-artist-gq-men-of-the-year-awards-2015
Q
https://web.archive.org/web/20160805024407/http://www.qthemusic.com/12385/q-awards-2015-tom-jones-james-bay-video/
"James Bay wins the ECHO for International Newcomer"
https://web.archive.org/web/20160414184045/http://www.echopop.de/pop-gewinner-2016/pop-verborgen-2016/pop-newcomer-international-2016/
"Winners Announced for the 61st Ivor Novello Awards"
https://web.archive.org/web/20160523012357/http://theivors.com/the-ivors-2016/
London Evening Standard
https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/celebrity-news/q-awards-2016-muse-bastille-and-james-bay-win-big-as-madness-enter-hall-of-fame-a3385746.html
gaffa.dk
https://gaffa.dk/nyhed/135917/gaffa-prisen-og-vinderne-er