Singer-songwriter, James M Carson, has been carefully crafting his songs and developmig his personal style since 2006 . Not unlike music from the hills of 70s Laurel Canyon, Carson's songs evoke shadows of simpler times when the quest for melody was king. James has been influenced by the melodic melancholy and intimate lyricism of singer songwriters like Elliott Smith and Jeff Buckley but equally entranced by the power pop hooks of bands such as Big Star and Teenage Fanclub, as well as their grunge admirers, Nirvana. You can also hear the influence of alt-coutry and americana due to his love of Wilco, Ryan Adams, The Byrds and Jonathan Wilson.

His debut EP, Sold As Scene, was released in 2014 to an overwhelming response from independent music reviewers in their magazines and online blogs including: No More Devision, The Unsigned Guide, Manchester City Life, Liverpool Acoustic, Stitched Sound and United Artists.

The Unsigned Guide:

"The clarity and soothing soul of James's voice is what really makes you sit up and pay attention."

No More Devision:

"Sold As Scene, is a wonder... anyone with ears will love this EP.”

Stitched Sound:

“an incredible singer and instrumentalist, able to tell stories though his music”

It also received love and support from several radio stations around the world including, Sideways Through Sound (AU), KBYD (US), Scrub Radio (US), Lonely Oak Radio (US), ALL FM (UK), FAB Radio (UK), Bolton FM (UK), RKC (FR), who all aired songs from the EP repeatedly and Real XS FM (UK), who featured James as one of their “future classic” artists.

In 2016 he picked up support slots for The Blutones’ Mark Morriss, The Magic Numbers and Nick Harper. He was also invited to play for Bob Harris and a panel of Grammy wining songwriters from Nashvile at a Bluebird Cafe themed songwriters workshop.

BBC Radio 2's, "Whispering" Bob Harris:

"Wow, what a voice and what a guitar player! I can hear the influence of John Martyn and Bert Jansch in his playing."

Grammy winning Songwriter, Don Henry:

"He's a great songwritter, he reminds me of a young Stephen Stills."

2017 will see the release of James’ follow up to his debit EP. It will be an albums worth of material split across two separate EPs most likely named Volume 1 & 2. It will be of a similar vein to the debut EP, dealing with the same issues and referencing the same influences, but this time around there will be much more of a full band feel and a lot more distorted guitar. A preview of one of the more mellower tracks from the new work, Beneath The Constellations, was recently shared with BBC radio Manchester, who loved the track so much they played it on their Introducing show that very day.

BBC Introducing Manchester:

“This song gives me goosebumps."

If you like melodic, lyrical storytelling, then Carson has it in abundance and he delivers it through intricate guitar playing and a sweet and distinctive vocal… or so people have said.