James Bay was born to Jill, a former fashion illustrator for Marie Claire, and Nick Bay, a wine merchant.[7][8] He has an older brother named Alex.[9] Bay's parents brought him up in Hitchin, Hertfordshire where he attended Hitchin Boys' School. Aged 11, Bay was inspired to play classical guitar after hearing Eric Clapton's "Layla".[10] He used an old rusty guitar with five strings he found in a cupboard in his house.[11] Bay is a supporter of Newcastle United F.C.[12]
When he moved to study in Brighton at the British and Irish Modern Music Institute seven years later at age 18 he played 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 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 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.[10]
Career
2013–2017: Career beginnings and Chaos and the Calm
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.[13] The Let It Go EP debuted in the top 10 iTunes album chart[14] and the lead single, titled "Let It Go", peaked at number 10 in the UK charts.[15] Bay has performed live on the Burberry runway and has also recorded a Burberry Acoustic session.[16] He toured with Hozier in 2014.[17]
Bay recorded his entire debut studio album Chaos and the Calm at Blackbird Studios in Nashville, with producer Jacquire King.[18] It debuted at number one in the UK charts and has been certified X2 platinum.[19] His single "Hold Back the River" peaked at number 2 in the UK charts and was certified X3 platinum.[20][21]
Bay performing in 2016
In January 2015, Bay released his fourth EP, Other Sides. He performed on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury Festival in June 2015.[22] At the 2016 Brit Awards in London on 24 February, he received the award for Best British Male Solo Artist, and also performed "Love Yourself" with Justin Bieber at the ceremony.[6] Bay recorded a cover of the Beatles song "Hey Bulldog" for the 2016 TV series Beat Bugs. He 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.
2018–2019: Electric Light
Bay released his second studio album, Electric Light, on 18 May 2018.[23] It peaked at number 2 on the UK Albums Chart and 21 on the US Billboard 200.[24][25] The album has notable pop and R&B influences,[26] and was noted for its "hip hop style spoken-word skits" during intervals.[27] The lead single, "Wild Love", was released on 8 February 2018, and peaked at 39 on the UK Singles Chart and 17 on the US Adults Top 40. Bay released a duet version of the album's third single, "Us", performed on The Voice with Alicia Keys in May 2018.[28]
Bay released a single, "Peer Pressure", on February 22, 2019, featuring artist Julia Michaels.[29] On 10 May 2019, he released his third EP, Oh My Messy Mind, the first record of his to be immediately released on streaming.[30] On the same day, the single "Bad" was released.
2020–present: Leap
In the spring of 2020, Bay began making his third studio album in Nashville at the historic RCA Studio A alongside producer Dave Cobb, and collaborated with Brandon Flowers of the Killers during recording.[31] He released the single "Chew On My Heart" in July 2020.[32] Later that month, he streamed a live performance in support of the #SaveOurVenues campaign, to support efforts against the economic threat posed to grassroots venues during the COVID-19 pandemic.[33][34]
He released his third album, Leap on 8 July 2022.[35]
Gear
Bay endorses and plays Tone King amplifiers, a boutique amplifier brand of Premier Builders Guild.[36]
In 2017, he released his Epiphone Signature "1966" Century Outfit, an accurate recreation of his customized 1966 Epiphone Century guitar which has James Bay's "Hat Man" logo on the headstock and custom strap.[37]
Personal life
Bay has been in a relationship with music promoter Lucy Smith since he was 16 years old.[38][39] The couple have a daughter named Ada Violet Bay who was born in October 2021.[40] They were married in August 2022.[41]
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