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Performing as a singer, songwriter, drummer and guitarist since the age of 14, now at 21 Alastair is constantly busy playing gigs in London and all over the UK. We meet at Mojo’s Music Cafe to talk, ahead of appearances as part of the Tom Townsend Revue at the Stephen Joseph Theatre (SJT), and at Bridlington’s Pavilion Bar.

I read that one of the first songs you ever performed was Ben Harper’s She’s Only Happy in the Sun, at Cellars Open mic in 2006. What does it mean to you now to be coming back to Scarborough to perform with Tom Townsend at the SJT?

I first saw Tom when I was about 11, at Scholars, my parents took me along and it was amazing. I didn’t play guitar then, but I’d just started learning the drums. I went to watch him for years, followed him around really! He really inspired me, particularly when I started guitar too. He’s got such great musicality. I’ve played with him on a few occasions, he played drums in my band a couple of times and I got the chance to play drums with his Blues Band once, that was a sudden moment of thinking, wow, I’ve come full circle… I always enjoy performing with Tom. I’ve played at a few of the ‘Musicafe’ nights at the SJT, and last year was a support act for Tom. It’s great to be actually performing with him there this time – we haven’t had a full band rehearsal yet but it’s going to be really good, Tom, Paul Tilley and my brother Robert got together last night for a session and it was great fun!

And will we be lucky enough to see you put in an appearance at Cellars open mic for old times’ sake?!

It’s quite likely – I’m often down there!

Edwina Hayes described you by saying,“His songwriting is exceptional, his guitar playing and voice are gorgeous, and along with a wonderful delivery and stage presence unusual in such a young performer he really is quite simply, brilliant.” How do you keep developing yourself to grow as a performer?

Finding new music, learning new things, watching other people – learning an instrument can be a lifetime of development and new discoveries. I’m really interested in African guitar at the moment, I have a friend in London who is unbelievable, he plays all that kind of stuff so we spent a few hours where he showed me some things, it’s a completely different approach to the guitar. Drums and guitar are my main passions but I like to occasionally attempt other things. When it comes to writing, I can be inspired by anything, and then it kind of grows like a branch on a tree… it’s quite an organic process. I do tend to write alone though, I’ve never been into co-writing, I think the way I like to work just makes it easier for me to write on my own.

Having started out at a young age yourself, is there any advice you would you give someone who might want to follow a similar path?

Just keep doing what you enjoy – keep looking for new ideas and explore all the avenues you’re interested in. Don’t listen to too much negative criticism – you can’t please everybody, but you can do what pleases you, what you enjoy. It’s easy to get too technical, but for me it’s a lot about the soul and the emotion rather than actually perfect timing or perfect pitch – the main thing is getting your soul into the songs. Tom hinted that the plan for the SJT gig is to get your songs performed, but with the full band backing.

Can you give us any other teasers about what to expect?

We’re doing three of my songs, including a new one, and my brother Robert will be playing, and then I’ll be singing one of Paul Tilley’s songs, My Favourite Moment, which is a really lovely song.

And after Scarborough, you’re on the road again – a few dates in Yorkshire, alongside London and Nottingham.

This year and last year I’ve mainly been in London, I lived there for a while and made some connections, but I didn’t want to be tied to London, I want to travel around, expand my horizons but keep regular London gigs. In late June I hope to sort a little Northern tour – starting Scarborough at the Cask /Sigma, finer details are being arranged including the support act, and I’m really looking forward to it. It’s going to be mostly original material with a few great covers. My drummer from London, Johnny, he’s amazing, he’s coming up for it, and Robert will be involved. I’m also playing the Milton Rooms in Malton, a nice little 40-seater, a nice stage, dark room with tables – I’m looking to find more venues like that to tour to, I really like those small gigs where the sound is nice and it’s quite intimate. The Round stage at the SJT is nice for that too, good energy in the room with the audience around and above you. I don’t have management, I do most of the booking and promoting work myself – I do enjoy being in control and it’s good to understand both sides of the livelihood. It’s hard work but as the years go on, you meet more people and hopefully it keeps growing! There is nothing else I want to do, so as long as I can make a living from it, I’m happy this way – it’s a good journey to go on. I sometimes think if you go on one of these talent shows, you skip so much of the journey, you’re never going to have the amazing stories to tell later on like the Rolling Stones or anything, are you?!

So do you have any wild stories to tell?

Not so much of the wild, but I slept on the streets in Ipswich once…! I was supporting Ryan Kean (*currently touring himself, and also supporting Leona Lewis on tour) so had travelled to Ipswich as cheaply as possible. Our return bus was at 5am, so we thought we’d be able to hang out in Ipswich until the small hours then go and catch it. Everywhere was closed though, we couldn’t find anywhere! Also, it wasn’t a proper bus station, just an open area, so we went round the streets for a while, found some piles of newspapers delivered to stores that were yet to open and grabbed them to keep warm! I slept in a cajon bag! It was so cold, and it was hallowe’en. That was probably one of the hardest nights I’ve gone through – though thankfully I can look back on it and laugh now. I do appreciate my bed since then! I imagine as time goes on I’ll have a few more tales to tell.

See Alastair at 8pm Sigma/ The Cask, 28th June.

For more information on Alastair’s other tour dates, check out www.alastairjames.co.uk or www.facebook.com/alastairjamesmusic

 https://soundcloud.com/alastair-james

https://play.spotify.com/artist/0Zt9XQKOrgzO3aXWmGXunL

Twitter – @Alastair_James