James Dunne Interview With Colby

James Dunne stopped by for a chat!

Colby: Hello, James. It is great to meet you; firstly, what is the meaning of your new single, ‘Black Train’?

James: Hello! I think it’s a reminder to always be a better man, no matter what spanners are thrown in the works, difficulties that stand in your path, spite and venom fired at you or temptation presented at your door to distract you from the present, always fight it. I admitted my faults, and this song is about my journey to atonement and riding that Devil back to where he came from. It’s not gonna go down this time the way it has before.

Colby: What comes first for you, the lyrics or the music?

James: It all depends from song to song. I’m a nightmare, I can be out for the day with the family and we’ll be driving along and I’ll just randomly start shouting lyrics that come to me and whoever has their hands free has to find the nearest napkin, scrap envelope, pen / eyeliner pencil in blind panic and start scribbling words down before I forget them! There have been times when I wake up bolt upright at 2am when I’ve been on shift work and inspiration hits and a song pours out and writes itself. Then other days I spend hours just tinkering about on the guitar whether its playing songs I love from other artists or trying to teach myself bits and pieces from YouTube tutorials, I get off track and I find myself having an entire song down musically. So, tangent aside from your original question, I honestly can’t give you a black and white answer to this one!

Colby: What inspires you most?

James: Honest song writing. I have the upmost respect for artists that report from the ground and sing their truth no matter how ‘ugly’ or controversial. Tyler Childers is incredible at it! Honest, and I mean truly honest, unapologetic and authentic song writing is dissolving. Story telling on topics people dare not think of. There are a lot of songs with lyrical content that people ‘want to hear’ and for some people and having that escape may suit them. I’m writing for those people that don’t want sugar coated stories, I want to be that person that tells their stories, letting them know they are not alone in a struggle/hardship, in their hard circumstantial choices or sing about particular feelings perhaps they think they shouldn’t feel, letting them know it’s normal to feel that way. Some people aren’t living the Country music version of the ‘American Dream’ and they want someone to sing their truth. A real story.

Colby: What has been your most memorable moment as a musician thus far?

James: I know it doesn’t sound like much considering all the great opportunities I’ve been presented in the last 6 months, and for those I am incredibly grateful, don’t get me wrong. But it was when I played a show at a small venue called The Mole Hole back home and the crowd was singing my owns songs back to me! It was a really humbling moment.

Colby: What else do you have in store for 2023?

James: I have the release of my debut EP later in the year with the EP Launch held on 20^th May at the Dukes of Highgate London, I am featuring on a Help For Heroes Charity single, I’m going to be working with Tom Pointer of BBQ Life to release my very own signature BBQ Rub!! I also hope to be working with Producer and Song Writer Tyler Spicer. I have a few festivals on the cards (Country on the Coast, BCMA Fan Fest, Weeting Steam Rally, Live in the Living Room and a Hells Angels Poker Run Event!) and I suppose, get writing for an album!