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James Marriott (musician)

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James Marriott
Marriott performing in London, 2024
Background information
Birth nameJames William Marriott
Born (1997-07-07) 7 July 1997 (age 27)
Switzerland
GenresIndie rock
Occupations
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Years active2012–present
Websitejamesmarriottmusic.com
Twitch information
Channel
Years active2019–present
Followers378,000
YouTube information
Channel
Subscribers2 million[1]
Total views220 million[1]
100,000 subscribers
  • 2018
  • 2021
  • 2022
1,000,000 subscribers2019
Signature
Last updated: 13 March 2024

James William Marriott (born 7 July 1997) is an English musician, YouTuber and Twitch streamer. Born in Switzerland, Marriott grew up in Buckinghamshire, England and first became interested in music after attending an ABBA tribute concert as a child. After uploading videos of his instrumental acoustic music, he attracted attention after diversifying into caustic YouTube commentary videos and Twitch livestreams. A debut single, "Slow Down", was released in May 2020, followed by the extended plays (EPs) No Left Brain and Bitter Tongues. He released his debut album Are We There Yet? in 2023, which charted at number 17 on the UK Albums Chart. Marriott cites Foals and the Strokes as major influences, and his music is generally described as indie rock.

Life and career

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Early life and social media

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James William Marriott[2] was born in Switzerland on 7 July 1997 but grew up in Buckinghamshire, England.[3] Marriott was interested in music from a young age and his father was a pianist.[4] In 2008, he began attending Bishop Wordsworth's School[5] and uploading animations online; by 2012, he had diversified into uploading videos of his instrumental acoustic work.[3][6] He went on to study modern languages at University College London, spending six months of the course in Granada, Spain, to foster a trilingual proficiency in Spanish and Portuguese alongside his native language, English.[3]

While at university, Marriott attracted attention for his YouTube channel as a commentator on popular culture and music,[3] for which he attracted over two million subscribers; in an interview with Dork, he described his content during this period as "taking the piss out of other YouTubers' music".[4] In 2020, during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Marriott took part in a YouTube group, "the Eboys", one member being frequent collaborator WillNE. They hosted a podcast of the same name,[7] and Marriott later gained a following as a live streamer on Twitch.[4][8]

No Left Brain, Bitter Tongues and Are We There Yet?

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Marriott released his first single, the yacht rock-inspired, "Slow Down", in May 2020,[3] though he later expressed his disdain for the song[4] and even called it "horrendous".[9] He then released the single "Him", which appeared on his January 2021 extended play (EP) No Left Brain,[10] which was more guitar-based.[3] In July 2021, Marriott released the single "Wake Up!", which GoldenPlec described as a combination of "angsty alt-rock" and indie rock,[11] and in 2022 he released the single "Grapes", a take on developing into young adulthood,[12] and then his second EP, Bitter Tongues.[4] The EP depicts his experiences with heartbreak, sexuality, love, and his creative persona on social media.[13]

James Marriott, performing with Lovejoy, 2023 at Electric Brixton

In March 2023, Marriott announced his debut album Are We There Yet?,[8] joined Jake Bugg in his Royal Albert Hall performance[14] for the Teenage Cancer Trust,[15] and supported Lovejoy on tour.[16] In May 2023, he performed at Brighton's annual Great Escape Festival,[3][4] and later that month, it was announced that he would support Lewis Capaldi in an acoustic set in June 2023,[17][18] though Capaldi later cancelled the gig due to poor mental health.[19] He then released the singles "So Long" and "Romanticise This", the latter a deeply personal track about suicidal ideation.[4]

Thereafter, Marriott performed at the Reading and Leeds Festivals in August,[20][21] at which he debuted "Don't Blame Me", which was released officially in October 2023.[22] That month saw Marriott perform his first ever Australian tour dates; two shows in Sydney and Melbourne.[23] In November, he announced dates for a UK and European tour,[24] and released Are We There Yet?,[14] whose name was taken from a regular utterance of his during family road trips and which narrates a hypothetical return to Spain.[25] It charted at number 17 on the UK Albums Chart[26] and was produced and written in close collaboration with guitarist and keyboardist Jono Suter of Marriott's live band, as well as Aleksi Kiiskinen.[6][27] In February 2024, Marriott was announced to be playing at the annual Reading and Leeds Festivals on the BBC Radio 1 stage,[28] as well as performing on the Big Top stage at the Isle of Wight Festival later in June 2024.[29]

Artistry

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Marriott initially "fell head over heels in love with music" after attending an ABBA tribute concert with family as a child.[30] His early guitar work was inspired by Rodrigo y Gabriela, a flamenco and metal music duo. Marriott later deemed the guitar in his music as a "priority", and said he often sits down with an Epiphone Casino whenever emotions hit.[14] In an August 2023 interview with Dork, Marriott cited the Strokes, Bloc Party, Foals, and Kelly Clarkson as influences, the latter for her "in your fucking face" vocal production, and stated that many of his inspirations came from video games he played, describing his music as "somewhere between Guitar Hero 3: Legends of Rock and any FIFA soundtrack between '06 and '13".[4] He also stated that he likes "having choruses that feel Sam Fender-y",[30] a name that Clash's Robbin Murray used to describe his lyricism.[12] Marriott also cites Jacob Collier, as having "an interesting way of writing melodies" and wants crowds at his shows to feel like how he did when seeing Delta Sleep perform "The Detail".[9] Marriott also noted that a Dodie concert he attended "made [him] fall in love with having a string quartet over indie music".[30] Speaking to the Official Charts Company, Marriott compared his song "Denial" to Biffy Clyro's "Mountains" and The 1975's "Sex."[31] James Wilkinson of AllMusic wrote that Marriott produced "Foals- and Strokes-inspired indie rock."[3]

Members

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James Marriott (centre), performing at The Garage, 2023, with band members (L–R) Horsley, Gavin, Shakoori and Suter
  • James Marriott – vocals, guitar

Live members

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  • Jago Shakoori – drums (2021–present)[6]
  • Matt Gavin – guitar (2021–present)[6]
  • Jono Suter – guitar, keyboard (2021–present)[6]
  • Samuel Horsley – bass guitar (2021–present)[6]
  • Louis Salanson – guitar, percussion, tracks (2023–present)[6]

Discography

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James Marriott discography
Studio albums1
EPs2
Singles8
Music videos15

Albums

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List of albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart
positions
UK
[26] 		UK Indie
[26] 		SCO
[26]
Are We There Yet?
  • Released: 10 November 2023[32]
  • Format: CD, digital, LP
  • Label: Independent
 17 2 14

EPs

[edit]
List of EPs, with selected details
Title Details
No Left Brain
  • Released: 15 January 2021[33]
  • Format: Digital
  • Label: Independent
Bitter Tongues
  • Released: 24 June 2022[33]
  • Format: Digital
  • Label: Independent

Singles

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Title Year Album Video director(s) Ref.
"Slow Down" 2020 Non-album single — [33]
"Him" 2021 No Left Brain Thomas Pearson; James Marriott [33][34]
"Wake Up!" Non-album single Will Dawson
"Gold" Bitter Tongues Ted Nivison
"Sleeping On Trains" 2022 James Marriott
"So Long" 2023 Are We There Yet? Kieran Wall
"Romanticise This" Maya Katherine; Orr Piamenta
"Don't Blame Me" James Marriott

Tours

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Headlining

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  • Bitter/UK Tour (2023)[8][35]
  • Australia Tour (2023)[23]
  • Are We There Yet? Tour (2024)[36]
  • Summer ‘24 Tour (2024)[37]

Supporting

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "About James Marriott". YouTube.
  2. ^ "Marriott James William". ASCAP. Archived from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Wilkinson, James. "James Marriott Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 18 February 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Firth, Abigail (1 August 2023). "James Marriott Is the Biggest Dork We Know". Dork. Archived from the original on 6 August 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  5. ^ Blake, Morwenna (3 March 2014). "Bishop's boys interview PCC". Salisbury Journal. Archived from the original on 19 February 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Caddick, Daniel (13 July 2023). "One on One: An Interview With James Marriott!". Hive Magazine. Archived from the original on 4 March 2024. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  7. ^ O'Driscoll, Aoife (21 April 2023). "YouTuber Memeulous: 'I'm better off not showing my face'". Varsity. Archived from the original on 17 February 2024. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  8. ^ a b c Longmore, Annaleece (13 March 2023). "James Marriott: Musician exclusively reveals new album after show at Sheffield's Leadmill". ShefLive. Archived from the original on 13 March 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  9. ^ a b Warner, Emily (8 November 2023). "Interview W/ James Marriott: 'It feels like you're dipping your soul into something'!". Boot - - - Music. Archived from the original on 18 February 2024.
  10. ^ Harris, Ellie (19 February 2021). "EP Review: James Marriott – No Left Brain". Redbrick. Archived from the original on 19 February 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  11. ^ Conway, Orla (6 July 2021). "James Marriott Releases Wake Up!". GoldenPlec. Archived from the original on 6 July 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  12. ^ a b Murray, Robin (29 July 2022). "James Marriott's New Single 'Grapes' Is A Playful Take On Adulthood". Clash. Archived from the original on 1 August 2022. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  13. ^ "Exclusive Booking Agency for James Marriott". Wasserman. Archived from the original on 29 July 2024. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  14. ^ a b c Hansen, Susan (27 December 2023). "'This Overwhelming Feeling': James Marriott Interviewed". Clash. Archived from the original on 26 January 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  15. ^ Krol, Charlotte (23 February 2023). "Jake Bugg announced for Teenage Cancer Trust at the Royal Albert Hall". NME. Archived from the original on 3 February 2024. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  16. ^ "Lovejoy - Sold Out". Electric Brixton. Archived from the original on 26 January 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  17. ^ "Lewis Capaldi and James Marriott announce intimate gig at The Wardrobe ahead of Leeds Festival". ITV News. 23 May 2023. Archived from the original on 24 May 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  18. ^ Skinner, Tom (23 May 2023). "Lewis Capaldi announces intimate Reading & Leeds warm-up show". NME. Archived from the original on 23 May 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  19. ^ "Lewis Capaldi cancels intimate Leeds gig at The Wardrobe as he tells fans he needs to 'rest and recover'". Yorkshire Evening Post. 6 June 2023. Archived from the original on 26 January 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  20. ^ Muir, Jamie (26 August 2023). "James Marriot Proves He's Main Stage Material at Reading 2023". Dork. Archived from the original on 17 November 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  21. ^ Wilkes, Emma (28 April 2023). "Mae Stephens, Cordae, Venbee and more among 20 new names for Reading & Leeds 2023". NME. Archived from the original on 19 February 2024. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  22. ^ Taylor, Sam (20 October 2023). "James Marriott has shared a new cut from his upcoming debut album – check out break-up song, 'Don't Blame Me'". Dork. Archived from the original on 20 October 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  23. ^ a b "James Marriott Australia Tour 2023". Untitled Group. Archived from the original on 17 July 2023. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  24. ^ Taylor, Sam (3 November 2023). "James Marriott has confirmed dates for his Are We There Yet? UK and EU tour". Dork. Archived from the original on 15 December 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  25. ^ "Breakthrough Music Star James Marriott Talks to Dscene". Dscene. 7 December 2023. Archived from the original on 27 January 2024. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  26. ^ a b c d "James Marriott UK Chart History". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 23 January 2024. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  27. ^ Marriott, James William [@JamesMarriottYT] (11 February 2024). "Someone mention Jono Suter and Aleksi Kiiskinen as prominent writers/producers for Are We There Yet please I don't know how" (Tweet). Retrieved 2 February 2024 – via Twitter.
  28. ^ Morton, Dennis (1 February 2024). "Leeds Festival 2024: Popular music festival reveal huge line-up and poster including Renee Rapp and Pendulum". Yorkshire Evening Post. Archived from the original on 23 February 2024. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  29. ^ Johnson, Laura. "The Waeve, Noahfinnce And Beth McCarthy Join Line-Up For Isle Of Wight Festival 2024 - Stereoboard". Stereoboard.com. Archived from the original on 29 July 2024. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  30. ^ a b c Ross, Olivia (22 August 2022). "James Marriott: "I like the fact that there's levels to me on a public level"". The Indie Scene. Archived from the original on 17 February 2024. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  31. ^ Griffiths, George (14 November 2023). "James Marriott on debut album Are We There Yet?: "I don't plan on stopping"". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 18 December 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  32. ^ "Are We There Yet?". Spotify. Archived from the original on 12 April 2024. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  33. ^ a b c d "James Marriott Singles and EPs". Archived from the original on 29 July 2024. Retrieved 11 April 2024 – via Spotify.
  34. ^ "Music videos". Archived from the original on 3 February 2024. Retrieved 3 February 2024 – via YouTube.
  35. ^ Marriott, James William [@JamesMarriottYT] (17 January 2023). "My first tour" (Tweet). Retrieved 2 March 2024 – via Twitter.
  36. ^ Taylor, Sam (3 November 2023). "James Marriott Has Confirmed Dates for His Are We There Yet? UK and EU Tour". Dork. Archived from the original on 15 December 2023. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  37. ^ "Shows in Summer". Archived from the original on 29 July 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  38. ^ @livejoy (16 February 2023). "ALL SUPPORTS ANNOUNCED for Lovejoy Inselaffe Tour '23!" (Tweet). Retrieved 2 March 2024 – via Twitter.
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