MEDICINE”Â
WATCH VIDEO HEREMedicine” today. The track is boldly autobiographical and is the very first song James wrote during his first writing session for his upcoming new album. Watch “Medicine” HERE.
James says: “Medicine” is an uplifting ode to self, to relationships, to community and connection, and to the healing, restorative powers of love over adversity. It is, you might say, the perfect song for spring 2021.”The last year has forced any couple to look at themselves. It held a mirror up to us all, didn’t it? And my partner was hugely supportive through that whole time. There are some pretty dark lyrics in there: “James recently dominated the airwaves with his storming collaboration with Sigala “Lasting Lover.” The track is currently in the Top 25 on Pop radio in the U.S and hit #1 airplay in the UK. Additionally, the gold-certified track “Track Wreck,” from his debut album James Arthur, YOU, alongside nine solo UK Top 40 singles. He has had two No.1 smash hits and was awarded a disc for reaching a billion streams on Spotify with “Say You Won’t Let Go,” the No.1 global hit that brought the singer-songwriter from Middlesbrough back from the edge.
MORE ABOUT JAMES’ LAST YEARThe journey to his new record began in January 2020 while James was on a European tour, and old demons began to resurface. “On stage in Madrid, I had this brutal panic attack. I’ve obviously suffered from anxiety over the years but I’d never had that before, not on stage, not it taking hold of me – to the extent that I had to get off because if I didn’t, I was gonna die. Then the next day I developed really bad flu symptoms and had to be rushed into hospital.
They found that I had a gallbladder infection, and had to remove it immediately.”Arthur spent a week in hospital in Switzerland, having canceled the tour. When he got home, he checked into Nightingale Hospital in central London, and subsequently used his new home as his place of rehab. He undertook therapy three or four times a week, embarked on a course of medication, began practicing cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), gave his gym good work out and, to relieve the pressure, canceled the American tour. By March, James was fighting fit enough for his UK arena tour. “And it was probably the best tour I’ve ever done.” But then Coronavirus and lockdown hit. By late spring, with restrictions easing, Arthur was back working.
His foresight in building a studio and investing in industry-standard recording gear paid immediate dividends. “And all of a sudden, the music started sounding great. From day one there was a sound that I wanted to go for. Even early on it sounded like a real album, a proper body of work.”