Artist Research - James Bay

James Michael Bay is an English singer-songwriter and guitarist. In 2014, he released his single "Hold Back the River", which has been certified platinum, before releasing his debut studio album 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. The Let It Go EP debuted in the top 10 iTunes album chart and the lead single, titled "Let It Go", peaked at number 10 in the UK charts. 

James Bay has won two Brit Awards, one in 2015 and one in 2016. He won the Critics Choice Award and then went on to win British Male Solo Artist in 2016. James won an Echo Award for Best International Newcomer in 2016. 

Aged 11, Bay was inspired to dust down the classical guitar lurking under the stairs of his family home after hearing Eric Clapton's Layla. When he moved to study in Brighton seven years later he gained a greater education from playing the city's open mic nights. 

Bay caught the attention of a Republic Records A&R after a fan uploaded a video of him performing to YouTube, and within a week he was signed to the same label that supports Florence and the Machine, Lorde and James Blake. His first EP, The Dark of the Morning, was released in 2013. Within a year he was selling out his first UK headline tour.