I actually think many of the young hopefuls who brave it enough to put themselves through the rigors of shows like X Factor and who meet an early exit, are sometimes the one’s more to keep an eye on. As if they’re hungry enough to enter such a process there must be some bigger force at play driving them to succeed. A born survival instinct maybe? There are those that dream, but to live out the dream well, that takes everything you can give. Along the way the goal-posts might shift a few times but ultimately those diamonds in the rough who forge forward undeterred by setbacks, are the ones who in the end will find a way to shine.
For emerging singer James Robb, this scenario plays true. Pretty much as most unsigned singers, YouTube covers have played a big part in establishing himself as a singer first off. Taking a leap to go forward auditioning for last year’s X Factor and making it to Bootcamp stage out of thousands, should be looked upon as an encouraging achievement.
Absolutely in the case of James Robb, the determination and desire are there to ensure that he’s very much suitable as a performance and recording artiste.
R’n’B slanted pop is the genre which best suits James’s soulfully ear-catching vocals and he’s also got the added extra on board of being very gifted in the accomplished falsetto department. Which is something I’ve personally been feeling needy of, since Nick Jonas isn’t giving me anyway near as I much as I’d like in the new tunes.
The good news is, there’s falsetto rise and falls a plenty in “Flamethrower”, James’s current release and the even better news is, that it’s a top, top tune through-out.
Actually the track is a seamless mix of styles and textures, fed in the main by piano keys, acoustic guitar, harmonica and the occasional burst of Jamie Woon-esque rhapsodic soulful electronics. A blend served so intoxicating that it draws you in on the premise you’re not so sure where it will go to next. The one constant, is James Robb’s soulful-pop ripe vox, oh and that knee weakening falsetto, yes that falsetto really does come into its own. SWOON!
Everything about “Flamethrower” tells me, this is an arrestingly striking number, and my gut instinct is guiding me to think James Robb has a whole lot more in him. I think it might be interesting to see how he might develop……so, watch this space!