Biography
Tyler James is British pop?s unlikely lad. Against the odds, he got himself noticed. Against conventional wisdom, this guy who looks like a male model is one of the brightest new talents in years. And in spite of being only 22, he sings with an unwavering authority more suited to a songwriter twice his age. He can do it without being a slave to anyone else?s style, and he?s done it all himself. No silver spoons. No rich uncles. No mates in the business. Just a genuine, old fashioned talent for making music. Tyler grew up in a house full of women, allowing his mum, aunts and sisters to take over the stereo. The James household throbbed to Motown, Stevie Wonder, The Supremes, Marvin Gaye and Bob Marley. His older sister added new Jill swing to the equation while Tyler himself took on board some Babyface and Boyz II Men while retaining ultimate faith in what he calls "old time classic stuff" - from Sinatra to Holland Dozier Holland. The musical momentum from that vibrant East End household, where Tyler's stepdad helped out with some education in the ways of jazz, was backed up by visits to Tyler?s real dad, a musician with a home studio where Tyler made his first songwriting attempts.
Already hailed as a superstar in waiting by NME, in 2002, The Face was billing Tyler as ?the British answer to Justin Timberlake?, noting that his sound was ?utterly unlike anything on the pop landscape?. Jettisoning big name producers in favour of his mates Mathew Marston, Blair Mackichan and Mushtaq, Tyler concentrated on what he was best at, writing songs. That?s when Tyler?s music really started coming together, with an extra dimension added to the tunes by two of America's finest producers - Commissioner Gordon (Lauryn Hill) and Track & Field. (Nelly Furtado). A recording contract with Island Records followed and Tyler began working on what was to become his debut album, the tentatively titled ?The Unlikely Lad?, penciled for an early 2005 release. The album finds Tyler finally singing with a depth and confidence to tell the truth about his life. But he?s put as much effort into his tunes as he has his lyrics. ?I love lyrics, but I don?t want to be a poet,? he laughs. He mentions ?Why Do I Do? as one example. ?There?s a message in that song, which I?d hope people can relate to - why do we make the same mistakes again and again? And I think the reason a lot of the best songs are bluesy is because they come out of honesty. But when people are out and they?re pissed off their heads I want people to dance to it. When I danced to ?Billie Jean? as a boy, it wasn?t because Michael was singing about not being some kid?s dad.?
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