Aaron James

Aaron James was born and raised in Dublin. Music played an important role in his early life, his father was renowned locally for his magnificent tenor voice; in addition as the youngest of three boys, in a family of five children, Aaron grew up listening to the music of his siblings - The Eurythmics, Queen, The Police, Pink Floyd, Christy Moore, Peter Gabriel, George Michael, Clannad, Brian Ferry and of course U2.

In 1985 Aaron was profoundly affected by two things which set him on the road to becoming a musician. The first was the song “In A Lifetime” by Bono and Clannad, for Aaron it stood out head and shoulders above anything else he was hearing. 1985 was also the year of Live Aid, like millions of others the young Aaron sat glued to the television, he felt the power of music and there was no turning back.

Aaron started to develop his own musical taste listening to bands like Pearl Jam, Radiohead, REM, and he never stopped listening to the masterful Pink Floyd and U2. His late teens were typical, a period of having lots to say but not knowing how to say it, whereas musicians seemed to be able to get across so much of what he wanted to say. Around this time, Aaron discovered he had a voice, gained confidence and began to perform singing in bars and at parties.

At the age of 20 Aaron decided he needed to broaden his horizons and left Ireland for Australia where he met his first love; with Julienne he discovered the great Jeff Buckley – “Grace” was a particular favourite “He sang as if he and his partner were King and Queen of the world”.

The following year Aaron arrived home without Julienne and broken hearted; it was now that he truly found his voice and the words to go with it, he felt he had something significant to say. He started writing – Barry Devlin from “Horslips” heard his songs and started to guide him. Aaron recorded his debut album “Distance Between” working with producer Ciaran Byrne who worked with U2 in Windmill Lane. Ciaran helped put together a band of some if Ireland’s best session musicians; drummer Liam Brady and bass player James Benner Hasset (Van Morrison, Paul Brady), keyboard player Gavin Murphy (Gavin Friday), and guitarist Bill Shanley (Paul Brady, Mary Black and Ray Davies). The album was mastered by Aidan Foley. Barry Devlin put him in contact with his manager Shay Hennessy who signed Aaron to a publishing deal.

Aaron has been working at his music for over 10 years and as a prolific writer he has also been active on the gig circuit performing at singer songwriter nights around the country, he has sung with Mundy, played support to The Hothouse Flowers, John Spillane and Aslan as well as his own gig in Whelan’s, The Roisin Dubh and The Quays Pub in Galway. In 2006 he won the award for Best Song Arrangment for his song 'Carry Me Through', at the prestigious televised Italian Global Song and Performance Showcase Festival in Naples.

“Heartfelt Message” and “Comfort Me” (including a remix by Mark Murphy from The Devlins), have been released as singles. Both songs are taken from Aaron's self penned debut album “Distance Between” which will be released in September this year.