Bay’s recent performance was part of Apple Music At Home, a web series that features intimate performances of artists’ covers and original songs. Bay’s session with Apple Music can be listened to here. 

Bay explained his reasoning behind choosing Don’t Look Back in Anger and Trouble as covers, both of which are equally epic and emotive. Chatting to Apple Music, Bay explained that he grew into his love of both bands, saying “It’s funny, I didn’t really like Oasis or Coldplay as a kid. I picked up a guitar at 11 years old and wanted to be The Rolling Stones, Clapton, Hendrix.”

With a penchant for heavier rock in his youth, Bay then said “as I got deeper and deeper into songwriting and studying great songs, I came to love Oasis, Coldplay and more great modern songwriters. I totally fell in love with the music. So much so that I now sit and play their songs to myself on guitar, that’s why I chose them, they’re just so timeless and brilliant.”

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Excited to share a cover of a timeless and brilliant song! I hope you enjoy my version of @coldplay’s Trouble, out now only on @applemusic. PS, happy 20th birthday to their album Parachutes! Link in bio

A post shared by James Bay (@jamesbaymusic) on Aug 14, 2020 at 1:53am PDT

Bay’s recent session with Apple Music is one of the many ventures that the Hold Back The River hitmaker has embarked on during the global lockdown. The singer-songwriter is amongst the seven new artists selected as patrons of the Music Venue Trust. 

A registered UK charity, The Music Venue Trust (MVT) supports and protects independent music venues. During these unprecedented Covid-19 times, the MVT is a vital cause dedicated to preserving the heart and soul of British music: Grassroots venues. Focusing on four major categories: Broadcasting, Artists, Politics and Industry, some notable patrons of the MVT are Sir Paul McCartney, KT Tunstall, Frank Turner, Bill Bragg, Elbow and many more.

Bay and other artists have utilised their huge platforms to raise awareness for the MVT. One significant campaign being the #saveourvenues movement, which generated a staggering £2.5m for the upkeep of struggling Grassroots venues. The talented musician recognises the importance of preserving independent venues, saying “It’s vital that we don’t lose any music venues. They are so important to every artist’s growth, learning how to really turn a live show from a good night to a great one.”

The Hitchin native took to social media today to announce the news of his exhilarating collaboration with Apple Music. Bay shared a snippet of himself to Instagram strumming the opening chords of Trouble on his guitar, crooning the timeless lyrics “Oh no, I see, a spider’s web that’s tangled up with me.” The post has received a whopping 30,000 views, Bay’s huge fanbase clearly overjoyed at the sight of him singing to British classics. 

James Bay’s most recent song is the indie-pop bop, Chew On My Heart. Released on the 9th July, Chew On My Heart has garnered over 10 million global streams, and is currently sitting within the Top 30 at Triple A & Hot AC Radio.

Bay’s recent song is certainly a sonic departure from his previous stylings. Rolling Stone recognises this, declaring “If “Chew On My Heart” is any indication of what his forthcoming album is going to sound like, it seems like the musician is taking his sound in a more positive direction.”

The upbeat and soulful piano-led instrumental aims to downplay the seriousness of Kano’s politically charged bars. Speaking on the harsh reality of life in the inner city laced with endless metaphors, Kano highlights the struggles that youth’s go through daily “Postcode warring that’s the thing now, young bucks beefin’ over street signs.”

Directed by BAFTA nominee Aneil Karia, this short film follows Nate, a young teen that has been sent to pick up groceries from the local shop. On route, Nate bumps into his friends; Karia effortlessly mixes camera shots with mobile phone footage providing emphasis on the current digital age. Upon exiting the store, the group is approached by a car and in a case of misidentification, Nate is picked out and attacked resulting in his death.

Amongst the mourners at Nate’s wake are East London OGs Kano, D Double E and Ghetts. Here, we get a preview of an iconic collaboration between three of the best MCs in the game which will be featured on the new album, entitled ‘Class Of Deja’. D Double E begins with his legendary introductory adlibs before Kano and Ghetts go back-to-back with straight bars filled with energy over a hard-hitting grime beat.

Kano’s 2016 album Made In The Manor peaked at #8 on the U.K Album Charts and won best album at the MOBO Awards. We expect the highly anticipated Hoodies All Summer to achieve higher success and are in no doubt that it’s going to be worth the three-year wait.

You can watch Kano’s short film for ‘Trouble’ below: