Jamie Grey plays The Unitarian Church, Dublin on Saturday, 3 October. We asked him the BIG questions . . .

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Hailing from Redcar on Teesside in the UK, he has performed live with Rag ‘n’ Bone Man, Scouting For Girls and Jools Holland and co-wrote James Arthur’s hit Falling Like The Stars and several tracks from Arthur’s UK No 1 album Bitter Sweet Love.

Tickets for his Dublin gig are available here.

Tell us three things about yourself . . .

Now a dad to two young children. I have a five-year-old girl and a two-year-old boy named Aria and Oben.

I’m obsessed with time. A good and bad thing I’d say. I feel like time is so short here that we should all chase the ability to do what we love with it and be with the people we love as much as possible.

My life consists of three things really. My obsession with writing and performing music, Being with my family or playing one of the sports I love. Football, tennis, running etc.

How would you describe your music?

I like to tell stories in my music about my life or my perspective on things. The majority of my music is very raw and direct. I’m a super passionate person and the music always come from my heart. It’s deep I’d say and touches at times on heavy subject matters. I want you to feel like you know me and what’s in my heart for when you listen to my songs.

Who are your musical inspirations?

I was always drawn to singers with soul in their voice or artists that had stories to tell. Artists where I could hear struggle or a desire to make something of themselves really drew me in as that’s how I felt as a young child. The first album that really hit me when I was really young was Tracy Chapmans self-titled album. When I first heard Fast Car my life changed.

What was the first gig you ever went to?

It wasn’t until I was around 15/16 which was when I first picked up a guitar. At that age indie bands were everywhere and I really started to appreciate bands for the first time. When the Arctic Monkeys first came on the scene I was a blown away. Singing catchy melodic songs about life in working class Sheffield really drew me in. I went to the see them very early on at Middlesbrough Empire.

What was the first record you ever bought?

The first album I ever bought was Eminem’s Marshall Mathers LP. As you can tell quite a mixed back of music in my answers. That is because it wasn’t a particular sound of music I was drawn to. The main connection I was listening for was a relatability factor in the artist and the ability they had to make me feel them in the music.

What’s your favourite song right now?

I love Sienna Spiro’s song The Great Expectation it’s amazing. Also love a song called Your Place At My Place by Joshua Slone.

Favourite lyric of all time?

One that sticks with me based on my thoughts of time is a John Mayer lyric from his song Stop this Train: “I’m so scared of getting older I’m only good at being young, so I play the numbers game to make it life has just begun”.

If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Tricky cos my ear is always drawn to new things but I think I’d say Fast Car by Tracy Chapman.

Where can people find your music/more information?

You can find my music on all streaming platforms. All my social handles are the same. @jamiegreymusic.

Alan Corr