You know how I interview upcoming artists? Well, I just interviewed James Gould aka “Jimmy Savage.”
Question: Before we get into any questions about your music, we want to know a little about you. What’s your name and what do you like to be known as?
James Gould: My full name is James Robert Butler Gould. My nickname is James Gould, and my stage alias is Jimmy Savage.
Q: What actually got you into singing in the first place and what’s so special about singing to you?
JG: It’s a unique way of expressing yourself. It is very touching, thoughtful, and energising art form. More or less anybody can appreciate it. It’s vastly-loved field. For me personally it’s a rush, like writing, or a really relevant conversation (without interruptions!). For me, as music was always close to me, it becomes a means of self translation in difficult times or just comfort.
Q: As a writer, my style is a blend of all I’ve read and taken in. Is it the same for you as a singer or is your own particular sound and style of singing something completely new?
JG: It’s both, as it is with everyone as far as I know. But by comparison to modern day music on the other side of the fence, it would be by comparison of originals music with its own style, anything considered as an influence. I am very much a fan of 60s and Lennon/The Beatles, punk, britpop, and Nirvana. I do genuinely like all sorts of music though. Not just rock tinged, it’s definitely important to focus on doing something new though, to keep yourself entertained.
Q: This will sound silly but how did you learn the guitar?
JG: I learned by myself. I would sneak into my sister’s room. She had lessons and uses her acoustic. I saw chords shapes on a piece of paper, and a bar chords was shown to me. But no one taught how to hold the guitar.
Q: What have you done so far in terms of albums, singles, gigs and so on?
JG: I’ve made an album, after two demos now, called Rainbow Disorder which has ten tracks. I’ve sold 17 so far. It’s available for Pounds 7.
I’ll be making a single soon or rather a three tracks. I’ve jammed all over the Halfmoon and Twelve Bar. I performed at The Grey Horse/Ram and Fighting Cocks, and Rowans Wine Bar, former home of the Troggs. I played on a short TV programme once (a cover, blah!). There’s lots and all paid now.
The best recent development has been a major label contacting me. The Rainbow Disorder, Beggars Banquet (4AD Records) are giving me positive feedback and interest. They are attending my gigs with the label head. This is great for me because its A & R interest and major label interest which is a huge step in the right direction. It has boosted my confidence, not to mention the fact that this label is the biggest around for independent label music. Literally, that’s what they do. They haven’t seen me live yet. I just want the music upfront first – my kind of people! I’m gigging this Saturday October 1st at the New Inn in Brentford will be starting up the acoustic night. I ran at Rowans again soon and the little known ‘Dead Famous’.
Q: Where is the best and worst place you have performed and what is the audiences like?
JG: The worst place is often at mic night. As you’ve now paid or guarantee of any attention to subsidise any misery. I wouldn’t want to be too critical of the local scene. But well, there isn’t one and whilst every other gig is a laugh. Some can be very attentive. At the Half Moon, Dead Famous nights at the Grey Horse, at the early stages, it can be very difficult not to become disaffected with the London scene. But it’s worth keeping on because for every bad gig there’s another good one. And once you get a few on the trot, they often improve if you know the right places.
Q: What prepares you for a gig? How do you get yourself geared up?
JG: Sometimes the mistake of drinking a few, usually though I just go. I hardly need practice and I don’t try to repress nerves.
Q: If you could do a duet with any artist in the world who would it be with and more importantly, why? Alive or dead?
JG: Haha. Good question, maybe Alanis Morrissette. Duets are not really too broad genre. If you know what I mean. If I could be in any band though, it would be either the Clash or Nirvana. Their personalities were all lovely even the dodgy drummers.
Q: Where do you see yourself in three years time or are you more of a’ carpe diem’ sort of guy?
JG: That’s the right attitude yes. But I see myself with an established career then and ideally some music out there, hits and etc.
Q: Every band or solo artist has that one song that defines them or that people remember them by. Have you written that song yet or is it still locked up somewhere in your inner musical genius?
JG: It depends. An arly song about exactly that, escapism, or it’s a song called Toni about a mad scaghead. I play Toni practically every time. The easiest to remember I suppose. I think personally I disagree though, I don’t think Yesterday sums up the Beatles, nor Satisfaction, the Stones, etc. It doesn’t even start with Teen Spirit and Nirvana. It’s a common misconception. But then again there are a lot of one hit wonders. But I’m not one of them. Neither were the aforementioned acts though to be fair at all!
