James Poole
|
Interview by Carl Marsh - May 2014
|
|
Hi James,
as a UK based singer, most people reading this will be fans of yours from YouTube and Twitter, or soon will be! I really do thank you for helping me promote reading as something that should be done, by doing this Q&A, and hopefully mentioning to your fans/followers? Hi Carl! Firstly, it's a pleasure to answer your questions. Secondly, my fans and followers will certainly see this Q&A (HI GUYS!!!!). Looking back, my reading tastes have evolved over the years - when I was younger, I was never a great reader, I always found myself a tad hyperactive to be held captive by words on a page. I did love being read to though, even from an early age. I loved to listen to story tapes and I couldn't count the number of times my mum was forced to read 'The Tiger That Came To Tea' and 'Patchwork Parrot' to me. My A-Levels were in English Literature, Theatre Studies and Modern Foreign Languages and this involved reading a diverse selection of fiction and non-fiction. Shakespeare always felt like a welcome home, despite the foreign nature of the old language, I think the performance aspect drew me in to the intricacies of his works. I have watched quite a few of your YouTube music videos, I have to admit you really are a class singer James. Can I ask when did you discover this talent that you had, from what age? Thank you :) I first started annoying my dad by singing loudly when I was 7. I bummed my first note in church singing the opening verse to 'Once in Royal David's City' when I was 10 for the school carol concert, I nailed the afternoon rendition but I felt the pressure of friends and family in attendance for the evening service, so I cracked on the high note, then I cried, then a girl I had a crush on in the choir fed me chocolate and gave me a hug and I got over it surprisingly quickly! As you are someone that has grasped social media and utitlised it to it's full potential, what advice would you offer to anyone thinking of doing what you have, with your singing? Social Media is not easy, especially when you're first starting out and it looks like nobody cares about what you have to say or what you're trying to do and yet someone tweets 'I just farted and sneezed at the same time' and picks up 20,000 retweets and 33,581 favourites - it's discouraging and disheartening. I'm lucky in that I have worked hard and have found fans, friends and kindred spirits, all of whom now share my journey with me. It means I can polish my craft to ensure I am happy but, more importantly, that my fans are happy. It lets me communicate with them in a positive, chatty way, day to day. It's about sharing moments, philosophies, the bad times and the good times. It's like a biography of feelings. Sometimes it feels overwhelming but when you step back and look, it's amazing. Work hard, don't be afraid of introducing yourself to people, talk to people and listen to what they have to say as they'll make you understand better what it is you do. In the next 12 months, what does the future hold for you, or what do you want to happen? I wanted to get the covers out with my own twist - it's been amazing seeing the response to each individual work - it has helped me understand what my fans enjoy and what the general public and potential new fans also enjoy. I have been working on original material, my own personal material that falls under the James Poole brand and then branching out, trying new things with some really exciting people who are successful in their own genre of music - more on that coming soon ;) (I do love a cheeky emoticon by the way). I have some fixed things in the pipeline, I want to gossip but I can't, it'll spoil the surprise and I do love keeping everyone guessing! What advice would you give to your fans/followers in that it is important to read? Reading and languages has shaped my creative ability. To write songs, understand lyrics and the emotions they carry, everything I have ever read, be it a script, a poem, a novel, a research paper, it has all contributed to my relationship with words and emotion. Words are the most powerful tool the world has ever created. Can you tell me what is your best book you have ever read, and why is that? I'm not going to lie to you Carl - the Harry Potter series will always be the best thing I have ever read. Until I picked up 'The Philosopher's Stone', I had never been truly imprisoned by a book. No matter how hard I tried I could not put it down and it was the same story with each of the following books. I believe Rowling introduced reading and literature to a new generation of young people. Swamped with passive amusements and entertainment requiring little or no input from the participant means, to get the young people of a modern world hooked on a story in a book, is an impressive feat. So for me it's not about style, tone, alliteration and pathetic fallacy, it's simply a thrilling tale told in a delightfully digestible manner. For me personally, I have a slightly addictive personality which leads to lots of pots of marmite in my life - I either love something, or it means nothing to me (hate is too strong), there is no middle ground. I've never been able to persevere with a dull book, or a dull film, or a dull song, if it's dull, I start fresh. Some may consider it a tad extreme but it keeps me happy and energetic. Often in studies I've had to persevere with books, whether it's 17th Century French Literature or a University Guide to Modern Translation. Never once did I feel like I was enduring Mr Potter and his magical friends. What are you currently reading at the moment, or just finished? The last series I read was The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini - I'm a sucker for dragons and magic! If you could be an animal, what would it be, and why? It would have to be a Tiger… if you need an explanation, just check the comments or feedback on Twitter! Thanks for doing this Q&A James, it will only be a short time before you become a household name! Thanks for having me and taking the time to listen to my ramblings, it's been thoroughly thought and smile provoking and keep up the good work! James @JamesPoole_ |
Occupation: Singer
Country: UK 
|
