E103 | Mitch James
Episode summary | Mitch James
Mitch James is one of New Zealand’s most popular artists with an incredible story to tell.
He’s toured the world alongside Six60 and supported Ed Sheeran and just returned home after touring with Calum Scott to release his second album, patience. The journey to the sophomore album has been challenging with Mitch writing over 100 songs before entering the studio and battling health, family, relationship, Covid, and record label issues.
We also revisit his difficult teenage years and how he found a path out of darkness, flew to other side of the world only to end up sleeping on the streets while chasing his dream of becoming a music star and following the Ed Sheeran ‘blueprint’ gigging at open mic nights and busking in Europe’s biggest cities before getting his big break via a YouTube mash-up.
This was a special chat. It is raw in places navigating heavy subject matter like hitting rock bottom, suicide attempts, and witnessing a brutal stabbing. In others it is incredibly uplifting with Mitch harnessing his vulnerability with the drive and discipline to be successful.
Show notes | Mitch James
1:31: Gearing up for the launch of the new album ‘patience’
5:39: 100 songs over four years
7:46: Touring with Calum Scott
13:43: Levels of fame
16:25: The challenge of high school
28:48: Mitch buys a one-way ticket to the UK to follow the Ed Sheeran blueprint
35:14: Busking on the streets of Europe
39:54: Open mic nights and YouTube mash ups
48:48: The first album
52:03: Supporting act for Ed Sheeran
55:53: Dealing with the attention that fame brings
1:03:41: Fitness, discipline, and the similarities between performing and fight sports
1:07:35: The time between albums
1:14:20: Drawing from real life experience to create music
1:19:43 Mending relationships with family
1:22:31: A history of streaking
1:28:13 Last words from Steven, Seamus and Mitch
