James Bay – Changes All the Time

Making his mark on the music industry back in 2014 with the release of his single Hold Back the River, which was certified platinum, UK-based and globally recognised artist James Bay has not looked back since. With international tours and sold-out concerts following the success of his biggest hit, there is no doubt James Bay has made it as a household name.

His upcoming album, Changes All the Time, is an unfiltered exploration of his artistry and what that means for both himself and his fans. In this very special release, Bay demonstrates his unparalleled passion for guitar, something that has provided him both solace and an endless mode of expression since first picking it up at age 11. Having toured with The Rolling Stones, opened for Bruce Springsteen and even been praised for his guitar finesse by Queen’s Brian May, there’s no stopping this global sensation.

Bay opens the album with a number that was released earlier this year, Up All Night. Featuring the Lumineers and long-time friend Noah Kahan, the harmonies that the artists produce in the chorus are a wondrous collation of sweet goodness in the ears. The track is very catchy, with a foot-stomping beat maintained throughout that will get listeners up on their feet from the get-go. Up All Night entails the difficulty faced when you can’t seem to get a certain feeling or person out of your mind, with nothing to be done to stop it keeping you awake well into the early hours. Up All Night has already amassed almost 20 million streams on Spotify alone.

In the already-released single Easy Distraction, Bay introduces a rougher side that drops you into the streets of British soft rock. Co-written with The Killers’s Brandon Flowers, the song is about the too-late realisation of how much someone means to you, only when you no longer have them. It’s a heartfelt ode to a person you wish was still in your life.

The track list features many that invite the listener in on an intimate moment with the artist. Bay isn’t shy to stray away from honest emotion, something that is evident in the tender melodies of numbers like Speed Limit. This is a love track that’s rich with soulful melodies and feels as if one is listening in on a sonnet delivered directly to the artist’s love. Both emotive and comforting, the song also reminiscences about missing someone. Another similarly touching track is Bay’s Go On, all about remembering to recognise how hard you’ve worked for something.

Each song is notably different from one another in regards to the blend of feelings they each evoke. From stripped-back tracks, such as the hits-you-in-the-gut Everburn, to up-tempo ones that urge their audience to jump along, like Hopeless Heart, Bay achieves a diverse variation to keep fans hooked.

The singer-songwriter closes the album nicely with Dogfight. Featuring the delicious, crackling melodies of electric guitar, Bay takes a step back for a raw and honest track about recent struggles. The lyrics touch on a fear of losing himself, not being able to recognise the man looking back at him in the mirror anymore. The chorus takes an optimistic turn, however, in which he asserts he’s not going to let this happen. The bridge and outro are particularly moving, with a build of the repetitive self-assurance “it’s gonna be alright”. Accompanied by masterfully arranged backing vocals, Bay lets rip with his signature soulful melodies that will blow you away.

A beautiful ode to the journey he has taken to get to where he is today, this album is one that will be truly difficult to forget. 

Emily Downie
Image: Caity Krone

Changes All the Time is released on 4^th October 2024. For further information or to order the album visit James Bay’s website here.

Watch the video for the single Up All Night here: