English post-Britpop group Starsailor play The Academy, Dublin on 4 December. We asked front man and guitarist James Walsh the BIG questions . . .
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Best known for their singles Alcoholic, Silence Is Easy and Four to the Floor, the band have released six studio albums and scored ten Top 40 hit singles in the UK. After the release of their fourth album, All the Plans, the band entered into extended hiatus until 2014, during which its members were involved in individual projects.
Formed in and around Wigan at the start of the millennium, the band, who are named after Tim Buckley's 1970 album Starsailor, features James, James Stelfox (bass), Barry Westhead (keyboards) and Ben Byrne (drums).
They released their latest album, Where The Wild Things Grow, last year.
Tell us three things about yourself . . .
My grandma Mavis was Malaysian. She lived in Singapore and fled to the UK when the Japanese army invaded during the war.
I support Liverpool FC.
I love liquorice.
How would you describe your music?
Melodic indie rock? My inspirations are Jeff Buckley, Neil Young and Van Morrison but I feel like Coldplay and Travis are easier touchstones when people ask 'what’s your music like?’
Who are your musical inspirations?
See previous answer. Also, it’s hard to get past The Beatles. In more recent times I think Phoebe Bridgers and Bon Iver have released consistently good albums. As this is an Irish website, special mention to James Vincent McMorrow who is also consistently class.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
The Boo Radleys at Warrington Parr Hall.
What was the first record you ever bought?
I always say Blur’s Parklife because that’s the first proper album I bought but prior to that I used to just raid the bargain bin. You could get five tapes for a quid. There was all sorts in there - Micheal Bolton, The Pasadenas, Thomas Dolby . . .
What’s your favourite song right now?
Bless The Telephone by Labi Siffre.
Favourite lyric of all time?
"These days I sit on cornerstones and count the time in quarter tones to ten, Please don’t confront me with my failures, I had not forgotten them’ - These Days by Jackson Browne.
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
At the moment, the song I have on repeat is Take It To The Limit by The Eagles. Historically, it would maybe be Willin’ by Little Feat.
Where can people find your music/more information?
We’re easy to find on Instagram and X. My own Instagram is @jameswalshmusic.
Alan Corr
