Welcome back to the Celebuzz Meet & Greet, where we talk with rising actors, musicians and entertainers before they hit it big. Watch out for these future A-listers!

We here at Celebuzz are suckers for soulful voices. So, when we first heard James Morrison on our stereo, our hearts skipped a beat and we were converted to fans ever since.

James’ new album, The Awakening, spent two weeks at the top of the UK charts while his collaboration with Jessie J received over a million views on YouTube just after a week of its release. Did we mention that most of his shows in England and Ireland have already been sold out?

We recently had a quick chat with the British musician about his work and how it has changed since becoming a first-time father.

How did you get your start into music?

I sang at a bar when I was 9 and thought, “I really like this”. I was lucky that, years later, I was discovered in an open-mic night and took it from there!

Who were your musical influences growing up?

Stevie Wonder, Van Morrison, James Taylor, Jackie Wilson. People with great voices and a good sound! 

Walk us through your song-writing process.

I pick a guitar up, mess around for a few hours until I find something I like, and then start sculpting the song. Sometimes, I get a lyric idea and run with that first.

Has becoming a father changed your song-writing/performing process at all?

Yeah, I just want to write better more meaningful songs that will stay around.

Tell us a little bit about the inspiration behind the name of your new album, The Awakening.

I felt a new sense of life and wanted to have an album title that matches it. I had already written “The Awakening” about my daughter and it just slotted right into place.

Check out James’ collaboration with Jessie J below!

What do you want fans to take away from your music?

I want them to feel a relation between what they feel and what I am expressing through music — to see an honest collection of songs that are different to each other that are relatable.

Who are you dying to collaborate with next?

No one. Collaborations are great but take a lot of work to pull together — three collaborations are enough for me!

Who is your music guilty pleasure?

I never really feel guilty about listening to music. But sometimes, when I’m driving if I feel stressed out, I put the classical music station on and it makes me feel calm — and Jedward! 

If you can only listen to one album for the rest of your life, what will it be?

Whatever album I take would become annoying if that’s all you had to listen to. I’d take a guitar instead and write a new song everyday!

The Awakening is in stores now. If you like what you hear, be sure to check out more of James’ work HERE.