Talent show loser proving he can be a winner

WE’VE been chatting away for a while now and you get the sense that James Fox is dying to mention the footy. We’ve skated over the subject a few times but there is no way I’m going to let him have his jibe, particularly as the mighty Birmingham City lost three points the previous night – something he is only far too aware of being a die-hard Cardiff City fan.

“I’ve done a few concerts in Birmingham,” he says. “It's good there but they haven’t got the best of footy teams have they?” he hints. Not one to enjoy a dig, I quickly turn the subject back to music and the reason many of you may know James Fox today. For he was one of the first ever talent show graduates, finishing fifth on BBC’s Fame Academy back in 2003. So who won it that year?

“Erm, Alex Parks I think,” he replies. “Do you remember her, the lass with the spiky hair? Wonder what she’s up to these days…” A very good question indeed but when asked about his thoughts on the great talent show conspiracy that sees winners fail and runners-up succeed, he just has to hint at the football once again!

“I think there is a lot of pressure on the winners of these shows and sometimes they just cannot handle it – a bit like some of the footy teams over where you are!” Thanks for that James (!) “For me, there was no pressure at all because I came fifth so no one really expected me to do much. That made it much easier for me to come out afterwards and start to forge some sort of a career.”

And he’s not done such a bad job so far, clocking up an EP, debut album and a host of singles as well as touring with such names as Wet, Wet, Wet and Lulu. “It's really good to go on tour with massive artists like Lulu,” he explains. “She is such a professional so for someone who is just starting out on a proper music career, it gives you a long line of benefits that you can take from her.” What’s a ‘proper’ music career?

“I’ve been playing music from the age of 16, playing guitar for certain people but it was only after Fame Academy really that I felt I had the public backing and inside help to go on and start a music career on my own,” he explains. “Now it feel like I have a proper music career. I’m no longer plodding on, having people ask ‘James who?’”

Being multi-talented has also helped along the way, as James plays not only the guitar but the piano and drums too and, of course, he is not too bad a singer! “I prefer the guitar but people probably say I’m better at the piano,” he chuckles. “I’m no good at drums though but I have a stab at it on the new album and I don’t think it sounds too dreadful!

“I prefer the guitar as you can walk round with it and for me, it is easier to be creative with a guitar and invent new sounds – it’s always been my favourite medium.” It is such a favourite of his in fact, that he even played it in front of the whole of Europe in 2004’s Eurovision Song Contest and, despite finishing only 16th out of 24 finalists, he was happy to avoid the dreaded ‘nil points’ that was given to Gemini the previous year.

“It was good to get some votes,” he says. “To be fair we all know what happens in that competition. There is too much political voting involved and no one likes us do they? The song I did actually came 13th in the UK charts so there was nothing wrong with it – it's just being a Brit I guess.”

Unfortunately for me, that was not his only successful chart entry and there is such excitement in his voice as he leads up to finally gaining a link with which he can prominently mention the footy! “My other chart entry came when I did the official football song for Cardiff City,” he joyfully explains.

“They said they were looking for someone to record their club song so as it was the legendary Cardiff City, I thought it had to be me! I always wanted to be a footballer or a singer but was never any good at football so this was kind of the next big thing.”

And then the banter begins: “Not very good – just like Birmingham City! What was the score last night?” he asks. I pretend I have no recollection of the nights events but once he has started, there is just no stopping him! “The mighty Bluebirds are only five points behind you guys now you know. We’ll definitely be up there challenging for promotion come the end of the season.”

Sorry. I couldn’t let him have it all his way so asked him to remind me of the score when Blues played Cardiff back in September (2-1!) To which James goes a little bit quiet. “Shall we talk about the music?” he humorously asks!

Let the music do all the talking with James Fox’s new full-length debut album, ‘Rocking Chairs and Lemonade,’ which is out now. Check out the review on the what’s on page today!