Sure, Native James began as a rapper.
It is inconceivable to not when rising up round a metropolis someplace in England. Grime is in all places – it is a complete cultural. However, as Native James advised Kerrang! final yr, “I began to hearken to grime, and my coronary heart was telling me I wanted one thing heavier with it,” all of the sudden grime and metallic simply made sense. And to anybody who loves a bouncing bass alongside chunky riffs, Native James embeds his clean circulation into the sound like an instrument of its personal, and it is merely raunchy in the entire finest methods.
Actual title Aaron James (or AJ) has simply launched his second grime-metal concoction this previous Friday (third of October), evolving and intensifying the riffs he developed on his first EP, Rebirth (appropriately titled), into one thing way more monstrous than anticipated. Rebirth itself was nothing in need of a enterprise effectively achieved as AJ efficiently included the bouncy perspective of grime with the depth of metallic, nonetheless, CONFESSIONS OF A SINNER, not solely ranges up sonically however efficiently achieves creating an expertise.
Cinematic interludes hyperlink collectively a storyline that particulars trials and tribulations as AJ explains the EP and its story is supposed to “[entice] the duality of oneself whereas taking you down a path of reflection. It is related with rage and all of the above – a sinner and his ideas.”
The main focus monitor for the EP, “PRY AWAY,” particularly elaborates the trials and tribulations of habit and psychological well being: “I wished to peel the scars off and present wounds with this tune. It’s in regards to the inside struggles of psychological well being, habit, being comfy with speaking about what’s fallacious with us, and us going again to the darkish place out of behavior.”
Nominated for Greatest Various Act on the MOBOs, with performances at Glastonbury Competition, Burn It All Down, and Decolonise, and assist for letlive. at their final two London reveals, alongside reward from BBC, Spotify, Kerrang!, Rock Sound, and Louder, 2025 was sort to Native James, however with CONFESSIONS OF A SINNER beneath his belt, it appears like 2026 will probably be even higher.
You may stream the brand new Native James EP right here, and discover the tracklist under.
- “RAISE THE ALARM”
- “FALLEN”
- “FIRE PON DEM”
- “AS THE CROW FALLS”
- “DO WHAT YOU WANT”
- “GTFU”
- “JUTSU”
- “YOU’RE NOTHING”
- “ASPHODEL MEADOWS”
- “PRY AWAY”
- “ADMIRAL’S ARMS”
- “KIRIN”
- “GTA”
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