![]() ![]() When in your life did you actually feel like you had come “back” from the edge? Of demons could drown out the truth Now my one place of freedom is sleeping with you If only, if only you knew James Arthur © 2017 I am through If only I believed that was true We’d be living all the dreams in a house with a view If only, if only you knew how the voices It’s out with the old, I’ll be new And don’t worry about the drink and drugs Once I realized that, my entire life – all of my brainpower – ran towards not doing it… Just trying to deal with it by myself, and in doing that, I got closer to getting to know my mind. Coming off all of that stuff, I realized that it wasn’t helping and it probably was making it worse. I got into prescription drugs as well – because of anxiety, basically, I’d have panic attacks and stuff, so I thought that was helping me. Basically, I smoked weed every day of my life for about eight years. I think my fight with all that ran parallel to writing the album. James Arthur: Yeah, I was definitely battling them. In “If Only,” you sing: “Don't worry about the drink and drugs, I am through - If only I believed that was true.” At first I thought Back from the Edge was about overcoming your struggles, but I’m wondering if you were still battling them as your wrote this album. The path to redemption is long and arduous, but this story has come full circle: James Arthur is Back from the Edge, and he’s not going anywhere. “I’ve got my purpose back,” he says, a gleam in his eye. “Say You Won’t Let Go” has brought him farther than he could have dreamed: Back From the Edge went straight to #1 in the UK, and Arthur is about to embark on his first North American tour this summer, supporting OneRepublic. Hopefully the song can act as a gateway to the rest of the album, but James Arthur is nothing but grateful to be where he is now. Shows you what the people want, doesn’t it? “I wanted to write the type of song that guys would want to play for their girlfriends,” he says. The twisted irony is that, of all the tracks on Back from the Edge, “Say You Won’t Let Go” is the odd one out: Most of its story came from Arthur’s imagination. Poignant introspection mixes with anxiety, insecurity, anger and self-doubt, but even the darkest moments have what Arthur likes to call “a little thread of hope.” Arthur’s steadfast determination to “prove everybody wrong” and persevere against all odds is a constant theme throughout the album, which, as its name suggests, is ultimately about overcoming adversity.Įven the album’s worldwide mega-hit single evokes that uncompromising staying power: The heartachingly bittersweet “Say You Won’t Let Go” has topped iTunes charts in 22 countries and currently sits at #13 on its 27th week on Billboard‘s Hot 100 chart. Back from the Edge is a torrential outpouring of emotion, a hauntingly visceral seventeen-track confessional that finds James Arthur sharing his life on his terms. ![]() “I felt a little chewed up and spat out at that time, and like I’d kind of lost my purpose. I was a bit of a joke, nationally,” he reflects.Īrthur’s self-assessment is critical, but he’s not the kind to sugarcoat things – a trait that comes in handy in his music. ![]() Interview with John Reinhart Back From the Edge – James ArthurĪt 29, James Arthur has come full circle. The British artist describes his new album, Back from the Edge (October 2016 via Columbia Records) as a “memoir” of the past two years of his life: After winning The X Factor in 2012 and releasing a self-titled album in 2013, the British artist got caught up in controversy, lost his record deal, and ‘stepped away’ from the spotlight. ![]()
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