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James Stewart Photo: Danie Nel

Popular Capetonian singer / songwriter, and former front man for The Usual, James Stewart, makes a welcome return to local stages in a one of a kind performance at Ignite in Camp's Bay.

On Friday, 27 and Saturday, 28 October, James will be recording a live album in front of his fans on the decks of Ignite overlooking the palm trees and white sand of Camps Bay Beach.

People's Post caught up with James to find out about this exciting new venture and to get a glimpse of the man behind the music.

Growing up in Hout Bay with a dad that played the piano and a mom, who according to her son, is a sensational singer, it was no surprise really that James became a musician.

What may surprise you though is that at university James studied, not music, but law.

"I was part of the last generation of boys that attended university to avoid being enlisted into the army," he says.

His law career would be short lived however after James decided to form his own band and take a chance at the music business. Clearly it was a good decision. The band were spotted by Richard Black and James hasn't looked back since.

"People always say 'well at least you will always have law to fall back on', but I seriously can't see that happening," laughs James.

It was as lead singer for The Usual that James became a household name. Well known for hit songs like "The Shape that I'm in" and "Like a vision", The Usual produced genuine South African grooves that saw them soaring into the "top ten" time and time again.

"We we're known for putting an English twist to a style of music that South Africans were familiar with already," says James.

During his time with the band, James' skills as a songwriter developed and later when the band separated James decided to concentrate solely on his writing.

"When you're part of a band you all have your own ideas," says James, "and when you throw them out there everyone has their own input, so often the song comes out as something completely different. That's just how it works."

James began to lay down some demos of the songs he had written, intending to have them recorded by other artists, but before he knew it he had recorded enough tracks to release an album of his own.

And so James' first solo album, "A Man Like Me" was born, reaffirming what James Stewart fans had always known, that he was a star.

"My whole life people have been trying to tell me that I am a born singer, but its only now that I am beginning to realise it myself," says James. "But then I was always a bit of a late bloomer."

James has been working with manager Martin Drake of 21st Century Music Consulting over the past three years on developing a career for himself in the States.

He has already made some great connections, including Seymour Stein who has worked with such big names as The Ramones, Madonna, and Talking Heads.

James flies to New York in January where he has been invited to showcase to Blue Note executives and their marketing team.

Blue Note told James they would be coming here for the summer, part of the reason why James is doing this recording live.

"It's winter there now so what better setting for them to see us perform than in the middle of summer, right next to the beach," says James.

"I approached my accountants with the idea about doing this gig and they agreed," he continues.

Tom Fox and Yoyo Buys, both former members of The Usual, will be flown in for the recordings, together with drummer Preston Heyman who has played with everybody from Eric Clapton and Sting to Phil Collins.

"I'm in this for all the right reasons," says James. "I was desperate to get back to the root of why I loved the music industry in the first place and just want have a whole lot of fun."

James and the boys will be playing some of the old songs from The Usual and from "A Man Like Me" as well as some brand new tracks that James has been working on.

"It is definitely going to be a worthwhile concert to get to," says James. "We as South Africans have a lot to be proud of and we need to celebrate and enjoy ourselves."

Entry to the concert is free but space is limited, so be sure to get there early.

For more information email 21century@unilynx.co.za or visit James' website at www.jamesonline.co.za

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