James McVey Discusses New Music, Growth, and The Vamps

INTERVIEW

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INTERVIEW ✦

James McVey 

Time away from home can have a way of sparking introspection, sometimes leading to a deeper appreciation of one's roots and the journey that has shaped one's identity. Singer-songwriter James McVey, known for his work with the band The Vamps, is currently drawing on this exact reflective sentiment in his upcoming second solo EP, Letters Home.

The EP’s lead single, “Thick and Thin” currently teases a satisfying taste of what’s to come for fans, offering listeners a poignant ode to the enduring strength of friendships, particularly those forged in the innocence of youth and sustained through the trials of adolescence into adulthood. In its natural essence, the track is crafted to exude an uplifting folk-rock vibe, enriched by heartfelt vocals designed to evoke the warmth of companionship — designed with friend and fellow musician Alex Stacey, authentically depicting the carefree days of youth when the suggestion of the future is full of possibilities and life's path has yet to be determined.

In terms of the actual EP’s conception, Letters Home was first shaped during McVey's European tour, drawing on spontaneous writing and recording sessions that took place on tour buses, backstage areas, and hotel rooms, representing exhilarating examples of creative collaboration in motion. And from what we’ve seen so far, McVey is only continuing to evolve as an artist, seamlessly blending his solo work with his contributions to The Vamps through their upcoming sold-out 'Meet The Vamps' anniversary tour, underscoring the enduring appeal of their music and the bond they share with their dedicated fan base.

With his new track out now, and the EP coming soon, McVey is breaking it all down.

Can you elaborate a bit about the inspiration behind your recent EP Letters Home and how it felt to work on this one independently?

James McVey: Letters Home was entirely written and predominantly recorded on tour around Europe. The two guys I took on the road with me, Alex [my co-writer and producer] and Josh [the guitarist], had never been on tour before. By the end of the first day on tour, we began talking about how bizarre touring can be, both physically and emotionally. That evening we started writing a song about it… the song that ended up being “All The Things” which was the first single of the EP.

By two weeks in we had written the six songs for Letters Home. It’s the quickest any project has come together in my ten years of music. I loved how freeing it felt to write, record then perform a brand new song, all within the space of a couple days. Having that creative control and support from my team was extremely rewarding. 

How has your voice evolved since your vocal surgery, and in what ways do you feel it has strengthened?

James McVey: I’ve had to build a relationship with my voice in a way I’d never needed to before. I’m more in tune with any pains or changes and am determined to do all I can to avoid future surgery. That whole process knocked me out for several months and it’s not something I’d like to experience again! Warming up and down are things I’d never really committed to before the injury, but now I approach my life performances in a completely different way. Hopefully, my voice has improved since making this adjustment.

What was the creative process like for Letters Home and what was the significance of writing and recording it while touring Europe?

James McVey: This EP centered around a live and raw production style. Everything other than the cello was recorded backstage, on the tour bus, or in hotel rooms. Consequently, the tracks are noisy with people walking around or slamming doors in the background. I really enjoyed adopting the notion of being ‘rough around the edges’.

Whilst absolutely perfecting sounds in studio is fun too, this process really took me back to being 12 again; when songwriting and recording was primitive and pure.

How does the EP Letters Home differ from Manabi in terms of themes and musical style?

James McVey: Manabi was mainly written and recorded around lockdown and my surgery. The fact I didn’t travel whilst writing Manabi meant that the themes felt very insular to me. I explored my own mental health over the winter of that year across that record. For Letters Home, I really wanted to capture the opposite. With it all being written on the road, I hoped that “Thick and Thin” and “All The Things” would conjure up images of driving and exploring whilst listening.

I also navigate the theme of grief in “Hold on To The Times,” a topic I’d never written anything about before. I’d love people to recognize a progression in my writing on this EP; whilst it came about very quickly, I’m more proud of these songs than anything else I’ve written before.

Could you walk us through the range of musical elements present in the EP, from acoustic confessionals to layered alt-pop compositions, and how they contribute to the storytelling?

James McVey: The instrumentation of Letters Home is relatively traditional; the majority of instruments we used were conventional and acoustic. Other than the slight use of synth, everything else was guitar, piano, bass, and vocals. Across each song, we tended to record tapping on the desk or guitar and made these sounds into percussive beats instead of just using a kick and snare drum.

We used cello on Manabi but really dove into it on Letters Home. I really enjoyed creating musical moments with Alex and Ben [the cellist] in a way I’d never done before. I’m trying my best to tell stories through the music and not just by relying on lyrics. The end of “Eyes Closed” is hopefully an example of that.

When you think about your incredible journey with The Vamps and even as a soloist, what has been your proudest moment so far?

I think being able to tour 10 years into my career with The Vamps is a real achievement and that’s a real credit to the fans. From a solo perspective, touring entirely independently was another stand-out moment. I’ve been really enjoying producing my music for the first time in my life too.

Now that it’s been 10 years, what’s the biggest difference between the James who joined the band — and the James we know today?

I’d love to think that the James now is much more happier and secure within himself that the James who started the band. I’ve learned so much about myself, especially my mental health, and I feel this has helped me grow and evolve into a better person. I’d love to believe that I’ve improved as a musician and songwriter too!