EXCLUSIVE: James Newman on UK Eurovision entry song 'Embers'
Eurovision takes place in May
Jordan chats to UK Eurovision hopeful James Newman about this year’s entry and the all-important competition.
James Newman has revealed that ‘Embers’ will be the song taken to this year’s Eurovision Song Contest and will represent the UK at the annual competition.
James told Jordan Lee on Hits Radio Pride about what the new song represents.
He said, “It is about the glow and the fire that never really burns out. It is about the spark between two people in love or friends who love each other. Even though we have been apart for such a long time the spark has never really died out. It’s about everyone coming back together and having a big party!”
The upbeat tune is a contrast to last year’s offering ‘My Last Breath’, which would have been the UK’s entry if the competition had gone ahead.
James insisted he wanted to bring something upbeat and fun to contrast the last year.
He added, “I loved ‘My Last Breath’ but it was a totally different world we were living in. When I came to writing I thought ‘What do people want to hear now?’ and they don’t want to hear a ballad, they want to hear a party song, even if its dancing in your kitchen!”
Last year, the singer-songwriter missed out on representing the UK after the contest was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic but has now been given a second chance.
James is no stranger to the music industry. As a songwriter, he has worked with big artists including: Rudimental, Jessie Ware, Calvin Harris, Little Mix and Louis Tomlinson.
He scored his first number one with ‘Waiting All Night’ by Rudimental in 2013 which he wrote. It also won British Single of the Year at the 2014 Brit Awards.
He said, “It’s always something I have wanted to do, that’s why I got into music and songwriting, I’ve always wanted to be an artist. My first song that I wrote for Rudimental became a number one Brit Award winning song. I was working in a restaurant and I had a number one record!”
However, James is now keen to get on stage and perform his own songs.
He added, “I fell into songwriting and for years I’ve been writing for other people. I love it but I’ve always had it in the back of my mind that I really want to do my own stuff.
“I had never thought about doing Eurovision, it wasn’t the way I thought I would launch my artist career. But you look at the stats, 200 million people watch you perform, what opportunity as a launching artist do you get like that? It was a no-brainer!”
The Eurovision Song Contest is due to take place 18-22nd May in Rotterdam. It is hoped that all 40 acts will be able to perform on stage in the Netherlands, with social distanced and all Covid-19 precautions adhered to.
Good luck James!
Take our Eurovision quiz! Guess the country the artist in the photo is representing!
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
10)
11)
12)
13)
14)
15)
16)
17)
Check your answers...
1) UK - Bucks Fizz: 'Making Your Mind Up' (1981)
2) FINLAND - Lordi: 'Hard Rock Hallelujah' (2006)
3) SWEDEN - Loreen: 'Euphoria' (2012)
4) UK - Scooch: 'Flying The Flag' (2007)
5) SWITZERLAND - Celine Dion: 'Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi' (1988)
6) NORWAY - Alexander Rybak: 'Fairytale' (2009)
7) SWEDEN - ABBA: 'Waterloo' (1974)
8) IRELAND - Jedward: 'Lipstick' (2011)
9) UK - Brotherhood Of Man: 'Save Your Kisses For Me' (1976)
10) UKRAINE - Verka Serduchka: 'Dancing Lasha Tumbai' (2007)
11) UK - Katrina and the Waves: 'Love Shine A Light' (1997)
12) AUSTRIA - Conchita Wurst: 'Rise Like a Phoenix' (2014)
13) RUSSIA - Buranovskiye Babushki: 'Party For Everybody' (2012)
14) UK - Blue: 'I Can' (2011)
15) ISRAEL - Netta: 'Toy' (2018)
16) IRELAND - Ryan O'Shaughnessy: 'Together' (2018)
17) UK - Sam Ryder: 'Space Man' (2022)
Now read:
EXCLUSIVE: Faye Tozer and Michelle Visage on the brand-new Steps collab 🙌
50 of the best LGBTQ+ movies 🏳️🌈