People We Like: Jamie Ley

Written by Tiffiny // July 16, 2010 // Features // No comments

We probably have the promoter/label extraordinare, Communion to thank for quite a lot. We have discovered such exciting new music through Communion, truly living up to it’s name. We attended a London Communion night and this fella, Jamie Ley is one that I was switched on to and of course felt the need to share.

The Fly Magazine, Camden’s go to pick up free mag, declared they didn’t care whether he sounds like the poppy Paolo Nutini or Jeff Buckley because it doesn’t matter ‘when you have a voice like that’. I actually think there is something Buckley-esque about his music and I’m not sure I would say he’s Nutini like at all (especially the vocals), but either way – The Ruckus likes.

He’s definitely one to watch, having played this year’s Brighton’s Great Escape Festival and not least for the fact that he can play a range of instruments; piano, ukulele and guitar, which to me definitely highlights his talent as a musician. There’s something slightly Jack Johnson, Alan Pownall-esque to his music, but a tad more soulful and deeper in the lyrics and less poppy. I really like ‘Suzy Sang’, it hints to gritty Americana and although Jamie’s music is not completely folk, it’s more rooted in ‘Alt-folk’.

Jamie’s had some radio air play on BBC Introducing and I genuinely believe he’ll be one to watch, his vocals are beautiful, the lyrics aren’t simple, but honest. Check out ‘Suzy Sang’ below, and imagine yourself in the 50s listening to Jamie belt this out.

Play ‘Suzy Sang’