ShareJames Walsh, vocalist, singer, songwriter, guitarist, pianist and front man of the band Starsailor chats with Kevin Cooper about the bands 25th anniversary, supporting U2 at the Stade de France Paris, their latest album Where The Wild Things Grow and their 2025 headline UK tour.
James Walsh is an English singer, songwriter, guitarist, pianist and front man of the band Starsailor, named after the title of Tim Buckley’s album.
Starsailor are an English post Britpop band formed in 2000. The band comprises Walsh, drummer Ben Byrne, bassist James Stelfox and keyboard player Barry Westhead. They have released six studio albums and have achieved ten top forty singles in the UK.
After the release of their fourth album, All The Plans in 2009, the band entered into an extended hiatus until 2014, during which time the members were involved in individual projects. Announcing their reunion in May 2014 by performing a worldwide tour and releasing a fifth studio album, All This Life in 2017 followed by Where The Wild Things Grow in 2024.
In 2009 Walsh started recording his first solo album working with Suzanne Vega. His first solo EP, Live At The Top Of The World, was released in 2010. His debut album, Lullaby was released in September 2012.
Whilst busy preparing for Starsailor’s headline tour, James Walsh took some time out to have a chat with Kevin Cooper and this is what he had to say.
James good morning, how are you?
Not too bad thanks, how are you today Kevin?
I’m good thanks and before we move on let me thank you for taking the time to speak to me today.
That’s alright.
And just how is life treating you at this moment in time?
(Laughter) not too bad thanks. We have just recently had a new baby, so we are having lots of joy together with sleepless nights (laughter).
Congratulations.
Thank you.
We have got a hell of a lot to talk about, so if I may, let’s start off with March 2024 and the album release of Where The Wild Things Grow. I have to say that I love it.
Thank you very much.
Were you happy with the fan’s reaction to the album?
Yes, I was, absolutely. The longer that you go on, then the more beloved the older albums become. On the other hand, it also becomes a damn sight harder to put something new out into the world and get a good reaction. We all put a lot of work into that album; we put a lot of work into getting the balance right. We like to keep things fresh, trying out new ideas, so we weren’t just rehashing old ideas. We were also trying to maintain the elements which made people get into the band in the first place, and I really do feel that we managed to get that balance right.
How would you describe the album to me?
(Laughter) why not ask me something difficult. The best way that I would describe the album is that it is an album of extremes. There are heavier moments like Into The Wild which ranks amongst some of the heavier stuff that we have done. Then there are the lighter moments like Hard Love and Hanging In The Balance, which are amongst the most delicate stuff that we have ever done.
At the time, a lot of your fans were saying that it was some of your best work to date. Would you agree with that?
Yes, I would, absolutely. I think that all you can do really is that whenever you record something new, is to try and do your best to make it better than the last thing that you recorded. You just have to keep moving forward. Whenever the fans are saying things like that it really is flattering and encouraging knowing that the album went down so well with the fans.
I currently have three go to tracks which are, After The Rain, Hard Love and the title track Where The Wild Things Grow. I personally feel that those three tracks are fantastic.
Thank you so much, thank you. I have to say that I really do love After The Rain, I really do love playing that song. I have to tell you that it was a joy to write as well. Songs don’t always come so easy but that one was one of those that just flowed and as I said, it really is so much fun to play.
Would you say that After The Rain is your personal favourite track on the album?
Yes, I think so.
You have mentioned writing, where does the inspiration come from?
That really is a good question. I have recently been doing some solo gigs and one of the songs that I put out recently was based on a photograph by Bruce Davidson, of Coney Island, New York, and whenever I introduce it to the audience I always say that after twenty-five years of my own emotional turmoil and experiences, you sometimes have to look outwardly and find other things that inspire you to write. So being totally honest with you I would have to say that it is still seventy percent things that I am feeling or things that have happened in my personal life whilst the other thirty percent comes to me after I have seen a film, after I have read a book or as I have said, after I have looked at a photograph.
Whenever you are writing for Starsailor or your solo work, does it require a different headspace?
That really is a great question. I would have to say, yes, a little bit. I have to say that it is impossible not to have the other band members in my head and wondering what they are going to make of this idea, or this song. I often try to second-guess if they are going to tell me that I need to write another verse here or do I need to revisit the middle eight (laughter). It really is quite a different experience but equally enjoyable. My solo stuff can be a bit more of an introspective singer-songwriter kind of experience. I can let the ideas, words and the melodies flow.
I have to say that perhaps there is a little more word craft involved whenever I am writing for me when compared to the band songs. With the band you have to try to make sure that everyone is able to express themselves in the song, and that the writing process is a collaboration between the four of us rather than something that I have created and totally envisaged, and the other three members are just filling in the gaps. I think that with the band it is more a case of all four of us all playing an equal part into just how the finished product end up and not simply an idea that I came up with.
Coming up to date, on the 3rd October you released Starsailor with Strings: Live from Liverpool. Whose idea was it to record a live album with the addition of strings?
(Laughter) I would have to hold my hands up and say that it was something that me and James (Stelfox) the bass player in Starsailor are guilty of (laughter). First of all, we both thought that we have played so many anniversary gigs, released a number of compilation albums, with this year being our 25th anniversary we decided that we were going to have to do something special. It was after the gig in Manchester with Joe Duddlle for the Trussell Trust and we were really impressed with how quickly he was able to put together these string arrangements for five or six different acts, of which we were one.
It really was a great line-up. We immediately thought, ‘that’s the guy to work on this idea’ and luckily, he was up for it as well. Joe really is so easy to work with, he is a really nice guy, and it was so exciting to do it at The Tung Auditorium, Liverpool’s state of the art concert hall especially with its connection to Yoko Ono and the late John Lennon which really was the icing on the cake.
Did any songs not work with the strings?
Not really, though I think it’s more a case of some songs worked better than others. Every song worked to some degree, and then some songs were absolutely made to be for strings. The arrangements wrote themselves and then songs like Alcoholic, Poor Misguided Fool and Way To Fall were probably the easiest ones for us to do, and the easiest ones that Joe latched onto. Maybe songs like Lullaby and Tell Me It’s Not Over needed a little more work, but they too ended up sounding great in the end.
Is it something that you might go back to?
Yes, it is, in fact we are already thinking of doing a few more shows like that next year. We are just trying to make sure that they work budget wise (laughter). It is obviously something that if budget was no question, then yes, we would do a full theatre tour with the strings. I just love the sound of strings playing together. I think it lends itself well to our music which is quite lyrical and emotional. So, in answer to the question yes it really is something that I would obviously be interested in doing again.
That was obviously a project where things came afterwards; the songs were already there and the strings came afterwards. It could be interesting to involve a string arranger at a much earlier stage when a song is in its infancy, and maybe if it was right for the song we could perhaps bring the strings in earlier, even before the band. Again, trying to keep everything fresh, seeing things in a different kind of way and see just what comes out of it.
That could lead you down a totally different path, couldn’t it?
Yes, it could, absolutely (laughter).
Martin Fry of ABC fame has now been living off the string arrangements for their album The Lexicon Of Love now for over ten years (laughter).
(Laughter) excellent. Maybe he has got some advice for us on just how to make it work on a tight budget. Or maybe he manages to sell enough tickets at larger venues (laughter).
You briefly mentioned that 2025 is your 25th anniversary, can you believe it?
No, not really. Obviously and even more scarily the last 25 years have simply flown by. I feel like a lot of people, that the time that we lost to lockdown messed with everyone’s idea of time. I feel that has added to it, and I find that it feels slightly surreal.
If someone had told you 25 years ago that you would still be writing and recording today, what would you have said to them?
(Laughter) to be totally honest with you I’m not sure. It is great that 25 years on we are still attracting people who are still interested enough in our music for us to keep creating and recording, something which I personally am incredibly grateful for. For me, playing live is our bread and butter. To be totally honest with you I would find myself in a bit if a panic if I wasn’t able to do it. I simply do not have the capacity to do a different job, and this is something that I chose to do. I think that I would really struggle with life if I wasn’t able to do what I do. If I couldn’t get up on stage and do the occasional gig, I don’t think that I would cut it in an office, a factory or wherever it may be. Obviously, I feel incredibly grateful that we have had so much success doing it, but I do feel on a fundamental level that being a musician and a songwriter actually manages to pay the bills (laughter).
What would you attribute to the longevity of the band?
This is going to sound so cheesy, but I really do feel that it is down to our friendship and the understanding of each other’s roles within the band. We also all totally understand each other’s sensitives and moods. I think that the balance between the band life, career, your home life, and your family are so important as well. There are also moments in life where that path has to take priority when you have got a new baby or whenever someone is going through a happy period, getting married for instance, or someone is going through a bad phase like getting a divorce, things like that.
Having the ability to say to someone, “you take all of the time that you need in order to focus on that” just so long as someone keeps the cogs moving, is answering all of the emails and carries on having all of those ideas whist someone has got something else going on (laughter). Over the past 25 years there has been enough time for everyone to play together, be focused together, and I have to say that things have worked out really well. That level of understanding is, in my opinion, really important. It is when people start accusing other members of the band of not pulling their weight that the cracks begin to appear.
Do you still enjoy touring?
Yes, I do, most definitely. I have to say that we had an amazing time there in Nottingham, when we played at the Splendour Festival this year. Also, the gig in Liverpool was very special to us. For me, if anything, touring just gets better and better. There isn’t a machine behind us anymore, whereas when we first started out it was amazing, but we also had this big label pushing us into people’s faces (laughter). Don’t get me wrong, we all are incredibly grateful for that, because it was that which set us off on this path. Whereas, I feel like now, the people who are still coming to the gigs and have made the effort, especially when everyone’s lives has so much more going on, so the fact that people are still making the effort we are all incredibly grateful for.
You will be back here in Nottingham on Thursday 20th November playing Rock City. I have to ask, just what makes Rock City a must play venue?
Let’s see (laughter). Right, firstly it’s the history of the place. They have an amazing sound system up there, and I love the layout of the venue. Nottingham is just a great city. We have done quite a number of gigs over the years with Tony (Foster) guitarist with Spiritualized who I have to say is a bit of a local legend up there in Nottingham. And I have to say that Tony has joined us on quite a few gigs. We have used his studio in order to rehearse, so we really have spent a lot of time in Nottingham through that, and we have got to know a lot of the people up there and we really do always enjoy coming back to the city. It really is a community focused place.
Am I correct in saying that Ed Harcourt will be opening for you?
Ed is another good friend of ours, as well as being an amazing musician. So yes, Ed will be joining us in Nottingham.
Are you always writing or do you set aside a specific timeslot?
(Laughter) a bit of both really. My elder daughter has just started school so I have got from 9am to 3pm when I can concentrate on the writing. I have some duties to carry out with the newborn as well (laughter), so, as you can see; I have a bit of time in which to do it (laughter). Occasionally, in the evening, I will pick up the guitar, and find a nice few chord sequences, melodies and things.
You mentioned earlier the number of albums that you have released, with an ever growing back catalogue, just how hard is it for you to put a set list together for the tour?
Good question and I have to say that it is becoming really difficult. I think particularly because we have enjoyed the success plus, we have got a real mix of fans. Quite a lot of our fans really are hardcore, and they really do know ever word to every song on every album. Having said that, whenever you play slightly larger venues, you know that there are a lot of people there who know Alcoholic or know The Love Is Here albums and they don’t really know much beyond that. So, we have to try to cater for all of those different types of people. Generally, we have always thought, ‘well the vast majority are going to know us from our last two albums so we will focus on that but then we must make sure that we don’t leave out the hardcore fans with a nod to the deep cuts and other albums’.
Putting you firmly on the spot, what would you say has been the highlight of your career so far?
That’s a good question. I can see why you leave it until later on in the interview (laughter). I think that it would have to be the moment when everything colourist into one magical moment and that was when we were supporting U2 at the Stade de France in Paris and at the same time our album Four To The Floor was number one in the charts in France. I think that as far as a magical, stars aligned sort of moment it really is hard to top that.
From a personal point of view, just how disappointed were you when you were trying to work with the late Phil Spector?
To be honest the first sessions that we did with him didn’t go too badly. We actually managed to get Silence Is Easy and White Dove out of those sessions. But then when we tried to continue working with Phil it definitely felt like something wasn’t quite right. He was very hard to communicate with, he started wearing different wigs every day, he appeared to be heavily medicated, and you just knew that something wasn’t quite right. Obviously, what happened with that poor woman getting murdered put a very dark cloud over everything.
What was the first record that you bought?
That was Parklife by Blur.
Who did you first see performing live?
That was the Boo Radleys.
What was the last song or piece of music that made you cry?
That was the last track on Double Infinity which is the new Big Thief album and the track is called How Could I have Known.
What is currently on your live rider?
(Hysterical laughter) it’s pretty boring to be honest with you. Don’t laugh but the most unusual thing on there is my love of liquorish (laughter). I really am a big fan of liquorish, not so much liquorish all sorts, but the proper black kind. I love it when we play in Holland and Belgium because liquorish is absolutely everywhere, the proper black, natural liquorish (laughter). Other than that it’s the usual suspects, I quite like pale ales and IPA ale, then for the rest of the band its lager, gin, crisps, sandwiches, all the stuff that you would expect really (laughter).
On that note James let me once again thank you for taking the time to speak to me today, it’s been a delight.
No problem Kevin, nice chatting with you. You take care and I will see you up there in Nottingham. Bye for now.