James Poole - I've Started F*ckin' Someone Else

Stream I've Started F*ckin' Someone Else here (Soundcloud)

There is no denying that the advancements in social media and streaming capabilities have made it a lot easier for Joe Public to see the artistic growth and development of upcoming singer/songwriters. Given a hitherto unprecedented platform to share their music with fans, the contemporary pop star has to navigate the choppy waters to success with precise vision to avoid becoming one of the glut that fall by the way side. James Poole is faring more than fine as the captain of his own destiny. His online following has built up through his (previously quite active) YouTube channel, showcasing the tonal qualities of his voice as well as his diversity as a singer. His label-debut, the provocatively named I've Started F*cking Someone Else, is a title that will certainly grab your attention. It is so much more than a salacious refrain, however - the music is as evocative, assertive and seductive as you would expect. It is a post-heartbreak tale of moving on and rediscovering your sexual energy whilst giving into that irresistible urge to shout out to your ex that you are a-ok without them. A repetitive, vibrant guitar riff accentuates James' vocal throughout the first verse as he details all the hi-jinks he has been getting up to since unexpectedly becoming single. Of course there is an element of resentment and revenge in his nuanced delivery, yet it is ensconced in such a sense of newly embraced liberation that it actually becomes part of the complex array of emotions James portrays. I like that he builds up to the refrain (that feels like it should be shouted from the rooftops), describing the more intimate acts of affection before brutally laying on the line the animalistic, carnal desire that is getting over you anthem. Like a new take on Kelly Clarkson's Since U Been Gone, by the time the chorus rolls around it is an explosive wall of sound that amps up every element of the narrative to euphoric new heights. The ebullient beat, the inveigling piano, James burgeoning confidence - everything coalesces to make this something satisfying and wonderful. While there is a clean version for radio, I fully recommend the full experience of the NFSW link above - what could be more cathartic than laying everything on the line with one of the most visceral words in the human language? The surprise here is how it helps James soothe the hurt and move onto pastures new...