James Cherry

James Cherry is a 21st century British soul singer who updates classic sounds with electronic production and indie sensibilities. His first recordings -- the self-released EP Blame It on Our Youth in 2015 followed by singles in 2016 and 2017 -- suggest a tough-minded hybrid of Sam Smith and James Blake, a sound the singer himself dubs as "aggressive soul." Born James Andrew Antcliff on April 8, 1993 in Leicester, Leicestershire, Cherry changed his name following the departure of his father as a child. He started writing songs as a teenager, but became serious about music in the mid-2010s. His first single, "Cry Myself to Sleep," earned play on BBC Introducing in June 2015, and it was the anchor of the Blame It on Our Youth EP. In 2016 Cherry released two new singles, "Why Don't You Listen" and "Break Somebody," and the next year brought an additional pair of digital singles, "Hold On" and "On My Mind." ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine