Singer-songwriter and UK Eurovision contestant James Newman has his sights set on some lofty goals.
Along with representing the country at the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest, he said he’d love to write songs for artists including Dua Lipa and Miley Cyrus.
James is set to perform in front of the 3,500 strong live audience at Rotterdam Ahoy arena later this month with his track Embers.
He was revealed as the UK’s act last February, just a month before national lockdown restrictions were imposed across the country and the world.
The dance track is an ode to love, with the chorus featuring the line: “Out of the embers, you and I are gonna light up the room.”
Originally hailing from Yorkshire, James already has songwriting credits for huge artists including Little Mix, Jess Glynne and Louis Tomlinson.
(Image: Redferns)
In an interview with Sky News, James admitted his ambitions for life after the Song Contest includes landing dream songwriting gigs with Dua and Miley.
But he said his “dream collab” would be with iconic US singer-songwriter John Mayer.
“I think he’s amazing and he’s my favourite artist of all time,” James said. “So yeah. John Mayer, if you’re listening, let’s do a song.”
(Image: Getty Images)
Opening up about his upcoming performance, James said it’s “kind of scary but also exciting” thinking of being up on the legendary Eurovision stage.
The last time the UK took the crown was all the way back in 1997 with Katrina And The Waves’ Love Shine A Light – and in 2019 the country came dead-last.
He’s adamant that the country should at least get to the left side of the board this year, and told Sky that he thinks he’s “nailed the song” for 2021.
(Image: Victor Frankowsk)
The upbeat track is the perfect antidote to two fairly depressing years, featuring a right hoot of a music video complete with saxophone players, dance parties and a few racy kisses.
James added that though he won’t get the full Eurovision experience, touted by presenter Rylan Clark-Neal as “so fun” with “the whole city buzzing,” a “half-bad experience is better than zero.”
With COVID-19 restrictions in place, he will have to quarantine at his Netherlands hotel.
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But he plans to spend the time rehearsing his track, which will hopefully prove a hit for the UK.
Reaction to the track has been overwhelmingly positive since the music video premiered on YouTube in March, with one fan commenting: “Finally the UK send something modern, catchy and representative of what you would hear on the UK Radio!
“It’s a real ‘feel good’ track!”
Another added: “This finally has HUGE potential — well done UK.”
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
