WATCH: Edinburgh-based soul man James Emmanuel performs Living and Winning for the Scotsman Sessions
Welcome to the Scotsman Sessions, a series of short video performances from artists all around the country introduced by our critics. Here, James Emmanuel performs his latest single Living and Winning
When James Emmanuel first started to sing around Edinburgh, graduating from karaoke bars to open mics to residency gigs, he earned the nickname Captain Love for his ability to deliver a love song. Lionel Richie’s Hello was a speciality but Emmanuel could ace everything from Al Green to Phil Collins.
There is one artist, however, who stands apart as his vocal blueprint and now as the inspiration for his new nickname, Marvin Gaelic. “Marvin Gaye has always been a reference point for me,” he says. “To be nicknamed after him is just humbling.”
Gaye was one of the first secular artists to intrigue this son of a Nigerian preacher man, for his suave style as much as his soulful tone, so it’s natural to hear his influence strongly in Emmanuel’s thoughtful lyrics, which strive to mine gold from hard times. This is the theme of his latest uplifting single, Living and Winning, which he has chosen to perform for his Scotsman Session.
“It touches on every aspect of daily life,” says Emmanuel, “including mental health struggles and showing up and looking and presenting your best, even when you might be struggling with life's challenges.”
Emmanuel has not had his troubles to seek. His beloved father, who was his first cheerleader in life, died when he was a teenager. Emmanuel knew this was his cue to step up, find a job and help to put his sisters through education. His quest for work took him from Nigeria to India, South Africa, London, Glasgow and finally to Edinburgh, his adopted home, where he found his voice - a voice which has graced a succession of joyful old school soul singles and taken him all the way to the Proms. Next step: working on his debut album for release in 2027.
“I want to bring people together,” he says of his musical ambitions. “There's so much division and craziness going on in the world. I want my music to be a place where people can come to find relief, meet all kinds of people and start finding common ground. We are all we've got, and the sooner we start connecting with people and building trust, the better off we'll be.”
Unsurprisingly with that attitude, Emmanuel is making friends wherever he goes. He cites the touring he has done this year as a highlight but is also making musical connections which have borne fruit on his Sessions performance. “I made some friends during an opportune moment last year, and that relationship blossomed,” he says. “I recorded the song with some very special students from Bridgend College joining me on backing vocals.”
The next opportunity for people to hear Emmanuel live will be at King Tut’s in December, a prospect which makes him feel “elated. The speed at which the tickets sold out, with months to spare, has only reaffirmed the special bond that exists between me and the people of this beautiful country. I can't wait to turn up and give them something to remember for a long time.”
Living and Winning is out now on Fontana Records. James Emmanuel plays King Tut’s, Glasgow, on 16 December
The Scotsman’s arts newsletter is now sent twice a week - subscribe today
Enjoying the Arts & Culture journalism on scotsman.com? Make it easier to find by selecting us as a preferred Google source
Want the latest Scottish headlines sent directly to your phone? Sign up to our new WhatsApp channel here
Comments
Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.