James Lawrence Irvin is an English singer, songwriter, music journalist and podcast host. Irvin was a singer in the English new wave band Furniture, who had a UK hit single, in 1986 with Irvin's "Brilliant Mind". Irvin contributed to Melody Maker magazine, before becoming its reviews editor. Later he became the features editor of Mojo magazine. Irving has written or edited a number of books, including The Mojo Collection and Jeff Buckley: From Hallelujah To The Last Goodbye. Irvin returned to songwriting full-time in 2001 including the 2004 hit "The Weekend" by Michael Gray, and the song "Love", co-written with, and performed by, Unloved, introduced the Apple Keynote Speech in March 2019.
Early life Irvin was raised in west London.
Career Furniture Irvin was the singer in the English new wave band Furniture, who released singles and albums with Survival, Stiff and Arista Records between 1982 and 1990. He co-wrote their 1986 UK hit single, "Brilliant Mind", taken from the album, The Wrong People. The song also appeared in the John Hughes movie, Some Kind of Wonderful and was re-recorded for the soundtrack. Furniture made one further album, Food, Sex & Paranoia, for Arista (1990), and disbanded in 1991.brilliant minds – the furniture story . Gilest.org. Retrieved 13 November 2010. In 1992, Irvin recorded an album, Mad Scared Dumb and Gorgeous with jazz musician Chris Ingham, under the name Because. It was released on Boo Hewerdine's Haven label.
In 2019, Emotional Rescue records reissued Furniture's debut, six-song mini-album, When the Boom Was On (1983) and an EP of 12" mixes called On Broken Glass
Music journalism In 1991, Irvin began contributing to Melody Maker magazine, where his work appeared under the name Jim Arundel. He was later made reviews editor. In 1994, reverting to Jim Irvin, he became the founding features editor of Mojo magazine. One of his most notable pieces for the magazine was "Angel of Avalon", a major profile of the late Sandy Denny, published in 1998. He also edited an acclaimed book, The Mojo Collection.Articles, interviews and reviews from Jim Irvin: Rock's Backpages. Rocksbackpages.com. Retrieved 13 November 2010. He has written for The Word, Time Out, The Sunday Times and The Guardian and continues to write a reissues column for Mojo.
In February 2015, he published an e-book, A Book Of Wild Flowers, which collected his writings on Sandy Denny, Joni Mitchell and Kate Bush.
In May 2018, he co-authored Jeff Buckley: From Hallelujah To The Last Goodbye (Post Hill Press), a biography of Jeff Buckley written with Dave Lory, the singer's former manager.
In 2020, he launched a podcast, “Here’s One I Made Earlier” where he interviewed musical creators about a significant work in their career. The following year he launched a second podcast “You’re Not On The List” dedicated to “forgotten albums and the people who love them”, in which guests nominate undervalued albums and discuss them.
Later production and songwriting In 1995, Irvin produced the first demos by the band Gay Dad, and co-wrote some of the songs which later appeared on their debut album, Leisure Noise. Their single, "Oh Jim", was said to be dedicated to him.
In 1999, he produced Lido, the debut album by Clearlake, released in 2000 on his own label, Dusty Company, an offshoot of Domino Records.
Irvin returned to full-time songwriting in 2001, concentrating initially on dance music. He co-wrote the 2004 hit "The Weekend" by Michael Gray, and had work recorded by Groove Armada, Full Intention and David Guetta.Radius Music Ltd. – Music industry artist management | Imogen Heap | Jack McManus | Rogue States. Radiusmusic.co.uk. Retrieved 13 November 2010.
Since 2006, his work has been mostly outside dance music, with artists like Lana Del Rey, Lissie, Simple Plan, Jack Savoretti, Unloved, Nothing but Thieves and Yungblud.
The song "Love", co-written with and performed by Unloved, introduced the Apple Keynote Speech in March 2019.
Discography Year Artist Album Song Co-written with NotesChart Position2023Nothing But ThievesDead Club City “Welcome To The DCC"Julian Emery, Nothing But Thieves “Welcome To The DCC" voted Hottest Record of the Year by BBC Radio 1 listeners. UK No.1, Netherlands No 1, Australia No.10”Members Only"2022Man Made Sunshine"Man-Made Sunshine" EP"Life's Gonna Kill You If You let It""Conor Mason, Avi BarathSingle"Big"Conor Mason, Julian Emery"Little Bird"Conor Mason, Julian Emery"Rosebud"Conor Mason, Justin ParkerYungbludYungblud "Cruel Kids"Yungblud, Dan Smith, Andrew Wells, Adam Warrington, Chris Greatti, Matt Schwartz, Gregory 'Aldee' Hein, Jordan Brasko Gable. No. 1 UK, No.1 IRE, No.1 NL, No.1 Australia, No.1 Austria No.2 BEL, No. 45 US Billboard, No. 7 US Rock2021Nothing But Thieves"Moral Panic II" “Miracle, Baby"Julian Emery, Nothing But Thieves ”Your Blood"You Me At Six SUCKAPUNCH "SUCKAPUNCH"You Me At Six, Julian Emery UK No.12020Sianon - "Sad Bop"Sianon, Julien Flewsingles"Make Me Jealous""Cry, Cry, Cry""Overthinking"Stelahr'Starz'"Starz"Stella FrankesingleNothing But Thieves"Moral Panic" "Real Love Song"Julian Emery, Nothing But Thieves"Impossible" voted Radio X Song Of The Year 2020 No.3 UK, No.5 NL, No.8 AUS"Impossible""Phobia""There Was Sun""Free If We Want It"BLOXX"Lie Out Loud" "Go Out With You"Julian Emery, BLOXXsingles"5000 Miles"Ophelia Booth, Jennifer Decelvio, Julian EmeryBroken HandsSplit in Two"Can You Feel It"Broken Hands, Julian Emery "Lazarus""Wrong Track""Run Away"Ten Times A MillionBorn Tomorrow"Bye"Ten Times A Million, Julian Emery EP"Make It Stop""Born Tomorrow""Good Times"Airways'Out Of Luck'"Out Of Luck"Jake Daniels, Dom CraiksingleLissieWhen I'n Alone: The Piano Retrospective"When I'm Alone"Lissie, Julian Emery"in Sleep"Lissie, Julian Emery2019The Amazons'Future Dust'"Doubt It"The Amazons, Julian Emery, Nick AtkinsonsingleUnlovedHeartbreak"Devils, Angels"Keefus Ciancia, Jade Vincent, David Holmes "Love" used to introduce Apple Keynote, March 2019"Love""Heatbreak"Airways'Trampoline/The End'"Trampoline"Jake Daniels, Dom Craiksingle2018Airways'Blue Gasoline'"Blue Gasoline"Jake Daniels, Dom CraiksingleAirways'Alien'"Alien"Jake Daniels, Dom CraiksingleNothing But ThievesWhat Did You Think When You Made Me This Way?"Gods"Nothing But Thieves, Julian EmeryEPUK 8 iTunes"You Know Me Too Well""Take This Lonely Heart"Black HoneyBlack Honey"What Happened To You"Izzy Bee Philips, Emre Ramazangalou UK 33The WrecksPanic Vertigo (EP)"James Dean"Nick Anderson, Julian EmeryLissieCastles "Peace"Lissie, Julian EmeryUK No. 9"Somewhere"2017Nothing But ThievesBroken Machine"I Was Just A Kid"Nothing But Thieves, Julian Emery#2 Album UK"Sorry""Broken Machine""I’m Not Made By Design""Get Better""Hell Yeah"AirwaysStarting to Spin EP"Starting To Spin"Julian Emery, Jake Daniels and Brian Moroney"White Noise Boys""One Foot""Mate"Jake Daniels and Dom Craik2016LissieMy Wild West"Ojai"Julian Emery, Lissie #16 UK Album #9 Norwegian Albums2015Nothing But ThievesNothing But Thieves "Excuse Me"Julian Emery, Nothing But ThievesAlbum UK No. 7 "Graveyard Whistling""Hostage""Trip Switch"#1 Single Alternative Songs – Billboard"Tempt You (Evocatio)"Album UK No. 7 "Hanging""Neon Brother" "Ban All the Music" (single)"Ban All the Music"2014Chlöe Howl"Rumour" (single) "Rumour"Julian Emery, Chlöe HowlLewis WatsonThe Morning"Stones Around the Sun"Julian Emery, Lewis WatsonUK No. 28Lower Than AtlantisLower Than Atlantis "Live Slow, Die Old"Julian Emery, Lower Than AtlantisAlbum UK No. 12"Time""Number 1"Nothing But ThievesGraveyard Whistling EP "Graveyard Whistling"Julian Emery, Nothing But Thieves"Last Orders"Pixie LottPixie Lott "Break Up Song"Rami Afuni, Pixie LottAlbum UK No. 15"Oceans"Pixie Lott, Jerry Abbott"Leaving You"Ruth LorenzoPlaneta Azul "Dancing in the Rain"Julian Emery, Ruth LorenzoSpanish Eurovision entry. Placed 9th.2013LissieBack to Forever "Shameless"Julian Emery, LissiesingleAlbum UK No. 16"Further Away (Romance Police)"single"The Habit""What's It Like""They All Want You"Lissie, Angelo PetragliaRyan Beatty"Chameleon" "Chameleon"Julian Emery, Ryan Beatty, Elisabeth Maurus Single"Love Will Come My Way"Gabrielle AplinEnglish Rain "Start of Time"Julian Emery, Gabrielle AplinUK No. 2Gavin DeGrawMake a Move "Every Little Bit"Julian Emery, Gavin DegrawUS No. 10Josh KrajcikBlindly, Lonely, Lovely "Her Song”Julian Emery, Josh KrajcikLee DeWyzeFrames "You Don't Know Me"Julian Emery, Lee DeWyzeUS No. 116Alex HepburnTogether Alone"Get Heavy"Julian Emery, Alex HepburnFrance No. 2"Crown of Thorns"2012Lana Del ReyBorn to Die This Is What Makes Us GirlsTim Larcombe, Lana Del ReyUK No. 1, US No. 2Various CrueltiesVarious Cruelties (2012)"Beautiful Delerium”Julian Emery, Liam O'DonnellJack SavorettiBefore the Storm (2012)"Lifetime"Julian Emery, Jack SavorettiHalestormThe Strange Case Of... (2012)"Rock Show"Julian Emery, Lzzy HaleUS No. 15, UK 49"Don’t Know How to Stop"Audra Mae and The Almighty SoundsAudra Mae and The Almighty Sounds (2012)"Jebidiah Moonshine's Friday Night Shack Party"Julian Emery, Audra Mae2011Simple PlanGet Your Heart On "Freaking Me Out"Julian Emery, Chuck Comeau, Pierre BouvierCAN No. 2"Astronaut""Fire in My Heart"David CookThis Loud Morning"Paper Heart"Julian Emery, David CookUS No. 7"We Believe"Michelle BranchThe Loud Music Hits EP"Loud Music"Julian Emery single2010LissieCatching a Tiger"When I'm Alone"Julian Emery, LissieUK No. 12"In Sleep""Loosen the Knot""Cuckoo"BoyzoneBrother "Separate Cars”Julian Emery, Jack McManus, Jon GreenUK No. 1Zucchero FornaciariChocabeck "Devil in the Mirror"Zucchero FornaciariItaly No. 1"Spirit / Together"Zucchero Fornaciari, Iggy Pop2007David GuettaPop Life"Do Something Love"Garraud, David Guetta, Ben Chapman, Juliet RichardsonFrance No. 2Groove ArmadaSoundboy Rock"From the Rooftops”Jack McManus, Andy Cato, Tom FindlayUK No. 102004Michael Gray"The Weekend" (single)"The Weekend”Oliver Cheatham, Michael Gray, Sally StillUK No. 7
Bibliography
Essays and reporting
Review of five albums by Françoise Hardy.
References
External links
Radius Music