James Freeman (27 May 1965 – 3 December 2022) was a British singer, songwriter, musician and record producer, who previously fronted The Jamie Freeman Agreement. He was the brother of actor Martin Freeman and musician Tim Freeman, of Frazier Chorus. He co-founded Union Music Store in Lewes, East Sussex with his ex-wife, Stevie Smith. He was a member of the Americana Music Association and Americana Music Association UK. His song, "The Fire", co-written with Ben Glover, was nominated for UK Song of the Year at the UK Americana Awards.
Career
Freeman's primary instrument was the guitar, and he was also a drummer. He started drumming at the age of 13 and played with the group Salter Cane for eight years. He played electric and acoustic guitar, and a kick-drum when playing solo. In the studio he also played keyboards, bass, lap steel and percussion. He played with Frazier Chorus as a member of the touring band and performed on their third album Wide Awake, released on the Pure label.
Freeman's first album Just You, released under his name, was described as "a perfect blend of UK folk/American roots" by Gilded Palace. The follow-up 100 Miles From Town was released under the band's name The Jamie Freeman Agreement and features guest appearances by several artists including Larkin Poe, Brandy Zdan, Richard Smith and The Good Lovelies. Mark Chadwick was a consultant producer on the album. David Hughes of FATEA described the album as, " set about defining English Americana."
His 2019 album Dreams About Falling features co-writes with, among others, Angaleena Presley, Brandy Zdan, and Amy Speace. Dreams About Falling's release was supported by over thirty live shows. David Pratt of FolkRadio.co.uk reviewed the album positively saying, "Jamie is patently in the vanguard of the current crop of British songwriters, regardless of genre-type. Dreams About Falling is a musical tour de force."
In 2019, Freeman attended the House of Songs Songwriter Summit in Bentonville, Arkansas, writing with Elles Bailey.
Death Freeman died from brain cancer on 3 December 2022. He was 57 years old.
Discography Artist nameTitleYearLabelFormatCatalogue No.Jamie FreemanJust You2011Union Music StoreCD/DigitalUMS001The Jamie Freeman Agreement100 Miles From Town2013Union Music StoreCD/DigitalUMS005Jamie FreemanHasia Dreams2017Union Music StoreCD/DigitalUMS013Jamie FreemanDreams About Falling2019Union Music StoreCD/Vinyl/DigitalUMS014Jamie FreemanIsolated Incidents2021Self ReleasedCD/Digital/ZineJMF001
Production credits ArtistTitleDescriptionYear LabelJamie FreemanJust YouAlbum2011Union Music StoreZoe Brownrigg Not Once Did I See Your FaceEP2011Union Music StoreThe Self Help GroupNot Waving, But DrowningAlbum2012Union Music StoreThe Jamie Freeman Agreement100 Miles From TownAlbum2013Union Music StorePolice Dog HoganHome (Remix)Remix track for the Moutarde! vinyl EP (produced by Al Scott)2015Union Music StoreMark ChadwickNo ChangeTrack from Land of Hope and Fury compilation2015Union Music StoreLucy WardBigger Than That2015Union Music StorePhil JonesNew Homes2015Union Music StoreThe Jamie Freeman AgreementHomes For Heroes2015Union Music StoreThe Self Help GroupFuneral Drum2015Union Music StoreEmily BarkerDoing The Best I CanMix, track from Land of Hope and Fury compilation (Produced by Emily Barker)2015Union Music StoreThe Self Help GroupDead StarsAlbum2015Union Music StoreNoble JacksWhat The HammerAlbum2017Union Music StoreJamie FreemanHasia Dreams5 song EP. Track 3 produced by Rebecca Lovell (Larkin Poe).2017Union Music StoreBen NorrisMoral VacuumAlbum2020n/aJamie FreemanIsolated Incidents4 song EP.2021Self released
Production reviews The Self Help Group (Not Waving, But Drowning and Dead Stars) "The actual sound is a huge tribute to producer Jamie Freeman, giving great depth and openness to the recording but never overdoing the instrumentation, imbuing the whole disc with a power and drive that really shouldn't be possible when taking into account the mellowness of the music. – American Roots UK
"Dead Stars is the bands second studio outing, impeccably produced by Jamie Freeman" – Brighton's Finest
"Working with the same producer as the on the first album, the album is again a small masterpiece" – FATEA
The Jamie Freeman Agreement (100 Miles From Town) "It is high quality, beautifully written, arranged, sung, played and produced music that keeps the listener in thrall... and when it comes to the production there is a lovely clear open spacey feel even on songs with a fuller instrumentation. He seems to have an instinctive 'knack' for getting everything perfectly in balance and co-ordinated, and yet there is always a strong dramatic edginess to the performances and sound." – American Roots UK
References
External links Official website