Jarryd James is quietly becoming someone to look out for in 2016. After leaving the band, Holland, he has branched out on his own and justified this bold step towards a solo career. His debut headline tour sold out, and his debut album, Thirty One, got to number 2 on the Australian charts. Cracking Europe and the US, however, is another matter. It was evident that Australians dominated the crowds at his London gig at XOYO, yet his music seems very much capable of reaching a wider audience.

Nevertheless, his soulful and melancholic voice didn’t seem to strike a chord with the atmosphere at XOYO, and he would have benefitted from a more intimate venue location. The set did not highlight the quality of his voice, and his performance needed more work.

It is possible that Jarryd hasn’t worked out where his audience lies or even how to market his own sound. What is clear is that there would definitely be a paying audience for his work if he can figure out where to place himself in the industry and try and step out and go further than the Australian music scene.

Eleanor Robinson