The Making Of "Let Me Give You A Good Day:" 5 Fast Facts with Frederick James
- Jay Castellano
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Based in Perth, Western Australia, Frederick James is a songwriter who tackles real-life struggles through warm vocals and full-sounding instrumentation, with inspiration coming from country and indie folk music. James’s latest release, "Let Me Give You A Good Day," is built around acknowledging the ones that you care deeply for and putting it into a well-rounded composition.
JC: Was there a specific moment when you knew you wanted to take music seriously? Did you have a passion for it prior to moving to Australia?
FJ: Music has always been a big part of my life. I started a band in London during the mid-2000s and spent a few years writing songs, rehearsing, and playing gigs. Life has a habit of getting in the way, though. Once I started writing consistently again at the start of 2024, I knew it was worth pursuing.
JC: If you could pick any instrument that you do not already play and master it, which would you pick? How would you implement it into your music?
FJ: Piano. I mess around on one at home, and it’s amazing how hearing a different sound can take you somewhere you wouldn’t have gone with a guitar. Most of my songs start on acoustic guitar, so I’d love to be able to sit down at a piano and write from a completely different perspective. It would be great to be able to play it properly rather than just noodling around and hoping for the best.
JC: If you could have one sentence as a preface for someone who is about to listen to "Let Me Give You A Good Day," what would it be?
FJ: Think of someone you know or love who deserves to just have a good day. It’s a simple thing.
JC: How long did it take you to write "Let Me Give You A Good Day?" Did you have a set plan before writing, or did it all come to you at once?
FJ: It came together in about 30 minutes. The phrase “Let Me Give You A Good Day” popped into my head while I was driving. I sat down with an acoustic guitar when I got home, and the song arrived pretty quickly from there. Those are often the best ones because you’re not overthinking anything, you’re just trying to capture the idea before it disappears.
JC: What is one song you wish Frederick James wrote?
FJ: "In My Life" by The Beatles. It’s one of those songs that gets more meaningful the older you get. The melody is beautiful.
JC: What’s next for Frederick James?
FJ: Let Me Give You A Good Day is out this week, and I’ve got another single coming in August. After that, we’ll be heading into the studio to start recording my debut album, Indian Pacific. I’ve spent the last year road-testing a lot of those songs live, so I’m excited to finally get them recorded and out into the world.
JC: Thank you so much for sharing with us. Best of luck with your upcoming release!
FJ: Thank you for having me. I really appreciate the support, and I hope people enjoy "Let Me Give You A Good Day!"
Stream "Let Me Give You a Good Day" below!
Credits:
Instrument: Frederick James
Production: Patrick Carre and Simon Groves
Engineer: Patrick Carre and Simon Groves
