South London’s R&B golden boy James Vickery is stepping into a new era, and he’s doing it with the kind of soul and swagger that demands your full attention.
Vickery officially announced his brand new studio album, JAMES., dropping 12 September via Red Bull Records. After a string of singles that turned heads and twisted hearts (‘Butter’, ‘Hotel Lobby’), his latest track ‘Right Side’ is the boldest yet, a groovy, deceptively breezy tune that actually carries a deeply personal backstory.
“Disguised as a love song…”
On the surface, ‘Right Side’ sounds like an easy-listening summer bop. But there’s a twist. James, who is completely deaf in one ear, wrote the song about his real-life experience of always needing to stand on a certain side of people. “I love the idea of something being disguised as a love song,” he says. That’s the thing about Vickery, he packages vulnerability into something gorgeously vibey.
And the video? A slick, sun-soaked visual shot in LA by director Cully Wright, complete with an intro that mimics how James hears the world—a rare sonic insight into his perspective.
A Sound That Hits Different
JAMES. is described by Vickery as the most “true, raw and authentic reflection” of who he is. With help from longtime collaborators JD Reid (Mahalia, Sinead Harnett), Larrance Dopson (Ella Mai, Kendrick), and Grammy-nominated Jonah Christian (Tems, Normani), the project blends heart-wrenching ballads with feel-good funk. Think 2000s R&B nostalgia meets 70s soul with a side of modern pop gloss.
From the emotional weight of ‘Fall In Your Arms’ to the radiant, synth-soaked energy of ‘Higher’, the album showcases Vickery’s versatility—proof that his sound doesn’t fit neatly into one box. This is music that’s made to be felt first, labelled later.
From Wembley to World Tour
Beyond the studio, James has been making real-life waves too. He performed ‘Can’t Help Falling In Love’ for Crystal Palace fans at Wembley’s Box Park, and even chatted with BBC London about his journey. Now, he’s taking it global.
With a massive UK, EU and North American tour planned through autumn and winter, including a headline stop at London’s EartH Theatre on 12 December, this is the year Vickery graduates from one-to-watch to undeniable main character energy.
Full tour dates below ↓
JAMES. – Full Tracklisting:
- Hotel Lobby
- Butter
- Like That (ft. BIA)
- All In
- Right Side
- Miss A Thing
- You & I (Interlude)
- ILU
- Better Days
- Higher
- Hanging On
- Fall In Your Arms
The Bigger Picture
James Vickery isn’t just here to sing love songs—he’s rewriting what it means to be seen and heard. His journey as an artist with a hearing impairment isn’t a sad story—it’s a loud, soulful triumph. In his own words: “I don’t want to be a sad story. I’m very proud of going through what I have and coming out the other side.”
If JAMES. is anything like the singles we’ve heard so far, expect a genre-blurring, emotionally charged soundtrack that tells his story exactly the way he wants it told.
Catch James Vickery Live:
US Tour – October
12 – Seattle, WA (Mama Lou’s)
14 – San Francisco, CA (The Independent)
15 – Los Angeles, CA (El Rey)
19 – Dallas, TX (Deep Ellum)
21 – Atlanta, GA (Masquerade)
23 – Washington, DC (Union Stage)
25 – New York, NY (Racket)
26 – Philadelphia, PA (The Foundry)
28 – Chicago, IL (Lincoln Hall)
30 – Toronto, ON (Velvet Underground)
EU Tour – November/December
25 – Berlin, DE (Kantine)
27 – Vienna, AT (Chelsea)
29 – Cologne, DE (Yuca)
2 – Paris, FR (Les Étoiles)
3 – Amsterdam, NL (Paradiso)
UK Tour – December
5 – Manchester (Deaf Institute)
6 – Bristol (Strange Brew)
12 – London (EartH Theatre)
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