RADAR: Jay James Picton
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 2:46PM
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Brit songwriter and neo-soul singer Jay James Picton has a lot on his mind. Signed to Universal on the strength of a series of impressive, narative-driven music videos (watch below), Picton is well on his way to what promises to be a stunning debut with Play It By Heart due later this year. Comparisons to the sounds of Amy Winehouse are a given -- both share a love of gutsy old school soul, sharply etched and reedy vocal style and the ability to pen emotionally heartwrenching lyrics of loss and pain. Picton has already surrounded himself with the right names -- the iconic soulman Booker T. Jones as well as John Legend and The Roots -- but his striking, powerful songs indicate that he's not simply going to be a marketed and manipulated tool. Take a listen to the subtle inflections deep within the monstrous funk lines in "Head vs. Hearts" or the dramatic chord progressions in the masterful soul stomper "Long May They Roll."
Jay James Picton - "Head vs. Hearts"
Jay James Picton - "Long May They Roll"















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