Jono, Ben & Megan - The Podcast - Mitch James dives into the music industry!

Episode Date: April 21, 2024

Mitch James is in studio to talk the truth behind the music industry, going top three in the Philippines, and to sing his new song 'Bid In A Hurrican'.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Hits, with the Jono and Ben podcast. Thanks to Challenge, putting the service back into service stations. I'm bloody good, how are you Tim? Good to see you. Always good to see you guys. And great that you've got new music out, and a very, like, a song that means a lot to you, and it means a lot to a lot of people by all the comments on it. Yeah, yeah, I've been blown away this morning by the feedback. I kind of came in with not not the highest of hopes I guess my first independent release I wasn't expecting everyone to get behind it but they are and I've received such beautiful messages from people saying this is exactly what they needed in their life right now and as a musician

I guess that's that's what you want so I'm super stoked what do you mean not the highest of hopes I um I had a pretty interesting experience for my last album I had to release something that maybe I didn't really want to release and was pushed in a direction creatively, which was a bit frustrating for me at times. But I feel like now that I'm independent and I've got these songs lined up, it feels like I'm back to being myself and being authentic. You talk about your last album, you weren't entirely happy with it.

Did you have people going, you need to sound like this or you need to write this lyric and this is how we're going to make this song? Basically, yeah. Really? Yeah, and there was like a bit of a pop star image that people wanted me to be and so with that comes the label telling you, you can't release this song because we want it to be more fit into this whole or whatever.

Does that happen? I thought you had just released music that you've written and you like. I wish it was like that. It was like that with, with my first album, which I think, you know, the results probably speak for themselves,

but yeah, it was a very interesting time. Like I had to move over to Australia and COVID and nothing really happened. And then, you know, the, the bloke that I was working with, who was sort of had other ideas.

Had agendas. Yeah. I'm so sorry. You know, every industry's got its crap, right? Here we are. So it's got, I guess, freeing in a way for you to go back to what you love and probably finding the love again in music, I imagine, for you. Yeah, look, I'd kind of gone through this patch

where nothing was really working in terms of every aspect of the industry and so definitely had gone back to baseline and thought like what got me here and like why do people connect with my music in the first place and it was always authenticity so i just yeah try to focus on that went away for a few months wrote some songs which are very meaningful and honest to me and just hope that that everyone else feels the same so i feel like it shines through and thank you and i respect you for telling this truth to everyone sometimes the music industry can be a pretty brutal place and people don't talk about it yeah i've wanted to say it for a long time so when you so when you perform those

songs on stage are you enjoying performing them oh no, I just kind of didn't perform a lot of the songs, to be honest, on this last tour. There's a few songs on that album that I absolutely love. Motions, Bullet Holes, Fade to Black. They're all songs that are real, maybe just produced in a way that's a bit poppier than I would have liked. But there's great songs which I love. But the ones that I don't feel such an affinity to I just left them out of the set list well and so you're in the recording studio you're not enjoying your time someone's telling you what to do that must be an

awkward long day at work yeah it is yeah it is I remember also the Warriors lost 70 to 10 one of those days against the Storm so it was a very long day it's a sad day in the Warriors we all to 10 one of those days against the Stormers. That was a very long day. Jeez, it's a sad day in the Warriors. We all knew where we were that day. Mitch James back with us. It's awesome to have you back. Number three, the song you've got to number three in the Philippines as well, I was reading last night.

It must be kind of weird because you've been traveling the world with Callum Scott. It must be weird to go to these different places and then go, hang on, people know about me here. Yeah, the Philippines was a crazy one. I was only there for 24 hours with Cal. And once we got into the airport, I got escorted off the plane and had a personal security guard for my whole 24 hours. Really? Do they know I've got drugs on me? Yeah, I was like, you shouldn't have brought that over from Thailand.

But yeah, it was crazy. I had no idea. And I went into a radio station. They said that Motions, one of my songs, was number three on their charts. So, I mean, it was mind-blowing. But I'm pretty sure I didn't need the security. But take it. You've got to take it with an exam.

I'll claim it till the death. Oh, Mitch James, great to have you back. A Bird in a Hurricane is the new song from Mitch James. And and i think you're gonna play it for us absolutely that'd be great well i'd take all your pain if there was a way and i'd make a trade your brain for my brain The same blood's rushing through our veins The same path but it's split halfway I'd take all your pain if there was a way I'm sorry this storm came without any warning But every night turns into morning. I know you're trying to find a shelter in the rain.

I know your fur is getting heavier and your wings can't take the weight. You feel the wind is winning but keep fighting through the gray my little bird caught in a hurricane well i know where you go isn't in your control. I know you believe that I'll leave, but I won't. You're stuck and the winds won't change. Hold on, even mountains break. Don't know where you go, but come follow me home. I'm sorry this storm came without any warning.

But every night turns into morning. I know you're trying to find a shelter in the rain. I know your faith is getting heavier and your wings can't take the weight you feel the wind is winning but keep fighting through the gray my little bird caught in a hurricane

whistling whistling whistling whistling whistling oh sister Sister, I need you to know I forgave you long ago Nothing you could do or say

Could wash this love away I know you're trying to find a shelter in the rain I know your're trying to find a shelter in the rain. I know your fat is getting heavier. Your wings can't take the weight. You feel the wind is winning. But keep fighting through the gray. I know it hurts. My little bird in her heart became It brings a tear to your eye. Thank you, bro. Yeah, man. That's an honour. Cheers, bro. And if you need people to step in live with the whistle.

I've been looking for a way to integrate you guys. I'm a pretty good whistler. I've heard all I need to hear. Rich is too much for me. Hey, Miss James, love you. Lovely human being, mate. Good luck with this new chapter in your career, my friend. Yeah, thank you so much, bro.

I really appreciate it.