Mitch James

Drawing from the stylistic wellsprings of Jack Johnson and Ben Harper, Auckland, New Zealand–born singer/songwriter Mitch James crafts acoustic pop centered on introspective songwriting, nimble guitar work, and an inviting vocal presence. His self-titled debut arrived through Sony in 2018.

As a mid-teen, the New Zealand native would retreat to a school practice room, accompanying music videos on guitar to develop his technique. By age seventeen he had accumulated funds for passage to London, England, after which he spent three years busking and performing at modest European venues, occasionally sleeping outdoors to conserve resources. That itinerant existence ended abruptly when a Sony Music NZ executive discovered a video he had uploaded to social media, resulting in a major-label deal.

His earliest release, the 2016 track “No Fixed Abode,” climbed the viral charts and accumulated millions of streams. Later that year the official debut single “Move On” secured substantial domestic radio airplay. In 2017 “All the Ways to Say Goodbye” achieved further streaming traction, earning James a Best Pop Artist nomination at the VNZMAs. During March and April of the following year he supported Ed Sheeran on three stadium dates in Dunedin, New Zealand.

Produced in Auckland by Simon Gooding with additional contributions from Jim Fraser and Eli Paewai of Dunedin band Six60, the album Mitch James appeared in September 2018 and entered the New Zealand album chart at number two.