Oscar and the Wolf - 'James'
Belgium alternative electro pop artist Oscar and the Wolf are something else, creating a pop sound that both defies expectations and transcends the boundaries of pop.
Performer Max Colombie does exactly as he pleases and everytime he does so, it results in phenomenal sounds and performances, the latest of which ‘James’ is a welcoming and comforting release, one that comes with a fantastically choreographed video.
The build up of ‘James’ is slow and mystical and once joined by Colombie’s voice, the single uplifts to an almost angelic level that hovers throughout time and space. A delicious slice of dazzling pop, ‘James’ is like a dressing gown inlaid with diamonds, and Oscar and the Wolf make sure they bring just that little bit of extra to the table; this is no place for minimalism.
“The video is deliberately set in the golden haze of the French and Italian Riviera”, explains Colombie. Inspired by a slower way of living, ‘James’ came to Max in a dream: “I woke up and had the whole thing in my head. From the vocal line to the drums to the chords to the whole arrangement.”
With the title of the track named in honour of the birth of his baby nephew, both song and video are there to help you escape from your worries when they are weighing you down, and ‘James’ is both uplifting and freeing in the way Colombie lets himself be carried away by the wind and the light in his dancing. The aforementioned video however offers some guidance, and a virtual hand to hold while dancing through your own personal space.
Words by Laura Rosierse