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Setting our Spirits Free with Hartlepudlian Daniel James

Daniel James is a Hartlepudlian who has a successful acting and singing career.  He was one half of Yell! who had a Top Ten hit in 1990 with 'Instant Replay' and they also released an album.  We're going to find out what prompted a return to singing for Daniel and his thoughts on Hartlepool..

Daniel, it's good to have you back with some new music.  Tell us how lock-down inspired 'Set Your Spirit Free'

I was stuck on my own away from my family in the North East during the first long lockdown.  It was tough. However It was tough for everyone.  I would go for long walks every night. The streets were deserted. Just me and the occasional fox.  I walk quite fast as I love cardio.  Like everyone I had been eagerly watching the 5 pm news bulletins everyday.  Reading news stories about the elderly stuck in care homes not being able to see there families. Dementia patients struggling, not seeing loved ones, and children not being able to play out with their mates.

Life changed drastically overnight. People were isolated and worried. Nobody knew what was going to happen next.  I wrote the song over 4 nights out walking. The words just flowed for the first verse-  ‘As the world turns its head, there are people around me with their hearts in their mouths, not knowing the right way they should turn’.  ‘Watching hair turning grey seeing children turn into adults days running away, its falling apart at the seems’.  Although the verses are about our emotions during the long lockdowns, the chorus is about our hopes for freedom and getting our lives back to normal after June 21^st.  Its an upbeat song, full of hope for us living fully again -  ‘In my heart, In my soul I feel it in my bones, Every night Every Day I lie awake and say  They’ve got to let us know now, They’ve got to let us go nowThey’ve got to Set Your Spirit Free.'

Obviously lock down was tough for a lot of people? Apart from making this great song, what else did you get up to?

I found it very isolating and at times lonely.  I think it was a very difficult time for most people. However their were people much worse of than me.  To try and clear my mind I went walking every night. Long walks to places I had not been to before.  I hadn’t written songs for a while but suddenly they came flooding out, which was a big surprise. That kept my mind active during difficult uncertain times.  I also started to grow lots of plants. I discovered I had a bit of a green finger. I grew Runner beans, Green beans, Tomatoes , Lettuce and a few other vegetables.  I was really surprised how they all took, my beans were so tall they grew way past my roof.  I ate everything I grew.  Things always seem to taste nicer If you have grown them yourself. I quite fancy an allotment now!

I also started to teach Chair Based Exercises on Zoom to people in Care Homes.  With no visitors going in I tried to cheer everyone up with a ,lively mix of music and singing and exercises.

Can we expect any more singles and an album at some point?

I am hoping to release a summer single, possibly in August called Do You Remember Me?  A few people who have already heard it say its a great upbeat summer track and perfect for driving along in the car windows open, roof down or sitting on the beach or in the garden.

How do you think the music industry has changed since the days of Yell!? Do you find it better or worse?

Its very different now.  People can make their own music and release it without the need for a huge record company machine behind them.  The internet has given access to so many more people.  There used to be live showcases of new bands and acts, now it mostly seems to be online. In some ways as I say that gives more people access to the industry.  On the other hand it does sometimes take away the atmosphere and opportunity for people to build up the skills of handling a live audience.  Things change and evolve. I think there are good and bad aspects in how things have changed.

A lot of people are looking forward to the return of live music again soon. Would you consider playing any gigs or perhaps festivals?

I have been doing lots of local radio interviews and have been asked if I would like to appear on many summer roadshow. I can’t wait and just hope that they happen this year.  People are desperate to be out living lives to the full again and enjoying gigs, roadshows, plays and events of all kinds.  It really is time to Set Your Spirit Free and hopefully we will all be able to do that soon.

Before we say bye for now, do you have a message for Radio Hartlepool listeners?

Thank you to everyone who has supported Set Your Spirit Free. I hope you will keep voting for it on the Heritage Chart.  I hope you can relate to the words and feel uplifted by the music.  I get home often and miss the town.

During lockdown I pined for walks on Seaton Beach, I really missed walking right along from Longscar Rocks to the Snooks.  I've done that walk and as a run many times since I was a little boy.  My dad showed me how to pick crabs from under the Longscar rocks as a little boy and Ive never forgotten.  Hopefully soon I can stretch my legs and walk along the beach.  When I was in Yell! In the 90s we played the Radio 1 Roadshow on Seaton Green.  It was a huge thrill to play my home town, my home crowd.  I would love to do that again with my new music.

'Set Your Spirit Free' is available now on streaming platforms.  You can vote for the song each week on the heritage chart - www.heritagechart.co.uk and find the song and click to vote.