INTERVIEW: Who Is James Arthur? | Everything You Need To Know

It's a new year, which means new music, and new artists to keep your eye on. And one of these musicians is 28-year-old singer/songwriter James Arthur. James has already made a name for himself in the UK, where he's from, having won the ninth season of The X Factor in 2012, and released the UK No. 1 hit "Impossible." Five years later, and James has now released two full-length albums, won two BRIT Awards, and currently has a hit single "Say You Won't Let Go" via Columbia Records, which hit No. 1 in 23 countries on iTunes. Having recently made his US TV debut on The Today Show and The Late Late Show with James Corden, Arthur is bringing his talent stateside. 

iHeartRadio recently caught up with James, and got to know him during an exclusive interview. He talks about getting his start in music, what inspires his songwriting, the story behind his hit single, winning The X Factor, and more.

[Buy Back From The Edge on iTunes]

James has been performing and writing music since he was 14 years old, and taught himself how to play guitar -- learning by ear. "I got a guitar and I wanted to be in a band like Nirvana. So I was trying to learn 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' for ages, and then eventually I started to write my own songs."

Aside from Nirvana and Kurt Cobain as influences, James tells us he draws inspiration from many different genres of music from Hip Hop, to Soul, to R&B, to Rock, and artists like Prince, Miguel, and Michael Jackson.

James may have started out performing music 14 years ago, but it was five years ago that his career in music really started to take shape. In 2012, Arthur won the ninth season of The X Factor, and the 28-year-old tells us that he didn't really want to audition for the show in the first place. What pushed him to do it was a bargain with his mother. She would lend him money to have the electricity in his house turned back on after it was cut off, and he would audition for The X Factor.

On why he auditioned for The X Factor

"Well, I didn't really want to audition for X-Factor it kind of happened by mistake. I needed some money, and my mom said 'If you go and audition for X-Factor I'll borrow you some money,' because I had no lights on in my apartment, and I needed my electricity back on. So, there's a truck driving around the country from The X-Factor, and ... That was the condition [was] I go and audition, I get my lights back on. So thankfully, I did it because it's brought me all the way here."

James describes his music as "honest, and raw, and real," and draws inspiration for his song lyrics from personal experience. He released his second album, Back from the Edge, on October 28th (2016) via Columbia Records. The album contains 13 songs, all written/co-written by the singer/songwriter himself, and includes his hit single "Say You Won't Let Go."

On the meaning behind the lyrics of his single "Say You Won't Let Go"

"This song is a love song. It's about ... when you find love, it's very hard to keep hold of it I think. And I'm trying to encourage people to keep holding on, [and] understand the value of love, and appreciate it. I'm talking a little bit from my own experience, and then the second half of the song, I'm not married, I don't have kids, but I'm talking about wanting to find out that place in life."

On putting together his album Back from the Edge

James either wrote or co-wrote every song on his sophomore album. He explains, "I had the bones of every song, and the songs that I had co-written were just people helping me structure things. Because I can write 20-minute songs, and I was going forever and ever, and I worked with some incredible people who just helped me drive in a direction that made them more easy to listen to."

Because James was so involved in the songwriting for this album, he tells us, "It had to come from me because it's about my personal journey, and about my life. It was really important that I did it myself."

James is currently on his "Back from the Edge Tour" in Europe, but says that he will be touring in America "very, very soon." As for the rest of his plans for 2017, he says, "I want to take over the world and music. I want everybody to hear my music. I want everyone to know how music can save you, and can help you, and I'm hoping people find that in my music."

He really does have The X-Factor.

Watch James Arthur's official "Say You Won't Let Go" music video below.