1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,920 Speaker 1: You'll know the name Mitch James. For eleven years, he's 2 00:00:02,920 --> 00:00:05,400 Speaker 1: been releasing music. He's been touring the world because of it. 3 00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:07,920 Speaker 1: He's open for Callum Scott, supported Ed Sheer and toured 4 00:00:07,960 --> 00:00:10,360 Speaker 1: with six sixty as well. Put out a bunch of albums. 5 00:00:10,560 --> 00:00:12,360 Speaker 1: He's got a new single out, he's got a new 6 00:00:12,400 --> 00:00:15,440 Speaker 1: EP coming out next month, and he is in studio 7 00:00:15,480 --> 00:00:16,320 Speaker 1: with us right now. 8 00:00:16,360 --> 00:00:19,000 Speaker 2: Mitch, Hello, Hello Heather, thanks for having me, Thank you. 9 00:00:18,960 --> 00:00:20,880 Speaker 3: For coming in. I'm sorry. I apologize you before. 10 00:00:20,880 --> 00:00:21,239 Speaker 4: I'm sorry. 11 00:00:21,239 --> 00:00:22,720 Speaker 3: I'm not your your romance mate. 12 00:00:22,880 --> 00:00:25,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, No, old Mikey and me have a great little 13 00:00:25,560 --> 00:00:28,000 Speaker 2: bromance going. But this is this is a great second price. 14 00:00:28,160 --> 00:00:30,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, oh, thank you. It's very charming. If you I 15 00:00:30,120 --> 00:00:33,280 Speaker 3: saw you out there, you were asking after him, was disappointing. 16 00:00:33,960 --> 00:00:37,519 Speaker 2: It's not disappointing. I was very well aware ahead of 17 00:00:37,560 --> 00:00:41,839 Speaker 2: time that I was with you here. But if Mike, 18 00:00:41,880 --> 00:00:43,120 Speaker 2: if you're listening, I miss your brother. 19 00:00:43,800 --> 00:00:46,960 Speaker 3: I just listened to you, go, Hey, what's this about 20 00:00:46,960 --> 00:00:48,000 Speaker 3: you giving up music? 21 00:00:48,880 --> 00:00:51,959 Speaker 2: So yeah, I've been obviously, as you alluded to, I've 22 00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:54,400 Speaker 2: been in the industry for a long time, and as 23 00:00:54,520 --> 00:00:57,920 Speaker 2: you as you are in the industry for so long, 24 00:00:58,400 --> 00:01:02,040 Speaker 2: and especially the journey that I've taken. There's just it's 25 00:01:02,160 --> 00:01:05,280 Speaker 2: crazy and at times evil industry, and there's a lot 26 00:01:05,319 --> 00:01:09,000 Speaker 2: of falls, and you know, I made some gambles in 27 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:12,960 Speaker 2: my career which ended up backfiring sort of behind the scenes, 28 00:01:13,000 --> 00:01:16,320 Speaker 2: and yeah, it just became an environment for me that 29 00:01:16,760 --> 00:01:21,280 Speaker 2: it was too challenging to try and overcome the ceilings 30 00:01:21,280 --> 00:01:23,920 Speaker 2: that have been put in place by people that were 31 00:01:24,400 --> 00:01:26,960 Speaker 2: either on my team or formally on my team in 32 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:29,839 Speaker 2: the industry and politics and all of that. And I've 33 00:01:29,880 --> 00:01:32,560 Speaker 2: just I've got this music coming out and now that 34 00:01:32,680 --> 00:01:38,160 Speaker 2: I believe as my most complete, most mature, advanced work 35 00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:42,000 Speaker 2: as a songwriter and an artist, And coupled with the 36 00:01:42,000 --> 00:01:45,280 Speaker 2: fact that this industry had sort of, you know, turned 37 00:01:45,319 --> 00:01:47,920 Speaker 2: against me in a lot of ways, I just thought, 38 00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:50,600 Speaker 2: you know, I'm sick of this and I just want 39 00:01:50,640 --> 00:01:53,200 Speaker 2: to hang my hat on something that I can look 40 00:01:53,240 --> 00:01:55,800 Speaker 2: back on in twenty years time and go like, this 41 00:01:55,920 --> 00:01:58,040 Speaker 2: is my finest work and something that I can be 42 00:01:58,160 --> 00:02:00,400 Speaker 2: very proud of. And so it's a bit of sweet feeling, 43 00:02:00,480 --> 00:02:02,480 Speaker 2: because you know, in a lot of ways, I did 44 00:02:02,480 --> 00:02:04,080 Speaker 2: feel like I had a lot more to give, But 45 00:02:04,520 --> 00:02:07,200 Speaker 2: like I said, you know, I was finding myself budding 46 00:02:07,200 --> 00:02:09,680 Speaker 2: into a lot of ceilings that have been put in 47 00:02:09,720 --> 00:02:12,960 Speaker 2: place that were out of my control, and I just, yeah, 48 00:02:13,160 --> 00:02:14,440 Speaker 2: I kind of had enough, I. 49 00:02:14,360 --> 00:02:16,679 Speaker 3: Guess, going out on a high type thing exactly. 50 00:02:16,760 --> 00:02:18,960 Speaker 2: Yeah. And you know, I've been so grateful to the 51 00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:21,800 Speaker 2: people who have supported me and you know, given me 52 00:02:21,840 --> 00:02:25,480 Speaker 2: such amazing experiences touring the world and you know, listening 53 00:02:25,480 --> 00:02:27,919 Speaker 2: to my music, making memories with their friends and all 54 00:02:27,919 --> 00:02:30,200 Speaker 2: of this. It's been so special that I just wanted 55 00:02:30,200 --> 00:02:33,600 Speaker 2: to end on a somewhat positive note. 56 00:02:33,760 --> 00:02:34,960 Speaker 3: What do you think backfired for you? 57 00:02:35,919 --> 00:02:38,480 Speaker 2: There was definitely a few things that I look at 58 00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:42,639 Speaker 2: behind the scenes where to put it very in a 59 00:02:42,720 --> 00:02:45,720 Speaker 2: long story short where I had shot for the stars 60 00:02:45,919 --> 00:02:50,600 Speaker 2: and in a lot of ways that passed off a 61 00:02:50,600 --> 00:02:53,960 Speaker 2: lot of people who were already on my team, and 62 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:57,600 Speaker 2: then you know, a few things backfired behind the scenes, 63 00:02:57,639 --> 00:03:00,840 Speaker 2: and it resulted in a lot of burnt bridges, if 64 00:03:00,880 --> 00:03:03,840 Speaker 2: you will, And then you know, I sort of found 65 00:03:03,840 --> 00:03:08,640 Speaker 2: myself if it was very challenging to then break through 66 00:03:08,639 --> 00:03:13,280 Speaker 2: that ceiling because it's such a network game music and once, yeah, 67 00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:17,760 Speaker 2: once that network has sort of been de established in 68 00:03:17,800 --> 00:03:21,600 Speaker 2: a few ways that were I became the problematic person 69 00:03:21,639 --> 00:03:24,480 Speaker 2: to work with, even though in my eyes a lot 70 00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:26,520 Speaker 2: of this was, you know, I just wanted to bring 71 00:03:26,600 --> 00:03:30,119 Speaker 2: New Zealand on my back on the world stage. And yeah, 72 00:03:30,160 --> 00:03:33,000 Speaker 2: a lot of people back in New Zealand didn't appreciate that. 73 00:03:33,720 --> 00:03:36,720 Speaker 3: What are you going to do? I can't reveal all 74 00:03:36,800 --> 00:03:38,600 Speaker 3: yet hither you've already got plans. 75 00:03:38,640 --> 00:03:41,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, I've got plans. I guess what I can say 76 00:03:41,160 --> 00:03:43,760 Speaker 2: is that it's something in the media space, in the 77 00:03:43,800 --> 00:03:45,720 Speaker 2: sports space that I've been working. 78 00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:49,320 Speaker 3: It's got anything to do with the league slightly. 79 00:03:49,560 --> 00:03:52,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean the giveaway was the fact that you 80 00:03:52,720 --> 00:03:54,600 Speaker 1: posted that on Insta that you were going to leave 81 00:03:54,600 --> 00:03:57,440 Speaker 1: in the year to one New Zealand Warriors jersey on 82 00:03:57,560 --> 00:03:57,920 Speaker 1: and yeah. 83 00:03:58,080 --> 00:04:00,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, I mean, anyone that knows me knows that 84 00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:04,440 Speaker 2: I'm probably in the in the top three New Zealand 85 00:04:04,440 --> 00:04:09,920 Speaker 2: Warriors fans worldwide, behind behind Peter Yeah. Yeah, yeah, most 86 00:04:09,920 --> 00:04:14,320 Speaker 2: of my cost ging he knows, but we Yeah, I'm 87 00:04:14,400 --> 00:04:18,440 Speaker 2: probably number three behind Sir Peter Leach and the Mount 88 00:04:18,480 --> 00:04:22,920 Speaker 2: Smart Joker as the as the Warriors mascot fans. But yeah, 89 00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:25,840 Speaker 2: it's it's something in the sports media space that I've 90 00:04:26,200 --> 00:04:29,159 Speaker 2: arguably wanted to be in that space longer than music, 91 00:04:29,200 --> 00:04:32,200 Speaker 2: and it's something that no one can take away from me, 92 00:04:32,440 --> 00:04:34,520 Speaker 2: if if you know what I mean, kind of like 93 00:04:34,600 --> 00:04:37,400 Speaker 2: I felt like what happened in music, and yeah, I 94 00:04:37,440 --> 00:04:39,200 Speaker 2: felt like I just had so much more to give 95 00:04:39,200 --> 00:04:42,000 Speaker 2: in music, but I was just you know, budding the 96 00:04:42,080 --> 00:04:44,599 Speaker 2: ceiling and it was very frustrating, and you know, I 97 00:04:44,640 --> 00:04:47,599 Speaker 2: was no longer getting playlisted or I was no longer 98 00:04:47,960 --> 00:04:49,800 Speaker 2: you know, getting getting the same love. I mean, New 99 00:04:49,880 --> 00:04:52,599 Speaker 2: Zealand radio has been amazing to me, but every other 100 00:04:52,880 --> 00:04:55,800 Speaker 2: sort of aspect of that recording industry sort of sort 101 00:04:55,800 --> 00:04:58,480 Speaker 2: of turned on me. So I'm looking at this space 102 00:04:58,520 --> 00:05:02,479 Speaker 2: and going, this is something that only I can ruin 103 00:05:02,520 --> 00:05:06,159 Speaker 2: for myself. So's it's an exciting. 104 00:05:05,760 --> 00:05:06,240 Speaker 4: Time for me. 105 00:05:06,279 --> 00:05:10,440 Speaker 2: And yeah, I guess the Warriors is something part of it, 106 00:05:10,520 --> 00:05:13,160 Speaker 2: but it's Yeah, it's a more broad sort of thing 107 00:05:13,200 --> 00:05:15,919 Speaker 2: that I'm I'm really excited about and to announce in 108 00:05:16,000 --> 00:05:18,560 Speaker 2: due time and hopefully get people excited about. 109 00:05:18,680 --> 00:05:20,000 Speaker 3: I suppose it's not going to be a bad thing 110 00:05:20,000 --> 00:05:21,160 Speaker 3: to have a steady income, is it. 111 00:05:21,560 --> 00:05:24,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, Yeah, that's the thing about me, given given how 112 00:05:24,080 --> 00:05:25,600 Speaker 1: much you spend on your perfumes. 113 00:05:25,640 --> 00:05:28,599 Speaker 3: I found out, Ah, yes, yes, what are you wearing today? 114 00:05:29,000 --> 00:05:31,240 Speaker 2: I'm ruining Creed a role for Heather and I can 115 00:05:31,279 --> 00:05:33,360 Speaker 2: see that that retails at Smith and Coey's for five 116 00:05:33,440 --> 00:05:34,320 Speaker 2: hundred and twenty two. 117 00:05:34,520 --> 00:05:35,039 Speaker 4: See. 118 00:05:35,120 --> 00:05:38,839 Speaker 2: Everyone listening might think hearing that that I'm some super 119 00:05:38,920 --> 00:05:42,839 Speaker 2: rich musician leaving out on top, but I actually probably 120 00:05:42,880 --> 00:05:45,599 Speaker 2: spent four years worth of income on that on that perfew. 121 00:05:46,520 --> 00:05:47,440 Speaker 3: It does smell good. 122 00:05:47,480 --> 00:05:49,240 Speaker 1: This is why we know about it, because you basically 123 00:05:49,320 --> 00:05:50,920 Speaker 1: bring the scent in with it's delicious. 124 00:05:51,200 --> 00:05:53,000 Speaker 3: Hey, I was I was telling you earlier. I was 125 00:05:53,040 --> 00:05:55,320 Speaker 3: watching the video that you did for your mum. 126 00:05:55,680 --> 00:05:59,320 Speaker 1: Yes, as a mum man, I'll tell you what, Like 127 00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:02,159 Speaker 1: I thought, geez, your mom must be proud of you. 128 00:06:02,680 --> 00:06:05,280 Speaker 2: Yeah. Mom doesn't like to use the word proud, she 129 00:06:05,320 --> 00:06:08,760 Speaker 2: always says that, but yeah, it was a very special 130 00:06:08,800 --> 00:06:13,760 Speaker 2: moment that that and Duneda. They live in central Otago, 131 00:06:13,839 --> 00:06:16,440 Speaker 2: and so I got mom to come down to Dunedin 132 00:06:16,520 --> 00:06:20,599 Speaker 2: and the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra. I hadn't even met any of 133 00:06:20,640 --> 00:06:23,800 Speaker 2: them before, and they got given some music and I 134 00:06:23,839 --> 00:06:26,120 Speaker 2: showed up about fifteen minutes before mum. We had a 135 00:06:26,160 --> 00:06:28,839 Speaker 2: couple runs through and yeah, I wrote the song for 136 00:06:28,880 --> 00:06:31,640 Speaker 2: he called Mamma and Me, which is basically an ode 137 00:06:31,720 --> 00:06:35,200 Speaker 2: to my mom. We we've had a very interesting journey, 138 00:06:35,240 --> 00:06:37,800 Speaker 2: like I'm sure many mothers and sons and daughters out there, 139 00:06:37,839 --> 00:06:41,839 Speaker 2: but it basically starts off about you know, when I 140 00:06:42,040 --> 00:06:44,679 Speaker 2: was born, and then goes into me being a little 141 00:06:44,720 --> 00:06:47,080 Speaker 2: rascal growing up, and then as a man in the 142 00:06:47,080 --> 00:06:50,640 Speaker 2: final verse, you know, sort of encompassing that whole journey 143 00:06:50,680 --> 00:06:54,040 Speaker 2: and realizing that there's no mother to love like a 144 00:06:54,120 --> 00:06:55,000 Speaker 2: mother's love and. 145 00:06:55,000 --> 00:06:56,200 Speaker 3: Oh, you're going to make me cry. 146 00:06:57,720 --> 00:07:00,719 Speaker 4: Yeah, it is a crowd. 147 00:07:00,839 --> 00:07:03,039 Speaker 3: That we put into you guys, match is about the 148 00:07:03,080 --> 00:07:03,839 Speaker 3: gate and. 149 00:07:04,160 --> 00:07:09,320 Speaker 2: You don't absolutely so grateful. I think you don't really 150 00:07:09,360 --> 00:07:13,240 Speaker 2: realize how how special that connection is until you know, 151 00:07:13,280 --> 00:07:16,600 Speaker 2: you get some perspective on your own life and it's yeah, 152 00:07:16,800 --> 00:07:20,960 Speaker 2: I was I was a little rascal, and so you know, 153 00:07:21,160 --> 00:07:24,640 Speaker 2: to come come full circle as a man and realize that, 154 00:07:24,680 --> 00:07:27,200 Speaker 2: you know, my mom's been on her own journey and 155 00:07:27,360 --> 00:07:30,640 Speaker 2: she's been sick and and and she's an incredible woman 156 00:07:30,640 --> 00:07:33,720 Speaker 2: for anyone who knows her, and so yeah, to come 157 00:07:33,760 --> 00:07:36,720 Speaker 2: full circle with that journey, I felt like it was 158 00:07:36,720 --> 00:07:39,680 Speaker 2: my duty as a son to write a song about her. 159 00:07:39,760 --> 00:07:42,120 Speaker 2: As a as an artist, and yeah, to get the 160 00:07:42,360 --> 00:07:45,800 Speaker 2: to surprise her with the symphony orchestra was it was 161 00:07:45,880 --> 00:07:48,200 Speaker 2: something I'll remember forever. And that was actually the second 162 00:07:48,200 --> 00:07:50,360 Speaker 2: take because I started crying during the first time. 163 00:07:50,440 --> 00:07:53,720 Speaker 3: The softies. Okay, this is your new single. What's it called? 164 00:07:53,920 --> 00:07:56,960 Speaker 2: A song's called Beautiful Stranger? And yeah, like we were 165 00:07:56,960 --> 00:07:59,800 Speaker 2: saying before, it's my last last single at least for now. 166 00:08:00,080 --> 00:08:02,960 Speaker 2: So yeah, it's I'm very excited to see how people 167 00:08:03,080 --> 00:08:03,440 Speaker 2: enjoy it. 168 00:08:03,520 --> 00:08:06,920 Speaker 3: Okay, take it away? 169 00:08:09,840 --> 00:08:12,360 Speaker 2: How do we find ourselves here? 170 00:08:14,400 --> 00:08:16,000 Speaker 4: Talking for hours? 171 00:08:16,120 --> 00:08:16,320 Speaker 5: Bud? 172 00:08:16,480 --> 00:08:21,440 Speaker 4: It felt like it is like someone answered my prayers. 173 00:08:23,120 --> 00:08:27,600 Speaker 4: I've known you for heaven, my dear last in our 174 00:08:29,920 --> 00:08:34,960 Speaker 4: mounting the walls and strong mold. Can we stay in 175 00:08:35,000 --> 00:08:35,880 Speaker 4: this moment? 176 00:08:36,080 --> 00:08:36,360 Speaker 2: Kiz? 177 00:08:36,960 --> 00:08:39,800 Speaker 4: I don't know you put all. 178 00:08:39,720 --> 00:08:45,760 Speaker 6: On too share my secrets, open up to you, take 179 00:08:45,920 --> 00:08:49,320 Speaker 6: the pieces of my heart. 180 00:08:48,880 --> 00:08:51,160 Speaker 4: Here in the dark. 181 00:08:51,679 --> 00:08:58,560 Speaker 5: I've always known you, beautiful Stranger. 182 00:09:00,280 --> 00:09:02,400 Speaker 4: I've always known you. 183 00:09:05,520 --> 00:09:15,679 Speaker 5: Beautif for stranger fell like come not too elveing, scared 184 00:09:15,760 --> 00:09:18,800 Speaker 5: that to death, But I'm not a monkey. 185 00:09:19,559 --> 00:09:22,240 Speaker 4: It's like your eyes already know my name. 186 00:09:24,000 --> 00:09:25,360 Speaker 2: I don't think i'd I'll. 187 00:09:25,280 --> 00:09:28,920 Speaker 4: Let it be the same. It feels like we're flowing 188 00:09:29,600 --> 00:09:31,160 Speaker 4: and a mondy. 189 00:09:31,240 --> 00:09:32,680 Speaker 3: You're spelling me and. 190 00:09:32,920 --> 00:09:38,199 Speaker 4: Know can we stay in this moment because I don't 191 00:09:38,320 --> 00:09:40,719 Speaker 4: know you but don't. 192 00:09:40,440 --> 00:09:46,480 Speaker 6: Want to share my secrets, open out to you take 193 00:09:46,640 --> 00:09:48,600 Speaker 6: the pieces of. 194 00:09:48,800 --> 00:09:52,000 Speaker 4: My heart in the dark. 195 00:09:52,480 --> 00:10:03,200 Speaker 5: I've always known you, beautif for stranger, I've always mine you, 196 00:10:06,400 --> 00:10:08,720 Speaker 5: utith for stranger. 197 00:10:09,600 --> 00:10:11,040 Speaker 4: Love alas. 198 00:10:29,320 --> 00:10:35,320 Speaker 6: I don't know you, but on so shall I seek. 199 00:10:35,760 --> 00:10:40,319 Speaker 4: I'll been not to take the pieces. 200 00:10:40,040 --> 00:10:48,760 Speaker 5: Of my heart here in the dark, ive always not you. 201 00:10:48,760 --> 00:10:49,920 Speaker 3: Oh how good was that? 202 00:10:49,920 --> 00:10:50,200 Speaker 2: That is? 203 00:10:50,240 --> 00:10:51,120 Speaker 4: Going out on a high? 204 00:10:51,160 --> 00:10:51,520 Speaker 3: Isn't it? 205 00:10:51,600 --> 00:10:52,160 Speaker 1: That is? 206 00:10:52,240 --> 00:10:54,480 Speaker 2: That is thank you for having me here that I appreciate. 207 00:10:54,080 --> 00:10:55,920 Speaker 3: It, Mitch. Thank you for coming in. The Next time 208 00:10:56,280 --> 00:10:58,600 Speaker 3: you can come in and talk rugby league with Michael. 209 00:10:59,080 --> 00:11:00,280 Speaker 4: I cannot wait again. 210 00:11:00,320 --> 00:11:01,840 Speaker 2: Always thanks for having me. 211 00:11:02,000 --> 00:11:03,800 Speaker 1: Best of like the single and the album coming out 212 00:11:03,800 --> 00:11:05,720 Speaker 1: and that's Mitch James. 213 00:11:05,760 --> 00:11:08,640 Speaker 3: For more from the Mic Asking Breakfast, listen live to 214 00:11:08,760 --> 00:11:11,840 Speaker 3: news talks it'd be from six am weekdays, or follow 215 00:11:11,880 --> 00:11:13,439 Speaker 3: the podcast on iHeartRadio.