{{Use British English|date=March 2015}} {{Short description|British singer-songwriter (born 1983)}} {{more footnotes|date=May 2011}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Jake Morley | image = Jake Morley. A singer-songwriter based in North London..jpg | caption = Jake Morley performing at The Citadel, St Helens in April 2015. Photograph by Andrew D. Hurley | origin = London, England | instrument = Vocals, guitar | genre = Folk, acoustic, indie | occupation = Singer, songwriter | years_active = 2008–present | label = Sandwich Emporium Records (2011–present) | associated_acts = Nizlopi, Colour Of Sound, Luke Haines Power Trio | website = {{URL|jakemorley.com}} }}
'''Jake Morley''' (born 1 August 1983) is a British singer-songwriter, based in north London.
==Early life== Morley grew up in Mill Hill, London. He learned guitar at an early age and began writing songs whilst at Mill Hill County High School in north west London. After studying law at the University of Nottingham for three years, Morley returned to London and started performing on the London open mic scene.
===2008–2009=== Morley began recording in 2008, and released of his first EP, ''This City'' later the same year. A popular artist on the London circuit, Morley played the MS Calling charity gig<ref>{{cite web|title=MS Calling|url=http://www.nizlopi.com/live/gigdetails.htm|accessdate=20 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071028025303/http://www.nizlopi.com/live/gigdetails.htm|archive-date=28 October 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> at the 100 Club where he met double bassist John Parker (formerly of Nizlopi), drummer Harry Mead and sound engineer Phill Brown (Bob Marley / Talk Talk / Faithless) who recorded and co-produced Morley's debut album.<ref>{{cite web|title=Phill Brown|url=http://www.phillbrown.net|accessdate=20 May 2011}}</ref> Also in attendance was Calum MacColl (Rokia Traore / Ronan Keating / Eddi Reader) who played guitar on and also co-produced the album.
===2010 – ''Many Fish To Fry''=== In January 2010 Morley, along with Phill Brown and Calum MacColl, started recording ''Many Fish To Fry''. With recording, mixing and over dubs continuing for a few months. Morley returned to live performances in March.
In April 2010 secured a residency at Ronnie Scott's<ref>{{cite web|title=Ronnie Scott's|url=http://www.rhythm-and-booze.co.uk/?p=1653|accessdate=20 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160420065915/http://rhythm-and-booze.co.uk/?p=1653|archive-date=20 April 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> playing once a month all the way through to December.
Towards the end of 2010, Morley joined forces with Kerry Harvey-Piper,<ref>{{cite web|title=Association of Independent Music Board members|url=http://www.musicindie.com/about/aimboard|accessdate=20 May 2011|archive-date=15 October 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101015010718/http://musicindie.com/about/aimboard|url-status=dead}}</ref> of Red Grape Records who took on the role of being his manager.
===2011=== Morley's debut album ''Many Fish To Fry'' was released in February 2011 on his own independent label.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sandwich Emporium Records|url=http://www.sandwich-emporium.com|accessdate=20 May 2011}}</ref> After a short UK tour, Morley held his album launch party at London's Bush Hall, where his performance received much critical acclaim.<ref>{{cite web|title=Virgin Red Room|url=http://www.virgin.com/music/reviews/jake-morley-has-many-fish-to-fry|accessdate=20 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120407024503/http://www.virgin.com/music/reviews/jake-morley-has-many-fish-to-fry|archive-date=7 April 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=The Independent|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/jake-morley-bush-hall-london-2227376.html|accessdate=20 May 2011 | location=London|first=Morgan|last=Durno|date=28 February 2011}}</ref>
In March 2011, Morley's debut single 'Feet Don't Fail Me Now' was played on Dermot O'Leary's Saturday afternoon BBC Radio 2 show,.<ref>{{cite web|title=Media Essentials|url=http://www.mediaessentials.co.uk/2011/05/media-essentials-jake-morley-face-for-the-future|accessdate=20 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711195958/http://www.mediaessentials.co.uk/2011/05/media-essentials-jake-morley-face-for-the-future/|archive-date=11 July 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> On 5 May Morley headlined the City Showcase after party at the 100 Club and later performed a live set on Janice Long's show.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Janice Long Show, BBC Radio 2| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b010nn74|access-date=20 May 2011}}</ref> Janice Long recommended 'Feet Don't Fail Me Now' as the featured live track of the week on Jo Whiley's Radio 2 Live in Concert.<ref>{{cite web|title=BBC Radio 2 Live in Concert| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b010xysc|access-date=20 May 2011}}</ref>
===YouTube=== Morley's video for 'This City'<ref>{{cite web|title=This City| website=YouTube | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VB9IbqZh_e0|accessdate=20 May 2011}}</ref> was included in a Best Guitarist on the Web video created by ITN.<ref>{{cite web|title=Best Guitarists on the Web| website=YouTube | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0oPb1-t1UE|accessdate=20 May 2011}}</ref>
===2013–2015=== Morley spent more than two years writing and recording his second album, ''The Manual,'' which was funded in part by a Pledge Music Campaign.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/jakemorley|title=Jake Morley: New Album|website=PledgeMusic|access-date=14 March 2017|archive-date=6 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151006184240/http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/jakemorley|url-status=dead}}</ref> It was produced by Calum MacColl (son of Peggy Seeger and Ewan MacColl and half brother to Kirsty MacColl) and released in September 2015.
=== Later career and new releases (2016–present) === Following his second album "The Manual" (2016), Morley continued to release music independently. His third studio album, "Some Things Are Like Other Things" was released on 28 October 2022.<ref name="JMsite">{{cite web |title=Biography – About |url=https://jakemorley.com/about/ |access-date=16 June 2025}}</ref> Between these major releases, he issued several singles and EPs, including the digital EP "Tell It To Me Straight" (2020) and singles such as "No Drama (Live at Lovebird Studios)" (2020) and "I Hope That I Can Make It Before We Have a Baby" (2018).<ref name="JMmusic">{{cite web |title=Releases – Music |url=https://jakemorley.com/music/ |access-date=16 June 2025}}</ref>
===Reviews=== {{quote|He is certainly something else! Very Charismatic, warm and a fantastic singer and guitar player.|Janice Long, Radio 2}}
{{quote|Jake Morley and his impressive band more than have what it takes… an ambitious pop sound that is every bit as bright and sparkly as the main player himself – 4 stars|The Independent<ref>{{cite news|title=The Independent|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/jake-morley-bush-hall-london-2227376.html|accessdate=23 May 2011 | location=London|first=Morgan|last=Durno|date=28 February 2011}}</ref>}}
{{quote|A sound that can't be ignored. Morley can do no wrong, and a wealth of fans can't get enough. 9/10|Virgin.com<ref>{{cite web|title=Virgin Red Room|url=http://www.virgin.com/music/reviews/jake-morley-has-many-fish-to-fry|accessdate=23 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120407024503/http://www.virgin.com/music/reviews/jake-morley-has-many-fish-to-fry|archive-date=7 April 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>}}
{{quote|Great real life lyrics and superb virtuoso playing. That's extraordinary!|Tom Robinson, 6 music}}
{{quote|Jake Morley is not just your average bloke with guitar, he stuns crowds with his unique style and is always a show stealer.|BBC Introducing}}
{{quote|It's phenomenal to watch him but it's still more daunting to consider that he also sings up a storm and writes cracking songs. Morley is a true original|Acoustic Magazine}}
{{quote|This is a man to follow, not just on social media sites, but in real life whenever he plays a gig. This is music to cherish.|Music Riot<ref>{{cite web|title=Music Riot|url=http://www.musicriot.co.uk/2011/03/08/jake-morley-album-launch-gig-bush-hall-shepherds-bush-london|accessdate=23 May 2011}}</ref>}}
===Luke Haines Power Trio=== Morley plays bass guitar in the live band of Luke Haines when the former leader of The Auteurs performs as "The Luke Haines Power Trio".
==Discography==
===Extended plays=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |- ! Year ! Title |- | |- | 2008 | ''This City E.P'' |}
===Albums=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |- ! Year ! Title |- | 2011 | ''Many Fish To Fry'' |- |- | 2016 | ''The Manual'' |- | 2022 | ''Some Things Are Like Other Things''<ref>https://jakemorley.bandcamp.com/album/some-things-are-like-other-things</ref> |- |}
===Singles=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |- ! rowspan="2"|Year ! rowspan="2"|Single ! colspan="2"|Peak<br>positions ! rowspan="2"|Album |- ! style="width:40px;"| ! style="width:40px;"| |- | 2011 | "Feet Don't Fail Me Now" | – || – | ''Many Fish To Fry'' |- |2014 |"Falter" | – | – |''The Manual'' |- |2015 |"Ghostess" | – | – |''The Manual'' |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{Official website}} *[http://www.myspace.com/jakemorley MySpace] *[http://www.sandwich-emporium.com Sandwich Emporium Records]
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Morley, Jake}} Category:1983 births Category:Living people Category:British male singer-songwriters Category:21st-century British singers Category:21st-century British male singers Category:Alumni of the University of Nottingham Category:Musicians from the London Borough of Barnet Category:People from Mill Hill