{{Short description|English singer-songwriter (born 1988)}} {{Fan POV|date=May 2022}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}} {{Use British English|date=June 2016}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Jamie N. Commons | image = Jamie N Commons (cropped).jpg | alt = Close up of a man on stage with guitar at a microphone bathed in red and purple low level lighting | image_size = | landscape = | caption = | birth_name = James Nicholas Commons | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1988|10|22}} | birth_place = Bristol, England | origin = New Cross, London, England | genre = {{hlist|Blues rock|folk|country|alternative rock}} | instrument = {{hlist|Vocals|guitar}} | occupation = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter}} | years_active = 2011–present | associated_acts = {{hlist|Kid Harpoon|X Ambassadors}} | label = {{hlist|Interscope|KIDinaKORNER|Fiction}} | website = {{URL|http://www.jamiencommons.com/}} }}
'''James Nicholas Commons''' (born 22 October 1988)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/artists/84b453d8-84d0-4de1-9cd8-9daf2378923e|title=Jamie N Commons|work=BBC Music|publisher=BBC}}</ref><ref>[https://www.genesreunited.co.uk/search/results?sourcecategory=birthsutf002c%20marriages%20utf0026%20deaths&firstname=james%20n&firstname_variants=true&lastname=commons&birthyear=1988&birthyear_offset=0&keyword=bristol James Nicholas Commons] Genes Reunited Retrieved 4 May 2022</ref> is a British singer and songwriter, based in New Cross, London.
==Early life and education== Commons was born in Bristol, England, but was raised, in part, in Chicago, Illinois, United States.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://riffmagazine.com/features/brnv-jamiencommons/|title=BottleRock 2016: Jamie N Commons between continents and on a roll|website=Riffmagazine.com|date=8 June 2016}}</ref> At age six, Commons' family moved to Chicago, which would lead to his appreciation of American blues, folk and swamp rock music,<ref name="Clover">{{cite web|url=http://swaggernewyork.com/2013/03/08/10-minutes-with-jamie-n-commons/|title=10 Minutes with British Soul Rocket, Jamie N Commons|first=Ryan|last=Clover|date=3 August 2010|publisher=Swagger New York}}</ref> and of artists, notable among which are The Allman Brothers Band.<ref name="Lee">{{cite web|url=http://www.provenancemag.com/art-culture/jamie-n-commons-blues-is-the-sound-you-need/|title=Jamie N Commons' Blues is the Sound You Need|first=Andy|last=Lee|date=1 June 2016|publisher=Provenance Magazine}}</ref>
Commons returned to the English West Country at the age of 16.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/jamie-n-commons-mn0002797214/biography|title=Jamie N Commons - Artist Biography|first=Steve|last=Leggett|publisher=AllMusic}}</ref>
Aged 18, Commons relocated to London and commenced reading classical music at Goldsmiths College, alongside contemporaries including James Blake and Katy B.<ref name="Clover"/><ref name="Ferrier">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/oct/02/jamie-n-commons-interview|title=One to watch: Jamie N Commons|first=Morwenna|last=Ferrier|newspaper=The Observer|date=2 October 2011}}</ref>
==Career== His second EP, ''Rumble and Sway'', was released in March 2013 with Interscope, produced by Alex da Kid, who early signed him to his label KIDinaKORNER. The title song would later be used in the trailer for the Coen Brothers film Hail, Caesar!, season three of American supernatural teen drama television series ''Teen Wolf'' and season three of American legal drama television series ''Suits'' as well as making appearances in commercials for ''Levi's'' in 2014 and for ''Butterfinger'' in 2020.
In June 2013, Commons opened for Bruce Springsteen in Nijmegen.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://jamiencommons.tumblr.com/post/45846555976/bruce-springsteen-support-announced|title=Jamie N Commons - Bruce Springsteen Support Announced|date=20 March 2013|first=Jamie N|last=Commons|publisher=Tumblr}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://brucespringsteen.net/news/2013/notes-from-the-road-nijmegen|title=Notes from the Road: Nijmegen|first=Bruce|last=Springsteen|date=23 June 2013|publisher=brucespringsteen.net}}</ref>
He is featured on Eminem's eighth studio album ''The Marshall Mathers LP 2'', in the track "Desperation" which is only included in the deluxe edition bonus disc.
His song with X Ambassadors, "Jungle", is featured in the trailers for Season 2 of ''Orange Is the New Black'', the video game ''Battlefield Hardline,'' season 4 of American supernatural teen drama television series ''Teen Wolf'' and the film ''Pitch Perfect 2''. In addition, the song also appeared in the advertisements for Beats by Dre, which ran during the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, and the film ''Horrible Bosses 2''. WWE used the song in the commercial for WWEShop.com and as the theme song for the PPV WWE Battleground. "Jungle" played in the end credits for the 2014 film ''Hercules'' as well as Project Almanac and the Hitman: Agent 47. This song also plays during an end scene in the TV series The Blacklist. The most recent version of ''Jungle'' has been used by Boston, American beer company Sam Adams for their beer.
He is also featured on Big K.R.I.T.'s second studio album ''Cadillactica,'' in the track "Saturdays = Celebration." This song is featured in the Sicario - 'Welcome to Juarez' Trailer.
His track 'Not Gonna Break Me' was used in the BBC's trailer for the 2016 Summer Olympics.
He wrote and produced the title track for the film ''Skyscraper''.
In 2018, he started a project called "The Fever Dreams", a series of singles released leading up to his debut studio album scheduled for release in 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/jamie-n-commons-talks-new-single-paper-dreams-and-painting-with-completely-different-colours-on-his-gratuitously-eighties-new-album-2400256|title=Jamie N Commons talks new single 'Paper Dreams' and his "gratuitously eighties" debut album|first=Patrick|last=Clarke|date=9 November 2018|website=NME}}</ref>
In 2019 Commons co-wrote "Hold Me While You Wait" the lead single to Lewis Capaldi's debut album Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent, which debuted at #1 on the UK Album chart and went on to achieve Gold status after just 8 days. In May that year, he covered Soul Asylum's Runaway Train along with fellow artists Skylar Grey and Gallant in collaboration with National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Commons co-wrote "Testify", the lead track of Conrad Sewell's album "Life" was released the same week, this album debuted at #1 on the Australian charts.
==Artistry==
===Voice=== Commons' baritone vocals, influenced by Gregg Allman,<ref name="Ferrier"/> are notable for their authenticity of the blues genre, reflected through his Americanised accent and deep, "raspy"<ref name="Ferrier"/> and "gritty"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://diffuser.fm/jamie-n-commons-2013-interview/|title=UK Singer Jamie N Commons on Coming to America, Exploring His Blues Roots|first=Devon|last=Antonetti|publisher=Diffuser.fm}}</ref> singing voice, earning him comparisons with Tom Waits,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.outofordermag.com/2013/04/jamie-n-commons/|title=On the Rise: Jamie N Commons|first=Cooper|last=Copeland|work=Out of Order|access-date=27 July 2013|archive-date=24 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140424231435/http://www.outofordermag.com/2013/04/jamie-n-commons/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Johnny Cash,<ref name="1883 Magazine">{{cite web|url=http://www.1883magazine.com/music/music/jamie-n-commons|title=Jamie N Commons|work=1883 Magazine|access-date=27 July 2013|archive-date=24 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140424235339/http://www.1883magazine.com/music/music/jamie-n-commons|url-status=dead}}</ref> Leonard Cohen,<ref name="1883 Magazine"/> Nick Cave,<ref name="ETEP">{{cite web|url=http://www.etep.nl/en/acts-on-festivals/act-detail/jamie-n-commons/ |title=Act Detail: Jamie N Commons |publisher=European Talent Exchange Program |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140424234756/http://www.etep.nl/en/acts-on-festivals/act-detail/jamie-n-commons/ |archivedate=24 April 2014 }}</ref> Greg Dulli<ref name="ETEP"/> and Mark Lanegan.<ref name="ETEP"/>
===Influences=== In a ''BBC America'' interview, Commons said The Allman Brothers Band, the soundtrack for ''O Brother, Where Art Thou?'' and Moby's ''Play'' were important, early influences.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbcamerica.com/anglophenia/2013/03/interview-jamie-n-commons-modern-british-bluesman/|title=British Breakout Interview: Jamie N Commons, Modern Bluesman|first=Kevin|last=Wicks|date=11 March 2013|work=Anglophenia|publisher=BBC America}}</ref>
==Personal life== During his childhood, Commons attended church with his religious mother,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.virtualfestivals.com/latest/interviews/12256|title=Blues and bruised in Brighton: Jamie N Commons interview|first1=Chris|last1=Swindells|first2=Chris|last2=Eustace|date=1 February 2012|publisher=Virtual Festivals|access-date=27 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714144559/http://www.virtualfestivals.com/latest/interviews/12256|archive-date=14 July 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> while his father, an atheist, stayed at home. These experiences informed him of religion, which is a theme explored in his music.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.clashmusic.com/feature/ones-to-watch-jamie-n-commons|title=Ones to Watch: Jamie N Commons|work=Clash Magazine|date=3 July 2012}}</ref>
==Discography== ===EPs=== *''The Baron'' (2011) *''Rumble and Sway'' (2013) *''Jamie N Commons'' (2016) *''Fever Dreams'' (2019)
===Singles=== * "Devil in Me" (2012) * "Rumble and Sway" (2013) #163 SNEP French Singles Chart<ref name="lescharts.com">{{cite web|url=https://lescharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Jamie+N+Commons|title=lescharts.com - Discographie Jamie N Commons|website=Lescharts.com}}</ref> * "Jungle" with X Ambassadors (2013) #87 ''Billboard'' Hot 100 * "Immigrant Song" (Led Zeppelin cover) (2014) on ''Game of Thrones'' Season 4 OST * "Karma (Hardline)" (2014) on ''Battlefield Hardline'' OST * "Marathon" (2015) * "Let's Do It Till We Get It Right" (2016) * "Paper Dreams" (2018) * "Won't Let Go" (2019) * "Runaway Train" (with Skylar Grey featuring Gallant) (2019) * "Start Again" (2019) * "Heartbreak" (2019) * "Feels Like Forever" (with Kygo) (2020)
===Music Videos=== * "Devil in Me" (2012) * "Rumble and Sway" (2013) #163 SNEP French Singles Chart<ref name="lescharts.com"/> * "Jungle" with X Ambassadors (2013) #87 ''Billboard'' Hot 100 * "Immigrant Song" (Led Zeppelin cover) (2014) on ''Game of Thrones'' Season 4 OST * "Karma (Hardline)" (2014) on ''Battlefield Hardline'' OST * "Marathon" (2015) * "Let's Do It Till We Get It Right" (2016) * "Paper Dreams" (2018) * "Won't Let Go" (2019) * "Runaway Train" with Skylar Grey featuring Gallant (2019) * "Start Again" (2019) * "Heartbreak" (2019)
===Other appearances=== *"Lead Me Home" on ''The Walking Dead: Original Soundtrack – Vol. 1'' (2013) *"Rumble and Sway" in ''Teen Wolf'' 3x01 (2013), ''Suits'' 3x02 (2013), ''The Catch'' 1x02 (2016) and the official trailer for ''Hail, Caesar!'' (2016) *"Marathon" in ''FIFA 14'' OST (2013) *”‘TV Now’ ft. Ellie Goulding” in The CW promo (2013) *"Desperation" on Eminem's ''The Marshall Mathers LP 2'' (2013) *"Saturdays = Celebration" on Big K.R.I.T.'s ''Cadillactica'' (2014) *"Jungle" in ''Teen Wolf'' Season 4x01 and end credits for ''Hercules'' (2014) *"All Along the Watchtower" in ''Need for Speed'' (2014) *"The Preacher" in ''Justified'' Season 6x07 (2015) *"In My Arms" Grizfolk (2017) *"Walls" in ''Skyscraper'' End credits (2018) *"Gallows" the Score ft. Jamie N Commons ''Carry On'' (2020)
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{Official website|http://www.jamiencommons.com}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Commons, Jamie N}} Category:Alumni of Goldsmiths, University of London Category:English folk musicians Category:English rock musicians Category:Fiction Records artists Category:Singers from Bristol Category:Singers from Chicago Category:Musicians from the London Borough of Lewisham Category:Singers from the London Borough of Lewisham Category:1988 births Category:Living people Category:British expatriate musicians in the United States Category:English people of Swedish descent Category:English people of Finnish descent