Chris James

Chris James

Chris James is a German singer-songwriter from Hilden, Germany, who is also known by the name Chris Brenner. Born in 1995, he grows up in a family with a German mother and an American father. After moving to Hilden at nursery-school age, he starts making music as a teenager, learning guitar at 15 and writing his first songs in his bedroom.

Early development

As Chris Brenner, he begins by covering songs by artists including Ed Sheeran and Coldplay. He uploads a video to YouTube every week for two years and gradually builds an audience. After leaving school, he moves to Düsseldorf, studies computer science for one semester, and then focuses on performing, including busking and playing at birthday parties, weddings and small concerts.

Recording career

He releases his first album, Mellow!, in 2018. By 2020, after moving to Berlin, he says he finds a more recognisable original style, which he describes as bedroom indie pop. He releases songs regularly and says he puts out a new track every month.

Songwriting and collaborations

James is better known in parts of Asia than in Germany after co-writing the BTS song “Life Goes On”, which becomes a major international hit. He also says his music is meant to be relaxed and describes it as “laid-back Sunday morning hangover music to enjoy with a coffee”. He cites John Mayer and The 1975 as role models.

Recent activity

His third album is due for release and he has also worked on a first advertising collaboration, with “The Cool Kid” used in a campaign for a German car manufacturer. He last performs live in Berlin in December 2019 and says he misses the direct feedback of live shows, as he now makes music mainly online.