Gareth James is a DIY punk musician from Basingstoke. He begins playing guitar as a teenager after seeing Gavin Edwards perform and is inspired to start writing and performing his own songs.

Career

James plays in several bands before developing his solo work. He is part of White Rabbit in the early years of his career, then forms The Undefind, a rock group known for energetic live shows and a mix of cover material and original songs. He writes most of the group’s lyrics, including material such as “Guide You”, “Sain” and “The Score”.

The Undefind gains attention through online and broadcast exposure. Its original songs reach the top of the MXIT music playlist, with “Fragile Skin” voted to first place and “Pushed Aside” reaching second. The group is voted number one in MXIT Music’s top 20 bands for 2008. It also has a first music video aired on MK, and the video remains on the station’s rotation.

Collaborations and live work

James performs with The Undefind alongside acts including Prime Circle, Dirty Skirts, Mark Haze, 12th Avenue, Jesse Jordan Band and The Parlotones. The band appears at Cape Town’s first urban rock festival, FROCK, and at the launch of Rock Out Radio, where it plays a live broadcast. James also tours Namibia with The Undefind in 2011, extending his audience beyond South Africa.

Solo material

After his work with The Undefind, James focuses on a solo career and writes new material. He collaborates with other musicians on songs such as “Mr Right (is a better me)”, and also works on an album, an EP and a full-length release. “Mr Right” is among the most viewed videos on YouTube in South Africa at the time mentioned in the text.

Style

The available information describes James as a DIY punk artist and places his work within rock and related live-band settings.