James Walsh (Starsailor) is a singer, songwriter, guitarist and pianist from Chorley, Lancashire, England. He is the frontman of Starsailor.

Early life and influences

Walsh is born on 9 June 1980. He begins playing piano at the age of 12 and writes his own songs by the time he is 14. His early listening includes The Charlatans, Oasis and Jeff Buckley. He later becomes interested in artists including Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Nick Drake and The Beatles.

Starsailor

Walsh forms Starsailor with James Stelfox and Ben Byrne, whom he meets while studying music at Wigan and Leigh College in Wigan. The band name comes from Tim Buckley’s 1970 album Starsailor, a record Walsh is particularly struck by.