Jamie T

Jamie T, born Jamie Treays in 1986, is a singer-songwriter from Wimbledon, London, with roots in South London. His work sits across hip hop, indie pop, indie rock and singer-songwriter styles, and his songs also draw on rap, reggae and acoustic elements.

Career

He signs to Virgin Records and also releases material on his own Pacemaker Records label. In 2007 he issues the Betty and The Selfish Sons EP on Pacemaker, alongside his debut album Panic Prevention. Before the album, he releases the singles “Sheila”, “If You’ve got the money” and “Calm Down Dearest”. “Sheila” reaches No. 22 in the UK singles chart, “If You’ve got the money” reaches No. 13, and “Calm Down Dearest” reaches No. 12, which is his highest chart position among those singles. “Sheila” is his first Top 40 hit.

Panic Prevention is released in 2007 and is also leaked online before its official issue. A set of demos circulates online separately, featuring alternative and live performances.

Radio and collaborations

Jamie T receives support from BBC Radio 1 presenters, with Zane Lowe naming “Salvador” his single of the week and “Back In The Game” his Hottest Record In The World. He also covers Lowe’s Radio 1 show in January 2007 while Lowe is away, working with fellow Radio 1 DJ Nihal. On Jo Whiley’s show, “Back In The Game” is selected as her “pet sound”, and “Sheila” later becomes her Record Of The Week. “Sheila” is also playlisted by Radio 1.

He remixes Gorillaz’s “Kids With Guns” as a B-side. A later track features backing vocals from Florence Welch of Florence And The Machine.

Recognition

In March 2007, he is voted Best Solo Artist at the NME Awards at Hammersmith Palais in London, ahead of Thom Yorke and Jarvis Cocker.

Later material

He works on a second album with a list of track titles that includes “Sticks and Stones”, “Spiderwebs”, “Hocus Pocus”, “368”, “Jilly Armeen”, “British Intelligence”, “Dance of the Young Professionals”, “Man’s Machine”, “Earth, Wind & Fire”, “Emily’s Heart” and “Bruce”. A track called “Fire Fire” appears on his website in 2009, but he says it is not released as a single and does not appear on the album. The “Sticks n’ Stones” EP is released, and an official video for “Sticks ’N’ Stones” is shot in Wimbledon and features him and other band members.