Standout South-London R&B artist James Vickery marks today the start of a new chapter with the release of his brand new single ‘Hotel Lobby’ – his first on Red Bull Records.
Written in LA, and produced by Malik 95 and Mosaic, ‘Hotel Lobby‘ dances around a bossa nova rhythm and lays bare the emotions that have shaped his artistry. Influenced by the likes of Daniel Caesar & Sabrina Carpenter, its carefree sound carries an introspective narrative of love, longing, and self-acceptance. It’s a song that embodies the newfound confidence he has discovered within himself – delivered with an exceptional vocal performance.
“I really wanted to go outside of my comfort zone and write over something that I would never normally sing to.” James explains, “Malik 95 and Mosaic cooked up this weird and wonderful guitar loop, and I had this concept for ages about writing about a passionate night with someone that was so emphatic, that it could be heard from the Lobby downstairs. Chloe Angelides and I wrote the rest of the song so quickly – it flowed out of us so effortlessly, which in my eyes is usually a sign of a great song.”
Directed by Olivia Lifungula, ‘Hotel Lobby’ arrives with a stunningly shot music video that encapsulates every inch of bedroom scene passion and the raw emotion of the song’s lyrics.
James is completely deaf in one ear due to a life-threatening cholesteatoma diagnosed at the age of eight. A vocal coach, initially brought in to help him with his speech, soon discovered his astonishing singing ability. His documentary Louder offered a candid glimpse into his experiences, shedding light on his identity and heritage as the son of a Welsh father and South African mother.
James has built an impressive career to date. His breakthrough COLORS SHOW has racked up nearly 40 million views, and collaborations with Kojey Radical, Musiq Soulchild, Kenny Beats, EARTHGANG & SG Lewis, as well as support from BBC Radio 1, BBC 1Xtra, The Fader, Clash & Complex, has cemented his reputation as a standout voice in UK R&B. Once driven by a need for acceptance, James has now embraced his truth.
‘Hotel Lobby‘ will be the first offering this year from a larger body of work. His voice, his story, and his passion continue to set him apart, proving that he is an artist with both depth and staying power.
“I don’t want to be a sad story,” Vickery affirms. “I’m very proud of going through what I have and coming out the other side.”
About James Vickery
James Vickery is ready to bare his soul to the world. His journey has been anything but ordinary—one marked by resilience, self-discovery, and an unwavering passion for music.
“Something I realised a while ago was that a lot of people didn’t necessarily understand where the music comes from,” the South London artist says. “I had a story that I was always a little bit ashamed of, which is sad in a way, but there was never much representation for people with my condition in the music industry.”
Vickery is completely deaf in one ear. At eight years old, he was diagnosed with a non-cancerous growth of skin cells called a cholesteatoma, which was in his ear and growing toward his brain. Without surgery, he might have died within two months. The operation saved his life, and a vocal coach brought in to help him with his speech soon discovered his astonishing singing abilities.
He opened up about his journey in the moving 2021 documentary, Louder, which also explored his fascinating heritage. Born to a Welsh father and South African mother, Vickery, who is white-passing, has occasionally struggled with misconceptions from strangers.
“I think my whole career, I was really trying to be accepted by different communities while being afraid that they would reject me,” he says. “I would make music to try and impress people without realising it.” Somewhere along the road, though, he found an inner peace—one that allowed him to fully embrace himself and his artistry.
Vickery has a back catalogue most artists twice his age would envy. There’s the famous COLORS SHOW, which to date has racked up close to 40 million views and (Vickery’s fans tell him) soundtracked the conception of at least a dozen babies. His debut album, Songs That Make Me Feel – featuring collaborations with R&B legend Musiq Soulchild and Atlanta hip-hop duo EarthGang – saw him hailed as the new face of UK R&B.
“I don’t want to be a sad story,” he says. “I’m very proud of going through what I have and coming out the other side.” His journey is a testament to resilience, and his music reflects that euphoria—an artist fully stepping into his own, without fear or hesitation.
One thing is certain: Vickery is never afraid to step outside his comfort zone. His voice, his story, and his passion continue to set him apart, proving that he is an artist with both depth and staying power.
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