Photo credit: Paul Wolfgang Webster Photography

Go on a furiously frantic rollercoaster of 60s nostalgia and fast paced rock’n’roll with James Holt's new single 'Whatever Happened to John?'  The young Manchester-born singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, who was diagnosed with a bilateral moderate-to-severe hearing loss at the age of four, has overcome his disability to create music that will shake the walls.

James Holt says of his fun and rollicking new single, "The inspiration came from a Sky Arts TV programme set in an alternate reality in which John Lennon walked out of the Beatles before their fame in the mid-60s. It's a fusion of thoughts and ideas and also bears references to George Orwell's 1984. Some people say that it sounds very Dylan in the verses (especially with the harmonica), but I think the Indian-fused Beatles' Revolver creeps in the bridge.” 

There is a lot to this track as the pace changes half way through, mellows out and there are various instrumentals creating an alternate atmosphere (all of which Holt performs himself). Holt's vocals are raw and powerful and soar nicely over toe-tapping beats and instruments without ever sounding shouty. Mastered by legendary Abbey Road Studios engineer Alex Wharton (The Beatles, My Bloody Valentine, The Pixies, Mogwai),

'Whatever Happened to John?' follows support from a variety of revered musicians, DJs and radio hosts. 

Music Legend Brian Eno who has championed James Holt for a long time, invited the young artist to meet him at his John Peel Lecture for BBC Radio 6 Music. Eno also chose Holt's song to use as part of an arts festival in 2016. 

'Whatever Happened to John?' follows several acclaimed releases from James Holt, including his highly praised second EP ‘Sanguine On the Rocks’, ‘Butterfly’ and a charity single for the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital Charity, which has raised over £1100 since its release in July of last year. James performed the single at the Royal Albert Hall.