James Colton, the award-nominated film score composer and multi-instrumentalist, is set to release his debut solo album, Emotional Vampire – out 30 May via Blue Grey Pink. Known for his genre-defying approach, Colton’s first solo endeavour is a testament to his years of musical evolution, spanning heavy rock, orchestral compositions, and electronic soundscapes.
The title track, Emotional Vampire, serves as a visceral introduction to the album’s thematic and sonic exploration. In Colton’s own words: “‘Emotional Vampire’ begins as a whisper written in binary—a strange beauty woven through the cold architecture of processors and wires. Gradually, it invites the chaos of human breath and hands, as the programmed rhythms surrender to the recklessness of real instruments performed live by musicians. When Mitch McDonald’s drums finally explode onto the track, it’s as if someone’s flung open the curtains and let the weather sweep in. Suddenly, the molecules in the room change—there’s sweat, there’s celebration. There’s a lot of that kind of thing on this album, a collision between what is synthetic and what is human echoes throughout.”
Emotional Vampire was written, arranged, performed, recorded, and mixed alomost entirely by Colton himself at Golding Sounds Studios, a testament to his multi-instrumental prowess and meticulous craftsmanship. Drawing from his experience writing and recording with heavy rock bands as a guitarist and keyboardist, while simultaneously playing woodwind instruments in a symphony orchestra, Colton’s music effortlessly bridges the electronic and the organic. His genre-skipping style, touching everything from 80’s pop rock to experimental jazz, has become his signature, establishing him as an artist unbound by convention.
The album is thick with well-crafted atmospheres, moving chord progressions, and melodies that resonate with emotional depth. Colton’s creative use of soundbites and samples, paired with luscious intertwining vocal harmonies, demonstrates his mastery of composition and storytelling. It’s an immersive experience where synthetic beats collide with raw, human energy, forging something entirely new and visceral.
With this release, James Colton cements his place as a fearless musical innovator. Emotional Vampire is not just a debut; it’s a declaration.
James Colton’s Emotional Vampire is out now via Blue Grey Pink.
