'My life had no anchor before I was a dad'

Singer James Arthur on how his career has progressed, fatherhood and the importance of discussing mental health

- NIKKI ONAFUYE

Singer James Arthur can transport his fans to a happy place with his stirring vocals. But “happy” hasn’t always been a word that James would use to describe himself, despite his success from a young age.

Not many performers can say they shared the stage with a Pussycat Doll at the age of 24, with 10 million viewers watching them perform a duet.

But the former X Factor winner, who was mentored by Nicole Scherzinger in the 2012 series, has experienced personal and professional struggles. After a very public breakdown early on in his career, he explored the roots of his fragile mental health in his 2022 BBC documentary, James Arthur: Out Of Our Minds.

Since seeking to tackle his mental health issues, James, 36, says he can finally see brighter times ahead. A flourishing career and happy family life with his daughter Emily, 19 months, will do that to you, he says.

Chatting to new, he discusses the importance of talking about mental health and how he is determined to make the music he wants to make…

Hi, James! How are you getting on?

There have been a lot of full circle moments for me this year. I just headlined my hometown stadium [in Middlesbrough]. I’ve done some pretty cool gigs like selling out The O2 and Wembley and performing with Kelly Clarkson. I’m 12 years in the game now and it feels like everything that I’ve worked for has started to come to the boil a little bit. I’m a father. So in my personal life, I feel a lot more balanced because I have somebody who I care way more about than myself.

You’re well-known for discussing mental health. How was it, reliving everything in your documentary, James Arthur: Out Of Our Minds?