David James isn’t waltzing his way through life in music

THE ABILITY to diversify into other music genres and having a backing band of seasoned musicians that can play anything is the winning formula that singer David James says he hopes will continue to bring him success.

While Country is his forte, he showed his ability to diversify into songs from the Pop and Rock scene as well, at a recent dance in the Ard Ri House Hotel, Tuam.

“Apart from the dances we did our first concert shows earlier this year and it gave me the opportunity to sing some songs that I would not normally do at a dance.

“We have more concerts planned for later in the year and indeed into 2027 and hopefully one in Tuam at some stage. But also, the band and I are hosing cabaret nights in Harvey’s Point in Donegal which are now going on one night a week during the summer months and into the autumn,” he says.

The Waltz of Life

He also continues to play on holidays in the sun with Paul Claffey Tours as well as on cruise ships and he has his debut album just released titled The Waltz of Life.

The title is taken from his recent successful single of the same name written by his manager John Farry who was also the man that launched Nathan Carter to stardom.

John has also been instrumental in assembling a team of talented musicians around David James and the singer says the combination has been working very well.

“I’m very lucky to be surrounded by the musicians and the road crew who are among the best in the country. But not only are they great musicians but they are great people as well and we all get on so well and enjoy travelling together.

“There is big variety in our dance programme ranging from songs by Joe Dolan to some of the more modern Pop to Traditional American Country and I can’t compliment the musicians enough for being able to play all this and more,” he added.

Regarding his first album since fronting his own band The Waltz of Life, he says that the title song, written by his manager for John’s daughter’s wedding, was an apt title for the album.

“There are a few other songs on it that were also only available as singles for radio plays in the past. But there are also songs on it that have a special meaning for me like Sony’s Dream which my grandmother sung to me regularly during childhood days.

“Sadly, she and my grandfather passed away before I started out singing professionally but I wanted to put something on the album as a tribute to them. I think of my grandmother every time I sing that song and hopefully, she is watching down from another world and happy with the way I’m singing Sonny’s Dream,” he mused.

Dipping toes into Irish Trad-Rock

Dipping his toes into the realms of modern fast-paced Irish Trad-Rock songs David belts out a rip-roaring new Irish ballad, Going Out for One, as good as any of the cool kids as the opening track of this album and as his recent single.

“I first heard that song by Gearoid McCarthy who is doing great stuff on the Folk scene and once I heard it, I knew that we could do our own arrangement of it for the dancers.

“Thankfully, it’s been getting a great reaction at the festivals and dances we’ve playing this summer. Of course, the theme of the song is about a few guys asking each other if they are going out for one on a Friday evening which usually means much more than one,” he roared.

David, who also works as a presenter of a daily afternoon show on Highland Radio in Donegal, says he started with the band in February 2024. They will celebrate the second birthday with a special weekend next February in his home county with guests including Jimmy Buckley, Paddy Treacy, Stacey Breen and others.

As an admirer of his fellow county man and singing star Daniel O’Donnell he includes two of Daniel’s songs on this album, Summertime in Ireland, which was DOD’s first number one back in 1988, and a duet that David did with Daniel during Covid times titled Don’t Take the Good Times for Granted.

“I’m also looking forward to singing that song on the new series of Opry Le Daniel for TG4 being filmed in Derry this month for transmission later in the year,” concluded David James.