James Billett Releases Debut Single ‘Faith Over Family’

London-based singer and songwriter James Billett walks away from a decade-long songwriting career, from the guidance of none other than Elton John, from the praise of Noel Gallagher and writing sessions with John Legend, to pursue his own singing career. Now the gifted singer and songwriter makes his musical debut with the release of the heartbreaking single Faith Over Family.

I am loving James Billett's distinctive, softly-spoken vocals and how they are packed with so much raw emotion that instantly got me excited to want to share this gem with you guys. Faith Over Family tells the tale of a young gay man whose father puts his religious beliefs above his love for his son. The song is “an ode to the happiness that his son finds when he comes out as being gay, juxtaposed with the bitter sadness that the father inflicts on himself because he cannot accept his son for who he is.”

This is quite a relatable song for many out there and James beautifully captures the frustration and exasperation from going through such a situation. I am loving his whispered vocals and how they flow beautifully the intimate production packed with sliding guitars, brushed drum beats and lush strings. Check it out below!

This Friday, James Billett will release the song's accompanying music video which is set amongst the cinematic landscape of Iceland, with beautiful cinematography and a fully realised narrative and characters. James Billett has not forced himself into this visual (after all, he is not gay, but “it blows my mind that people think you need to be gay to understand a situation like that,”) and instead allows the characters to play out their own story.