James Bay feels just like an underdog that has come good following his three Grammy nominations.
James Bay
The 25-year-old musician is competing for Best New Artist, Best Rock Album for his debut LP 'Chaos and the Calm' and Best Rock Song for 'Hold Back The River' at the prestigious music ceremony next year and says his achievement is comparable to when his favourite soccer team Blackburn Rovers won the English Premier League in 1995.
Revealing how he reacted when he was informed about his nods, he said: "Silence. Eyebrow raised speechlessness! Like the look of a man who thinks he knows football [soccer] and is then told that Blackburn Rovers, of all teams, are one of only five to ever have won the Premier League."
The 'Hold Back The River' hitmaker has enjoyed international success and is on the brink of cracking the US, which is very important to Bay as he cites American artists such as Bruce Springsteen as major influences.
Discussing his American success so far, he told Billboard magazine:
"The response at shows has been amazing. Thousands of people each night singing all the songs, and the album's only been out eight months.
"It's a really cool feeling given what an enormous territory it is and seen as a whole half of my musical influences come from the States."
Tagged in Bruce Springsteen James Bay