Rising Portsmouth pop star works with college students

One man band James, who performs under the guise of Fugitive Orchestra, spent an afternoon being filmed by BTEC media students.

The local Portsmouth artist spent Monday afternoon working with a group of six Year 1 Level 3 Creative Media and Production students, on a multi camera project, performing his song Tomahawk Caress.

He said: ‘I’m delighted to get in on the opportunity and it is kind of a nice mutually advantageous thing.

‘Hopefully it helps them with the project. They've got a focal point for the cameras and working on the discipline of multi-cameras and syncing up audio recordings.’

James, who was nominated for Best Solo Act at The News Guide Awards last month, describes his music as alternative, jazz-infused, bluesy hip-hop.

He also spoke to the group about the future of music and producing media and offered the students some advice and guidance.

‘There really are so many opportunities. I think that a mixture of patience and hard work and being a little bit imaginative, thinking outside the box, you are making these opportunities happen that someone else might not have even thought of,’ he said.

Take inspiration but don’t compare yourself too much. Your time will come and you are going to find a different avenue that they [other people] will never think of.

Media Lecturer Jeff Ahern said: ‘James was very kind to come into the studio and work with our year 1, level 3 creative media and production students. At very short notice, he was absolutely wonderful and without him we would not have had the success we’ve had today.’

Fugitive Orchestra is currently writing new music and is next playing on March 1 at The Wedgewood Rooms.