Bio
Two years ago, James O’Hurley was ready to quit.
It had been a rough ride for the London troubadour, which led him down a path of nearly laying down his guitar forever. But in one final afternoon of playing - the songs that flowed out of James at his lowest had a resonance and unique quality. At the lowest ebb, this songster had finally found his truest voice.
Fast forward to today, and James has forged a partnership with Top Floor Music, found key collaborators in Erim Ahmet and Pete Briley and has began growing his fanbase with his latest single, 'Red', grossing over 50k streams with more music coming.
James’ story is one of redemption, of raw talent, of perseverance that vibrates with the life experience of all of us. It’s a tale told through his incredibly powerful voice and original songwriting.
Quotes
“As organic as it is distinctive”
- Vents Magazine
“Dark brooding words and a gritty soul filled voice make this debut single a joy”
- FATEA Magazine
“an enthralling entrance to the music scene”
- Northern Exposure Magazine
“an anthemic chorus line which portrays future echoes of audiences across venues bellowing back to this truly humble gentleman.
It all weaves into the fabric of the amazing stories that James O’Hurley has to tell.”
- MNPR Magazine
“Each track on A Certain Stranger is ready to be the soundtrack to your next favourite TV show or long road trip. Prepare to hum, sing and dance along as you move through the tracks because James O’Hurley has a story to tell and you need to hear what he has to say.”
- Emerging Rock Bands
“Two minutes isn’t very long to make an impression, but that’s exactly what James O’Hurley does with his debut single ‘Evil’. Striking in its brevity and sparse instrumentation, the singer-songwriter demonstrates that his voice is the real showstopper.”
- Rockfiend
“Well-crafted and highly individualistic”
- Fabrications HQ
Release Details:
Artist: James O’Hurley
Title: A Beggars Belief
Format: Digital and limited vinyl
Release date: 26 June 2026
Lead single: “Roulette”
Label: Top Floor Music Limited
Publisher: Self-published
Producer: Erim Ahmet
EP runtime: 15:41
EP details: Four live acoustic studio recordings
Previous releases
A Certain Stranger (Album) – 14 February 2025
A Moment Alone (Live at Factory Studios) – 19 September 2025
Tracklist and ISRCs
1. Devil Don’t Knock (Acoustic) – 3:30 – GXCSG2600001
2. Roulette (Acoustic) – 4:53 – GXCSG2600002
3. Grace (Acoustic) – 3:04 – GXCSG2600003
4. Helpless Hopeless (Acoustic) – 4:14 – GXCSG2600004
For fans of
The Far North, Forgotten Pharaohs, Jules’ Mescaline, The Daniel Card Band
EP artwork by Irish abstract expressionist Kieran Hyland.