James TW has earned a brief break at the beach.
The teenage singer-songwriter’s hard work is starting to pay off with a coveted support slot and a growing fanbase.
The British multi-instrumentalist initially turned heads with his cover of Natalie Imbruglia’s “Torn,” which is closing in on 11 million Spotify streams. His debut EP First Impressions dropped earlier this year and the first single from it, “When You Love Someone,” has moved past 9 million Spotify streams. He’s currently taking his music to the world as the opening act on Shawn Mendes’ global tour.
James went west to shoot the summery clip for “Sanctuary,” a track lifted from First Impressions. The shoot was a chance to take time out, reflect and dip his toes in the Malibu water.
“Sanctuary was written about when we all get too caught up in everyday life, whether it’s school or work, and forget about the things that matter most,” he tells Billboard. “It’s about making time with the person you love to step away from the busy world.”
The soulful singer recounts having an “awesome time” shooting the clip “as I got to drive a convertible Jeep on the coast, play volleyball on the beach and watch the Malibu sunset after we finished filming.” Watch the clip below.