“Experience inspires me daily,” says 22-year-old singer songwriter James Grehan. “Whether it’s good or bad, each new experience is inspirational, food for thought – but then everyone is inspired by experience. I just express mine through songs and poetry.

James, who played with local band Epic in his tender teenage years, has just released his first-length solo outing, I’d Rather Be a Butterfly: an accomplished debut that masterfully treads the soft/hard guitar dynamic. Complex lyricism belies his years, and the 11-track independent outing is sure to get hearts a fluttering and chequebooks a waving.

“Ultimately I am inspired by things that are different or interesting,” he continues. “I met an old busker named Theo in the Brisbane CBD, he was playing an old Greek instrument called a bazuke. We chatted and I ended up playing his instrument. We jammed for a bit and that was that: it opened my mind to a different style of music and for that I am grateful.

I write poetry, something that is a form of expression and art. Creating my music and poetry is a very personal experience, and this is evident with songs like Sean’s Lament, a song written for an absent friend.
I don’t know whether it is possible for an artist to describe his music, the music describes them. If I were to classify it I would say that it is a “soup,” a combination of musical elements that I have been exposed to over the years. Influences ranging from Leadbelly to Radiohead, Beethoven to Jeff Buckley taught me to express myself through music. These artists wrote music that I could relate to. I identified with the songs, as if they had written it for me. This is what I hope people can get from my music – if I do then I know it has made a difference.

So what was the moment you just KNEW you had to make music?
“This is an interesting story. I was standing at the crossroads one day with my guitar when this old black guy came up and started talking to me,” he says mischievously.
“No, but seriously I I think I was always going to be a musician. I though t I was Axl Rose when I was 10, started playing guitar when I was 11 and writing songs when I was 14. Collaborating with other musicians though was my ultimate highlight, as well as the sex and drugs. Definitely, when did I KNOW? Well that’s all a bit blurry.”