# James McCartney
**James McCartney** (born 1977) is a British singer-songwriter, the only son of [Paul McCartney](https://www.edgepedia.org/paul-mccartney) and [Linda McCartney](https://www.edgepedia.org/linda-mccartney), whose melodic indie-folk and rock style has been released across two EPs, a compilation, and the albums *Me* (2013), *The Blackberry Train* (2016), and *Beautiful Nothing* (2024).[1](https://codamusic.me/artists/james-mccartney/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1977, son of Paul and Linda McCartney[2](https://www.beatlesbible.com/1977/09/12/james-mccartney-born/) |
| First recordings | Contributed to Paul McCartney's *Flaming Pie* (1997) and Linda McCartney's posthumous *Wide Prairie* (1998)[1](https://codamusic.me/artists/james-mccartney/) |
| Debut EPs | *Available Light* (2010), produced by Paul McCartney and David Kahne; *Close at Hand* (2011), compiled as *The Complete EP Collection*[1](https://codamusic.me/artists/james-mccartney/) |
| Albums | *Me* (June 2013); *The Blackberry Train* (2016), which peaked at number 15 on the Official Independent Album Breakers Chart; *Beautiful Nothing* (2024)[1](https://codamusic.me/artists/james-mccartney/) • [3](https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/49550/james-mccartney/) |
| Notable collaboration | Recorded The Beatles' "Hello, Goodbye" with The Cure for the 2014 covers album *The Art of McCartney*[4](https://www.the-paulmccartney-project.com/artist/james-mccartney/) |
| Cited influences | Nirvana, Radiohead, The Cure, PJ Harvey, The Beatles, Neil Young, Jimi Hendrix, Hank Williams[5](https://americansongwriter.com/getting-to-know-james-mccartney/) |
| Recent output | Singles including "Primrose Hill" with Sean Ono Lennon (2024), "Ribbons" and "Heaven" (2025), and "Dreams", "I'll Say What I Want To", "Black Americano", "Me And You", and "Justice" (2026)[6](https://music.apple.com/us/artist/james-mccartney/254677141) |
## Early life and first recordings
Born to Paul and Linda McCartney, James McCartney was exposed to music from a young age, accompanying Wings as an infant and toddler before spending the bulk of the 1980s growing up in a more typical way.[1](https://codamusic.me/artists/james-mccartney/) When Paul resumed touring at the end of that decade, James joined him on the road, and by the 1990s he had begun to treat music with greater seriousness.[1](https://codamusic.me/artists/james-mccartney/)
His first recorded work appeared on his father's 1997 album *Flaming Pie*, where he is credited on "Heaven On a Sunday" alongside [Jeff Lynne](https://www.edgepedia.org/jeff-lynne) and Linda McCartney.[1](https://codamusic.me/artists/james-mccartney/) • [6](https://music.apple.com/us/artist/james-mccartney/254677141) He also appeared on his mother's posthumous release *Wide Prairie* in 1998.[1](https://codamusic.me/artists/james-mccartney/) Following Linda's death that same year, he paused his activities before focusing more intently on songwriting in the latter half of the 2000s.[1](https://codamusic.me/artists/james-mccartney/)
## Solo career
**First performances and EPs.** His first onstage appearance came in 2009 under the name Light at [David Lynch](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-lynch)'s Iowa-based Weekend for World Peace and [Meditation](https://www.edgepedia.org/meditation).[1](https://codamusic.me/artists/james-mccartney/) The following year he resumed performing as James McCartney and issued the EP *Available Light*, produced by Paul McCartney and David Kahne.[1](https://codamusic.me/artists/james-mccartney/) A short tour in support of that record was followed by a second EP, *Close at Hand*, in 2011; the two were later compiled as *The Complete EP Collection* that same year.[1](https://codamusic.me/artists/james-mccartney/) Critics of the period described his music as a mix of accessible melodic songs and experimental rock, and he also performed as a solo acoustic act at Coachella.[7](https://rockwrite.blogspot.com/2013/04/james-mccartney-talks-coachella-new.html?m=0)
**Albums.** His debut full-length album, *Me*, arrived in June 2013, followed by *The Blackberry Train* in 2016.[1](https://codamusic.me/artists/james-mccartney/) *The Blackberry Train* entered the Official Independent Album Breakers Chart on 9 May 2016, peaking at number 15 for one week.[3](https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/49550/james-mccartney/) In 2024 he released the album *Beautiful Nothing*, which included the tracks "Nothing (Acoustic)", "You & Me Individually (Remix)", and "Wings Of A Lightest Weight (Remix)".[1](https://codamusic.me/artists/james-mccartney/) • [6](https://music.apple.com/us/artist/james-mccartney/254677141)
**Recent singles.** Since 2024 he has released a steady run of singles: "Beautiful", "Primrose Hill" (featuring Sean Ono Lennon), "Nothing", "Circle Game", and "I'm Yours" in 2024; "Heaven" and "Ribbons" in 2025; and "Dreams", "I'll Say What I Want To", "Black Americano", and "Me And You" in 2026, with "Justice" following in October 2026.[6](https://music.apple.com/us/artist/james-mccartney/254677141) Each has an official music video listed on his own Linktree page.[8](https://linktr.ee/jamesmccartneyofficial)
## Songwriting and influences
McCartney has described a songwriting process that varies but usually starts with music first and lyrics afterward, trying different approaches such as singing nonsense words to a melody or bouncing between different instruments; he has also written lyrics in a notebook, "sort of like poetry", and says the goal is having as much emotion as possible, musically, and lyrically.[5](https://americansongwriter.com/getting-to-know-james-mccartney/) He has called recording a central element in his life and an opportunity to evolve and grow as a musician, including through the technical aspects of recording.[5](https://americansongwriter.com/getting-to-know-james-mccartney/)
His stated influences span rock and earlier songwriting traditions: [Kurt Cobain](https://www.edgepedia.org/kurt-cobain), The Smiths, Radiohead, PJ Harvey, The Cure, The Beatles, Neil Young, Jimi Hendrix, and [Hank Williams](https://www.edgepedia.org/hank-williams).[5](https://americansongwriter.com/getting-to-know-james-mccartney/) In another interview he added the band Dive, Pink Turns Blue, Nirvana, Radiohead, The Cure, the Beatles, the Stones, and 1960s music generally.[9](https://smashinginterviews.com/interviews/musicians/james-mccartney-interview-paul-and-linda-mccartneys-son-finds-his-own-wings) He has said his music was inspired by [The Beatles](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-beatles), Nirvana, The Cure, PJ Harvey, Radiohead, "and all good music".[4](https://www.the-paulmccartney-project.com/artist/james-mccartney/)
## Family connection and collaborations
Being the son of a Beatle has shaped the reception of his career, and his father has been part of his recordings: Paul McCartney co-produced *Available Light* and was part of the recording of James's early material.[1](https://codamusic.me/artists/james-mccartney/) • [7](https://rockwrite.blogspot.com/2013/04/james-mccartney-talks-coachella-new.html?m=0) In 2014 he recorded The Beatles' "Hello, Goodbye" with [The Cure](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-cure) for *The Art of McCartney*, a collection of Beatles and Paul McCartney solo covers.[4](https://www.the-paulmccartney-project.com/artist/james-mccartney/) His 2024 single "Primrose Hill" features Sean Ono Lennon, John Lennon's son, placing him among the second generation of Beatles children who have pursued music, alongside [Julian Lennon](https://www.edgepedia.org/julian-lennon) and [Dhani Harrison](https://www.edgepedia.org/dhani-harrison).[6](https://music.apple.com/us/artist/james-mccartney/254677141)
## Discography
- *Available Light* (EP, 2010)[1](https://codamusic.me/artists/james-mccartney/)
- *Close at Hand* (EP, 2011)[1](https://codamusic.me/artists/james-mccartney/)
- *The Complete EP Collection* (2011)[1](https://codamusic.me/artists/james-mccartney/)
- *Me* (2013)[1](https://codamusic.me/artists/james-mccartney/)
- *The Blackberry Train* (2016)[1](https://codamusic.me/artists/james-mccartney/)
- *Beautiful Nothing* (2024)[1](https://codamusic.me/artists/james-mccartney/)
## References
1. [James McCartney - Biography, Discography & Albums, Coda Music](https://codamusic.me/artists/james-mccartney/)
2. [James McCartney is born, The Beatles Bible](https://www.beatlesbible.com/1977/09/12/james-mccartney-born/)
3. [JAMES MCCARTNEY songs and albums, Official Charts Company](https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/49550/james-mccartney/)
4. [James McCartney (artist), The Paul McCartney Project](https://www.the-paulmccartney-project.com/artist/james-mccartney/)
5. [Getting To Know: James McCartney, American Songwriter](https://americansongwriter.com/getting-to-know-james-mccartney/)
6. [James McCartney, Apple Music](https://music.apple.com/us/artist/james-mccartney/254677141)
7. [James McCartney talks Coachella, new album, Rock 'n' Roll Truth](https://rockwrite.blogspot.com/2013/04/james-mccartney-talks-coachella-new.html?m=0)
8. [James McCartney Official, Linktree](https://linktr.ee/jamesmccartneyofficial)
9. [James McCartney Interview: Paul and Linda McCartney's Son Finds His Own Wings, Smashing Interviews Magazine](https://smashinginterviews.com/interviews/musicians/james-mccartney-interview-paul-and-linda-mccartneys-son-finds-his-own-wings)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musicians and ensembles › Individual musical biographies › Rock, metal, and popular-band musicians › Pop rock and power pop › Contemporary pop band musicians*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license