James Gillespie refreshes the singer-songwriter genre with debut cut “What You Do”

Debut single “What You Do” sees Gillespie working with Andy Hall Hall, whose previous credits include production on tracks from Jack Garratt and the aforementioned Rag ’N’ Bone Man. The combination of Gillespie’s emotionally rich songwriting with the pair’s sparse, dextrous co-production makes for a rewarding and surprisingly fresh listen.

“What You Do” has had considerable success in the first fortnight since its release, with inclusion on various Spotify playlists already propelling it to over 100,000 plays. It’s no surprise, given the general public’s receptiveness to tracks of this ilk over recent years. Where Gillespie shines, however, is that his own input into the production, and perhaps his relative lack of exposure, prevents his songwriting from falling into the wearisome and hackneyed cliché of some more famous peers.