Luke James

DISCOGRAPHIC

IS HOT, UP AND COMING singer-songwriter Luke James coming for Frank Ocean's crown?

The 30-year-old New Orleans native started out singing background vocals for Tyrese, moving on to writing for the likes of Chris Brown and Justin Bieber - but hell, everyone's gotta start somewhere!

Back in the '90s, together with Thomas Hyde and Quinten "Q" Spears, James was part of the group Upskale (right).

James recently covered the inexplicably popular Sam Smith record Stay With Me. James' soulful, dextrous vocal lifts what is a rather leaden number hugely.

You can download both his mixtapes - I Want You, and Whispers in the Dark - for free from his website. His debut album - Luke James - is out on 23rd September, on Mercury.