Written by Mia Tallulah
If you are an ambitious dreamer, the type of person who lives for the hope of it all, or simply an indie-pop enjoyer, then James Marriot’s new single ‘California Rain’ may just be the song you need to carry you through the winter blues that linger into January. The single reflects on James persevering with his dreams despite his doubts, inspiring the listener to fight for their dreams. He certainly is cut out for the big time, with this latest single climbing as high as number 22 in the charts (and I predict more success is yet to come for this talented artist).
As a youtuber, singer and songwriter, James certainly has a cultural impact on both the online and indie music scenes, with his quirks and humour shining through during his frequent appearances on ‘a bit more willne’, and his bright personality continuing to sparkle onstage and in his music.
The song captures a personal tone that reflects on James’ journey, from an underground artist releasing his first EP ‘Bitter Tongues’ to scoring a number one with his 2025 album ‘Don’t Tell The Dog’. The lyric “I’m not the same as yesterday” looks back at James’ growth both personally and as a musician, even sparking a TikTok trend where fans upload old pictures of themselves and reflect on their own growth over the years.
Moments throughout the song that have particularly gained attention are “you’re right, I’m not cut out for the big time” and “the rain won’t stop me now”. These lyrics are ironic as, despite believing that he’s not cut out for the big time, James is on his way to becoming a front-running UK artist, with his music creeping further up the charts each day. “The rain won’t stop me now” ties the song together in an inspiring message that despite his struggles and setbacks, James has kept going, inspiring others to do the same.
The release of ‘California Rain’ on the 2 January has built excitement and anticipation for the future projects James may have hidden up his sleeve, with hope amongst fans for a late 2026 album drop that could propel James even further into stardom. One thing is certainly for sure; the Brighton-based artist has kicked off 2026 on a high note that only promises that this year may be the year of James Marriott.
If you haven’t already, give California Rain a listen now as it is out on all streaming platforms!
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