Meet Nate James
(Scroll down for his audio story)

Content warning - experiences of racism.

"It was a beautiful mixed household — culture, food, music, love — just a wonderful place to be."

Award-winning singer-songwriter, Nate James, found fame when he released his first album, Set The Tone, in 2005. After two more albums, Kingdom Falls (2007) and Revival (2009), Nate was scouted to appear on The Voice UK 2013 - he joined 'Team Jessie'.

In his below story, Nate explores what it meant to grow up as the son of an African American US Air Force airman stationed at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk during the 1970s. Born and raised in Newmarket and then Woodbridge, Nate reflects on a childhood shaped by American military life, Black American culture and small-town East Anglia.

From barbecues soundtracked by Marvin Gaye and Blackstreet to trips onto the air base to buy the latest albums and trainers before they reached the UK high street, his upbringing was rooted in a rich mix of music, food and community.

At the same time, Nate acknowledges the complexities of race, belonging and identity, and what it meant to grow up Black American-British in East Anglia.

Nate is set to release a new album, podcast and book this year!

Buy Set The Tone on vinyl here.

See Nate live in Ipswich in July - tickets here.

And head over to his website here.