Native James gets stuck in the game on the rock-rap "Field"

His latest track "Field" is a masterclass in fusing the sharp-tongued dexterity of British rap with nu-metal's breakneck riffs, a pairing which turns out to be strangely compatible. In the words of his TikTok page: "The algorithm's blessed you with underground grime metal.” Who are we to argue?

Having grown up on a diet of Korn albums and Darren Shan books, the Ipswich-based artist has steadily cultivated a taste for the gothic, but don't expect anything too morbid here. If there's a dark side to his music, enlightenment is just as important: his songs come fuelled by a desire for both self-realisation and collective strength, using the spitfire energy of grime to drive home his message.

This summer he's hit the ground running — "Field" arrives on the heels of earlier singles "Hammer" and "Power", the latter of which was snapped up for a Co-Op ad campaign. Even if you can catch his songs between soap operas now, Native James' credentials remain firmly grassroots, and he's currently signed with Essex-based indie label Saviour Music who featured him in their Great Escape showcase earlier this year.

In terms of rap, he cites Ghetts and Kano as formative influences. As a teenager, he used to hang out along Ipswich waterfront freestyling bars with his friends, and this off-the-cuff approach still informs his work today — but with the added wisdom gleaned from years spent manoeuvring his way through the music industry and learning who to trust. "Field" delves into these past experiences.

"'Field' is about some of the trials and tribulations of playing the game," he explains. "You either get stuck or get fucked, that's the way I feel." What follows is a thundering statement of intent complete with pummelling breakdowns, siren-like guitars and piercingly delivered wordplay. Footage of him performing the song at last year's Reading festival also shows off his strong rapport with the crowd, who quickly obey his request to get a pit going.

Unlike old school nu-metal, which so often feels thin-skinned or vengeful, Native James is using the genre as a tool for growth and healing, topics he'll explore further in his forthcoming EP Rebirth. He envisions his music as a way to bring people together by identifying a shared voice, and regularly reminds listeners of their own capacity to succeed. "The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don't have any," he says. "We are here to empower the people."