Do, 27. Nov 2025
introduction night w James Vickery + georgustav
Einlass 20:00 | Beginn 20:30
Chelsea Wien
Hernalser Gürtel 72-73, 1080 Wien
Tickets
About introduction nights • ca. 1x / month • 1 international and 1 local newcomer play an intimate club show in Vienna • Tickets pay as you wish € 5 | € 10 | € 15 at oeticket.com • the ticket revenue is shared by the two artists in addition to their fee • we hope to support new artists starting to build a fanbase in Vienna James Vickery Spotify | Youtube | Instagram | Tiktok James Vickery is ready to bare his soul to the world. His stunning new album, simply titled JAMES., is a remarkably assured statement – one that introduces a whole new sound to his audience. And from the Hollywood flurry of strings that heralds “Hotel Lobby” to the woozy beat on “Higher”, each track is testament to Vickery’s fantastic voice, honed from a time where it seemed like he might not be able to sing at all. “Something I realised a while ago was that a lot of people didn’t necessarily understand where the music comes from,” the South London artist says. “I had a story that I was always a little bit ashamed of, which is sad in a way, but there was never much representation for people with my condition in the music industry.” Vickery is completely deaf in one ear. Aged eight, he was diagnosed with a non-cancerous growth of skin cells called a cholesteatoma, which was in his ear and growing towards his brain. Without surgery, he might have died within two months. The operation saved his life, and a vocal coach brought in to help him with his speech would soon discover his astonishing singing abilities. He opened up about his journey in the moving 2021 documentary, Louder, which also shone a light on his fascinating heritage. Born to a Welsh father and South African mother, Vickery, who is white-passing, has occasionally struggled with misconceptions from strangers. “I think my whole career, I was really trying to be accepted by different communities while being afraid that they would reject me,” he says. “I would make music to try and impress people without realising it.” Somewhere along the road, though, he found an inner peace, and with it the idea to self-title this latest work: “Because it’s real, it’s me.” Still, Vickery has a back catalogue most artists twice his age would envy. There’s the famous COLORS SHOW, which to date has racked up close to 40 million views and (Vickery’s fans tell him) soundtracked the conception of at least a dozen babies. His debut album, Songs That Make Me Feel – featuring collaborations with R&B legend Musiq Soulchild and Atlanta hip-hop duo EarthGang – saw him hailed as the new face of UK R&B. Meanwhile a recent independent release, the Sheet Music EP, demonstrated his impressive versatility as an artist. His collaboration with SG Lewis on the 2020 track “Pressure” has attracted over 40 million plays on Spotify alone, while more recent songs such as “The Reason” – a gorgeous concoction of deep bass grooves and muted keys – have achieved millions of streams apiece. “I think a part of me was ready to move away from a strict R&B sound – that was a really conscious decision,” Vickery says of JAMES., which incorporates funk, hip-hop and pop elements. He joined forces with longtime collaborator JD Reid (Mahalia, Mabel, Sinead Harnett), along with producer Larrance Dopson (Kendrick Lamar, Ella Mai, Justin Timberlake) and Grammy-nominated LA songwriter/composer Jonah Christian (Beyonce, Normani, Tems). georgustav Spotify | Youtube | Instagram | Tiktok Um zu einem vielversprechenden Newcomer der deutschsprachigen Indiepop-Landschaft aufzusteigen, in die florierende Wiener Szene aufgenommen zu werden und tausende Follower*innen auf TikTok um sich zu scharen, haben georgustav zwei Minuten im Spotlight gereicht. Zwei Minuten, das ist die Spielzeit seiner im Spätsommer 2024 erschienenen und inzwischen im hohen sechsstelligen Bereich gestreamten Debütsingle »taugenichts«. Dieses Stück Musik steht exemplarisch für das Phänomen georgustav. Weil es Drama und Ungezwungenheit, gefällige Hit-Melodie und abgründig-kratzigen Off-Pop-Charme, bodenständigen Habitus und ausladende Poesie, klagend-brüchige und raumfüllend-kraftvolle, ungewöhnlich getaktete Gesangsphasen stilecht miteinander vermengt. Wenn georgustav am heimischen Klavier Platz nimmt und mit Textfetzen jongliert, stehen am Ende in der Regel große, brachiale wie zarte Balladen. Über innerliche und zwischenmenschliche Spannungen; über Liebeskummer, Brennnesseln in Blumensträußen und andere Rachephantasien; über Selbstzweifel, die Illusion Realität, unendlich schönes Versagen und kleine, große Weltuntergänge. Meistens siegt Elegie über Frohsinn; und Fragilität über falschen Stolz. Genau das zeichnet den zweiundzwanzigjährigen Wiener mit ansteckendem Lächeln aus: georgustav steht zu seinen Schwächen und Abgründen, zu seinen Zweifeln und Struggles. Er ist ein ein junger Mensch, ein Musikfanatiker, ein Suchender wie du und ich - manchmal einsam und unsicher, auf halber Achterbahnstrecke zwischen angefangenem Studium, Kellnerjob, WG-Leben und Zukunftstraum Berufsmusiker. georgustav trägt mittellange Haare, Schnurrbart, Vintage-Hemd - und seine bürgerlichen Vornamen im Alias. Wenn er der Welt sein Herz ausschüttet, passiert dies in beachtlich purer, intimer, im bestmöglichen Sinne formloser Bedroom-Atmosphäre. Dann stellt georgustav sein Handy im Selfie-Modus auf’s Piano und begleitet seine surreal greifbare Singstimme eigenhändig. Selbst in den Studioversionen seiner Songs übertönen die gelegentlich von unaufdringlichen Streichern, schleppenden Drums oder dezenten Synths begleiteten Klavierschläge niemals georgustavs nachhallende Sprachmalereien. Im Zentrum seiner Kunst stehen bogige Vocals auf »Wilde Herzen«-Pole-Position-Niveau - und das schon seit der ersten Single »taugenichts«.