Festival Jardins de Pedralbes 2014: John Newman + Joan Dausà

John Newman's just 23, but his voice and songs have a deepness and a richness beyond his years. Like a true force of nature, the young British artist writes, produces, plays, sings and remixes his own music.

Born in Settle, North Yorkshire, Newman inherited his musical taste from his mother, a woman obsessed with Motown and Northern Soul, and he's added in a bit of house and hip hop to the sounds. While he was listening to singer-songwriters such as Damien Rice, Ray Lamontagne and Ben Harper, he learned to play the guitar. At the age of 15, with a rudimentary studio in his home, he started recording house and hip hop instrumentals. Later he decided to add his voice and started doing shows.

At 20 Newman moved to London, got a band together, carried on playing and signed with a multinational label. After meeting a member of the drum'n'bass quartet Rudimental, he collaborated with them in 2012 on two of their hits, 'Feel the Love', which hit No 1 in the UK charts, and 'Not Giving In', which got to No 14.

After releasing his debut album, 'Tribute' (2013), the first single ('Love Again') hit No 1 as well with its irresistable mix of soul, pop and house.