AustinChronicle said:

James Hunter’s 2006 Grammy-nominated People Gonna Talk got tongues wagging all right, channeling a 1960s vibe and voice that brought to mind Sam Cooke, but few people knew the UK soul man had been knocking around since the 1980s. Hunter’s new The Hard Way (Go/Hear Music) deepens the groove and widens the sonic palette of its predecessor.
“The only reason [for the breakthrough] was because we found ourselves associated with people who were willing to put some money and some time into promoting us,” offers Hunter. “I think it could have happened earlier if we’d had those breaks. But I’m glad it didn’t, because, looking from here, I don’t think we were terribly good in those days. People said we were, but, comparing my writing, it was in a pretty juvenile stage from where I’m at now.
“I’ve always wanted more soul,” he adds. “I’m writing about people with real experiences rather than pretending to be Muddy Waters. I’ve been singing since 1980, and I’ve never felt that I’ve stopped progressing. My style has changed, but my techniques have improved.”
With the emergence of Amy Winehouse and Duffy, it’d be easy to pigeonhole the 45-year-old singer-songwriter as a product of the new British soul scene – one he claims doesn’t exist.
“When we were struggling, there was hardly a scene at all,” he asserts. “We might have been the only band of our type there. There were no other people doing blues or jump jive. People used to lump us in with that kind of soul thing, and we were never part of any movement at the time. So I don’t know how big that scene is or whether there is one now. We’ve always been a bit of a fish out of water.” more at austinchronicle.com