Durbin was born to Judy Settle-Durbin. His father Willy Durbin, a musician, died of drug overdose when he was 9. He was diagnosed with Tourette's and Asperger's syndrome shortly after his father died. He has facial tics, some social awkwardness, and restricted interests.
He has a fiancée, Heidi whom he met in a bar and considered his 'rock'. They have a son together named Hunter.
In 2006, he performed in Santa Cruz-based children's theater group called Kids on Broadway and played the lead role in "Beauty and the Beast" and "Singin' in the Rain", as well as "West Side Story" in a production by All About Theatre, a Santa Cruz community theatre company. He was also the lead singer in a metal band called The Hollywood Scars. He said he has also done country music before.
James was invited to record and mix his amazing vocal talent with legendary producer/engineer/artist Alan Parsons (of The Alan Parsons Project/Beatles/Pink Floyd fame). Along with professional vocalist PJ Olsson, the group recorded James' vocals on Alan Parsons' song "We Play The Game," a collaboration with The Crystal Method.
Then only 19, James' drive, power, and musical insight were all too evident as he and Alan worked on recording a lead vocal and backing vocals on the Alan Parsons track from A Valid Path.
Idol Performances:
** Top 24: Personal Choice - You've Got Another Thing Comin' (Judas Priest)
** Top 13: Personal Idol - Maybe I'm Amazed (Paul McCartney)
** Top 12: Year You Were Born - I'll Be There for You (Bon Jovi)
** Top 11: Motown - Living for the City (Stevie Wonder)
** Top 11 Redux: Elton John - Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting) [[artist]Elton John]
** Top 9: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame - While My Guitar Gently Weeps (The Beatles)
** Top 8: Songs from the Movies - Heavy Metal (Sammy Hagar)
** Top 7: Songs from the 21st Century - Uprising (Muse)
** Top 6: Carole King - Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow (The Shirelles)
** Top 5: Songs from Then & Now: Closer to the Edge (30 Seconds to Mars) / Without You (Bandfinger)
** Top 4: Songs That Inspire / Leiber & Stoller Songbook: Don't Stop Believin' (Journey) / Love Potion No. 9 (The Clovers)
In 2016 Durbin and Alex Grossi of Quiet Riot worked on an album project "Maps to the Hollywood Scars". Volume 1 was released as a 5-song EP in February 2017. In March 2017, Durbin joined Quiet Riot, as their new lead singer. The band reported that their upcoming album, 'Road Rage' would be re-recorded prior to its release to feature Durbin on lead vocals. After recording a follow-up album, Durbin quit the band in September 2019. The album, 'Hollywood Cowboys', was released on November 8, 2019. In October 2020, Durbin revealed he had signed with Frontiers Records and was working on a "pure heavy metal" album. The Beast Awakens was released on February 12, 2021 under the Durbin moniker. Alongside Durbin, who performs lead vocals and rhythm guitar, the album also features drummer Mike Vanderhule and bassist Barry Sparks. In 2022, Durbin has joined forces with STRYPER members Robert Sweet and Perry Richardson (bass; also ex-FIREHOUSE) and RIOT guitarist Mike Flyntz in a new project called CLEANBREAK.
Deeper
James Durbin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like the dead of the night, the dead of the night
I'm on a chase of fate, as the world rushes by
I'm bound to collide
Now I won't wait to walk away
My last mistake
Every time I go under I'm running from this
But I can't wake up
I'm speeding up the meter and the sirens echo on
And it's all too wrong
But I can't let go
I'm falling even deeper but it's better than before
I found myself again
with the dead of the night, the dead of the night
It takes me to a place
That I wish I could find a way out of my mind
Too much to think
Too late to stay
I try to break
But again and again I'm calling for help
And I try so hard
But I can't wake up
I'm speeding up the meter and the sirens echo on
And it's all to wrong
But I can't let go
I'm falling even deeper but it's better than before
It hurts to go
So why do you need?
So why do you need to see me walk right out the door?
I'm on my way
Help!
And I try so hard
But I can't wake up
I'm speeding up the meter and the sirens echo on
And it's all too wrong
But I can't let go
I'm falling even deeper but it's better than before
The lyrics of James Durbin's song "Deeper" discuss a feeling of being lost in one's own mind and struggling to break free from negative patterns of thinking and behavior. The repeated image of the "dead of the night" suggests a sense of isolation and anguish, while the idea of being on a "chase of fate" conveys a feeling of being driven towards an unknown destination or outcome. The line "Every time I go under I'm running from this" suggests a self-destructive cycle that the singer is trying to escape from.
Despite the difficulties the singer faces, they express a determination to keep moving forward and to find their way out of their situation. They say that they have "found myself again" and that they are "falling even deeper but it's better than before." This paradoxical statement suggests that even though things are difficult, the singer is still making progress towards a better state of being.
Overall, "Deeper" is a song about struggling with mental strife and trying to find a path towards healing and growth. The lyrics are presented with a sense of urgency and intensity, giving voice to the powerful emotions that many people feel when they are working through personal struggles.
Line by Line Meaning
I lost myself again
I feel lost and disconnected from myself
Like the dead of the night, the dead of the night
I feel like I'm lost in the darkness and can't find my way
I'm on a chase of fate, as the world rushes by
I feel like I'm trying to catch up to something that's always out of reach
I'm bound to collide
I feel like I'm headed for a crash or a breakdown
Now I won't wait to walk away
I know I need to make a change and leave behind what's holding me back
My last mistake
I regret some of my past actions and choices
Every time I go under I'm running from this
I feel like I'm trying to avoid or escape something that's always chasing me
And I try so hard
I'm putting in a lot of effort
But I can't wake up
I can't seem to shake this feeling or situation
I'm speeding up the meter and the sirens echo on
I feel like things are getting more intense and out of control
And it's all too wrong
I know that things aren't going the way they should be
But I can't let go
I can't seem to move on or leave behind what's hurting me
I'm falling even deeper but it's better than before
Even though things are getting worse, it's still better than where I was before
I found myself again
I've rediscovered who I am
with the dead of the night, the dead of the night
Even though I'm in a dark place, I'm learning to find my way through it
It takes me to a place
I feel like this situation is leading me to a new understanding or perspective
That I wish I could find a way out of my mind
I'm struggling with my own thoughts and emotions and want to find a way to escape them
Too much to think
My thoughts and feelings are overwhelming me
Too late to stay
I know I need to leave this situation behind but it's hard to do it now
I try to break
I'm trying to find a way out or make a change
But again and again I'm calling for help
I keep reaching out for assistance and support
It hurts to go
Leaving this situation is painful
So why do you need?
I'm questioning why the other person is making it so hard for me to leave
So why do you need to see me walk right out the door?
I feel like the other person is intentionally making it harder for me to move on
I'm on my way
I'm finally leaving this situation behind
Help!
I still need assistance and support to make this transition
Lyrics © Royalty Network
Written by: AIDEAN ABOUNASSERI, GRADY BENSON, JOAO BARAO NETO, Aiden Abounasseri, Joao Neto
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind