Twelve-year-old James Miller from Rye has captured the internet’s attention with a goosebump-inducing a cappella cover of Golden by K-Pop group Demon Hunters, which went viral with 1.6 million views on social media even before his Britain’s Got Talent audition.
Fans flooded his post with praise, with comments like “THE RIFF??? THE HIGH NOTES??? YOU ATE” and “The voice is amazing!! Wow!!” highlighting the level of skill this young singer has achieved.
James has been training his voice for three years, and his mastery of riffs and high notes has left viewers and fellow performers alike astonished. TikTok users have called for him to be discovered by the industry, with one writing, “GET THIS KID FAMOUS RN,” while others marvelled at the control and maturity in his performance, noting that his vocal development far exceeds his age.
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His viral success translated into live recognition when James auditioned for Britain’s Got Talent with Defying Gravity from Wicked. Judges Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon, KSI, and guest judge Stacey Solomon were immediately impressed, giving him an emphatic yes and praising his “phenomenal falsetto” and stage presence. Holden exclaimed, “I just cannot believe that a little sausage like you has the pipes for something so huge. Congratulations!”
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James, who is home-schooled, said he carefully selected the song for its ability to showcase his voice. “I love it. It is so powerful. I think it shows off my voice quite well,” he said, noting that seeing Wicked live inspired his performance. Despite nerves, he said, “The best way to overcome nerves is just to take deep breaths and to talk to people. I just love being in the moment.”
He has been singing since he was a toddler and joined the Mad Fish Performing Arts theatre group in Bexhill about four years ago. His musical tastes are wide-ranging, from pop to musical theatre, and he also admires Mariah Carey. His ambition is clear: to pursue singing professionally.
James was motivated to audition after watching performer Sydnie Christmas on BGT, inspired by her vibrato and stage personality. “It was very powerful, and it inspired me to want to go onto the show,” he said. His early audition involved sending self-tapes, followed by an in-person filmed audition in Birmingham.
The combination of his viral online performance and BGT audition has positioned James as one of the most exciting young vocal talents in the UK. Fans continue to marvel at his talent, leaving comments praising his riffs, tone, and poise, while predicting a bright future in music.
