Jeffery James is a Nashville-based artist graced with uncommonly rich and captivating vocals. Channeling his raw talent into a groove-heavy R&B/alt-pop hybrid built on pure emotion, he's taking over the world with his new EP, "Unsaid.". With his music already featured on major TV shows like Nashville, James is set to deliver a new batch of songs showcasing a sensibility that’s emotionally charged and indelibly melodic. We had the please of speaking with Jeffery James this week, Dive in!
You have a new single out right now, "Unsaid" What can you tell us about the new release? What fueled the inspiration?
"Unsaid" is my favorite performance on the EP. Mostly because the lead vocal on the track is one full take—not stitched together from multiple takes like most studio recorded songs. I'm crazy proud of that! I wrote Unsaid with a writing/production team out of Chicago called The Worktapes (Matt Joynt and Laura Pearson). They brought in the beat and the vibe you hear on the finished track, and the song took off from there. Laura and Matt brought in a few melodies that I wouldn’t normally go to on my own, but they blended so naturally with my typical melodies and fit perfectly into my voice.
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Was there any specific storyline you had for the song when writing?
Oh yes! The character in the song (usually me) keeps replaying his mistakes over and over again in his head. It's obvious to him that the person he was with has moved on, while he is stuck in the same place, trying to pretend like everything is ok. Let's just say, I've been there before...
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When writing music, what are your influences? How long does it typically take you to write a song? Do you keep coming back to the piece and revising?
My influences come from everywhere. For instance, the beat of this song was inspired by a form of street dancing in Chicago called Juking. While lyrically I try to always pull a few things from my own personal experiences, I often find myself telling others’ stories—from friends, to my favorite characters in a book I’m reading. If I can't connect with the story I'm telling, then it's very unlikely that I'll let that song see the light of day. For me, I want to perform it over and over, so it needs to feel real. I think Unsaid was written in like 1.5 to 2 hours (that’s quick). The creative juices were just flowing that day! Some songs can take up to a few days to write. I may be tweaking lyrics all the way up to the point where I'm cutting the vocals. But Unsaid just flew out of us like it knew it needed to be (un)said.
What are your influences musically and lyrically?
I was raised on bands like Chicago and The Doobie Brothers, which is why I can't escape bluesy/soulful melodies and rhythms in my own writing. These days I listen to artists like, Janelle Monéa, Twenty One Pilots, and Jon Bellion. I love their energy and the amazing, infectious hooks they write. Lyrically, I'm always looking inward for direction. Billy Joel and Bill Withers taught me how to write lyrics— straightforward, focused on every-day life, and free of fancy words.
What was the recording process like for the new record? Did you self-produce? How long did it take to write and record the album as a whole?
For this EP, I worked with 3 different producers and several songwriters. I ended up choosing from around 30 to 40 songs that I had written with dozens of writers and producers over the span of 6 to 8 months. It was a cool experiment to see if I could make every song feel like a "Jeffrey James" song while working with so many different people. Each producer has their own vibe, so to accomplish a cohesive work, I brought suggestions and direction for each song. The tracks that ultimately made this album were the ones that worked well together and could stand strong on their own.
Do you have any plans on touring this year?
I've got a few shows coming up, but I’m most excited for Denver Day of Rock on May 27 and Forecastle Festival on July 15— festival crowds are great because they always seem to be excited to hear something new.
What do you hope to accomplish in 2017 with the new record and beyond?
I'm gonna tour my ass of in support of this record and continue to release more music that I'm proud of! ... And along the way, a Grammy or two wouldn't hurt ;)