LA-based soulful rocker Jeau James is exclusively premiering a new single, “Another Night,” from upcoming album FATED. Produced by Eric Corne at Dusty Wakeman’s studio in CA and featuring Kenny Aronoff (John Mellencamp, John Fogerty, Jerry Lee Lewis) on drums, it’s an album that’s been in the works for some time.
On the new single James brings a certain fusion of avant-garde and classic style reminiscent of both Lenny Kravitz and Sly Stone. James explains to ABS, “This song is how I felt when I rolled out as a teenager to live on my own. It, later, was how I kind of felt in new love.”
GRAMMY-winning producer and 40 Below Records owner Eric corne raves, “Jeau James is a quadruple threat. He’s a wicked guitarist and funky bassist; an extremely soulful singer; a talented songwriter; and possesses the look of a stone-cold rock star. Life has presented some obstacles in his path, but Jeau has risen above them and is poised to build a promising career.”
I was nine years old when my mom bought me my first guitar and amplifier outfit. They shipped in cardboard boxes which served as my “road cases” back and forth to church on weekends. The pastor’s eyes rolled every time I walked through the door as she knew I would soon find the electric socket so I could power up. This, of all times and places, was the genesis gate of what turns me on most: being on the edge of safe and unsafe sounds.
Jeau James
This area, which drew me to Uncle Jimi (Hendrix), is where I’m most comfortable, like in a totally organic way. My mother recounts how I, at two years old, would kick in her lap while riding in the family sedan, “ooh cah” or “ooh modachow” as cars and bikes passed by. For me, inexplicably, big, loud, unapologetic sounds were always drawing me near. This is one aspect of Jimi, Stevie, Jimmy Smith, Stanley Clarke, Jaco Pastorius, Ernie Isley, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, Robin Trower, Richard Pryor, and anyone who has a voice or gift which they live in.
Having no knowledge of how to actually “play guitar” did not interfere with me showing up on the church set. Nope. I walked in, plugged up, and for two months did my “open-fretting” act at the church until a guy showed me how to tune it and my first few chords.
All growth and upside from there.
The first band I was invited to join was when I was 15; the name was Search. I got to play my first solo in front of the entirety of my high school. Totally crazy. This situation lasted until I graduated and went to college. Despite being halfway decent on guitar, I discovered I could use some of the guitar knowledge on bass. So, I began to sit in with bigger “university” bands on bass. This was a definite distraction, as I got enough calls to pull me away from guitar.
