I first heard Shawn James’ haunting voice when I watched a viral video sweeping social media, where he performed a cover of A. A. Bondy’s song “American Hearts.
The nearby wolves howled to the words of the emotionally powerful lyrics and his goosebump-inducing vocals. I soon discovered his other works and started sharing them with friends and family. I found that everyone that listened also fell in love with his melodic voice. My parents begged me to burn a CD for them, and my friends were instant fans. His songs inspire me to write, so I often have him singing as I pour over my computer keyboard. Coworkers of every age have heard me playing his songs and have asked who was singing. With his newly debuted album and current tour, I feel it’s a great opportunity for me to share my love of his music.
Born and raised in Southern Chicago, Shawn James effortlessly brings a soulful overtone to bluegrass. His ability to go from sweet, buttery flourishes to an emotional and gravelly crescendo is rare and wonderful. The songs he writes vary in style; from beautiful ballads like “The Thief and the Moon,” to songs about personal struggles in “Through the Valley”, to gritty songs like “Hellhound,” but he does them all with raw emotion. He has also done some covers that are worthy of a listen–“Ain’t No Sunshine” written by Bill Withers, and Macy Gray’s “I Try,” which was featured on the Grammy’s Reimagined Series.
Shawn has four full-length albums to date, as well as single releases, and I love them all. A new album called “The Dark & The Light” has just debuted, and it is destined for greatness. The opening song, entitled “Orpheus,” takes inspiration from myth but is about the strength of love. I’ve found many songs of Shawn’s retell stories of old but hold a relatable deeper meaning. For example, his song, “Burn the Witch,” hits home by the third verse: “What they don’t understand, they condemn,” touching on the judgemental nature of society. His new album is said to be a culmination of everything Shawn has to offer.
I saw Shawn James for the first time at an intimate venue on Bainbridge Island in Washington State. Alongside him was Sage Cornelius–a brilliant fiddle player–who brought the songs to a whole new level. The two spoke casually in between songs, cracking jokes and telling stories. Shawn spoke about the creation of his heartfelt lyrics, which brought a deeper meaning to the songs I had enjoyed for a year. He told us of his sister’s struggles with her health, of his late father, and about the love of his life Maggie.
I was on the edge of my seat the entire concert along with the other listeners, drinking in every moment. The audience was a visual representation of what I had noted before–people from every walk of life came to the concert from young hipsters to middle-aged folks in cowboy-boots and everything in between. After his performance, Shawn James took the time to converse with his fans–even drink with them at the bar and take pictures. When I spoke to him, I found him to be an incredibly kind and humble person.
In a 2017 interview with The Cellary, an online music blog, he stated, “I want to help people feel things more deeply through music and hopefully inspire others to create. Also, I want to give people what music has given me, a way to release and deal with lots of different emotions whether that be anger, sadness, happiness, joy, love, sorrow etc.” I believe he stays true to that mission, and I hope he inspires you too. Needless to say, I just saw him for his latest tour and will continue spreading the word of his amazing talents until his voice is heard around the world.
It’s that good.
