Jeffrey James Talks New Music and Guilty Pleasures
Nashville's soul-infused alt-pop artist Jeffrey James recently released the second single "Slow Right Down" off his soon to be released EP East London and it's absolutely brilliant.
James developed a love for music from his great-uncle who had written the renowned Hal Leonard Guitar Method book. Over the last few years, he has worked tirelessly to pave the way for the Nashville pop scene.
I was able to get a sneak peak into the new EP and I must say, it will blow you away.
“I wrote ‘Slow Right Down’ in 2019 when everything in my life was racing forward and I didn’t have time to catch my breath,” James writes. “This song became my personal mantra — a meditation — reminding myself that it’s ok to step back, look up every now and then, and just take in the moment.”
Tell us a little about yourself. Who is Jeffrey James?
Ooh, Getting existential already! I like it! I’m a singer & songwriter living in Nashville, TN. I’m told my voice doesn’t match how I look. But I take that as a compliment. Generally, I make pop music.
You recently released the single Slow Right Down off your soon to be released East London EP, can you give us an insight to what the writing process was for this?
I co-wrote Slow Right Down with producer, Jackson Dimiglio-Wood, and my good friend Kate Voegelle. It was the last song written for the EP. Everything else was mixed and mastered and ready to go, then I wrote Slow Right Down, I knew it needed to be on this project!
Where do you draw your inspiration for your music?
My songs are all inspired from my own life. I write my best when I’m pulling from personal experiences. Track wise, I build everything around my vocals and the groove of the song.
What message(s) do you hope the listeners will take away from listening to East London?
The East London EP is filled with hope and love. The songs are all about my past and current relationships, and how we are stronger together (surrounded with the ones we love) than apart. I used the backdrop of London to influence my melodies and tracks, and I think the listeners will hear that.
What made you pursue creating music?
I was a choir kid growing up, and my entire family was always singing. However, it wasn’t until I got to college in Nashville and was suddenly surrounded by talented artists and creators that I realized all I wanted to do was perform and write songs. I tried taking business classes, and my eyes would glaze over. And I was a below average student in math and science. But when I sang, everything felt right, and people responded positively to what I was doing. I knew that was the path for me.
Do you have any tour dates lined up?
Just a few shows for now:
March 2nd at Rockwood Music Hall in NYC
March 23rd at The High Watt in Nashville
But more coming very soon!
Many artists listen to music outside of their own genre they produce, what kind of music is your go to? Any musical guilty pleasures?
My guilty pleasure is probably Jazz or Musical Theatre. I grew up with a love of theatre and the stories those songs tell. And give me a great jazz singer with a piano/upright bass/drums trio and I’ll be a happy man.
Aside from music, what other goals do you have for yourself?
I started doing kickboxing recently! So I’m hoping to be the next Jean Claude Van-Dam any day now…
What advice do you have for anyone who wants to pursue their dreams?
Keep going. There’s no straight path, and sometimes you’ll realize you’re going the wrong way. But if it’s truly a dream that you can’t live without, then keep chasing it.
As a parting, is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?
I’m pretty jittery coffee right now. And I’ll most likely try and even it out with some red wine in a bit. Also, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed these questions!
Make sure to keep up to date with Jeffrey James on social media. Don't forget to check out his latest single "Slow Right Down" and East London EP set to release on February 28th.
