Today, promising pop-meets-R&B act Jeffrey James delivers a new brooding and intimate single, “SALTWATER.” The new single, “SALTWATER,” premiered yesterday on Billboard.
“SALTWATER” was co-written with Amy Kuney (Ames) and David Burris (SARO) on a trip to LA, marking the first single of James’ not to be written and recorded in his current city of Nashville. In conversation withBillboard, James explained “SALTWATER” as being “about the undertow and buoyancy of real love— about the desire to connect with a partner with full honesty and acceptance. Knowing that you both have a past, and that those pasts helped create who you are now.”
Rhythmic and soulful with an alt-pop edge, Jeffrey James is showing that pop can flourish in Nashville. Alongside his consistently captivating releases, James has proved himself as a versatile songwriter, collaborating with acts such as Megan Davies, Tungeaag & Raaban & Sergio Sylvester, among others.
Raised in Indiana, James developed a love of melodies from his great-uncle, who literally wrote the book on how to play guitar (Hal Leonard Guitar Method Books)—though he much prefers his voice as his instrument. Jeffrey’s early influences include Chicago and Bill Withers and, more recently, Janelle Monáe, Jon Bellion, and Twenty One Pilots.
Now residing in Nashville, James has become an up-and-coming live act, performing at festivals such as Firefly and Forecastle, and sharing the stage with X-Ambassadors, Rachel Platten and Hanson.