Michael James

Bio:
In a time when popular music can tend towards the bland and impersonal, a human musician of Michael James’ quality and candor is both unheard of -- and a must hear. James’ last album Everything We Used to Be is a moody collection of lush songs about love, loss, and hope. One reviewer said it was like Michael “jumped inside of me so I could feel everything that was being said. That is powerful stuff and it does not happen that often.” Rising above a range of influences such as U2, Dashboard Confessional, David Gray, and Damien Rice, Michael James creates songs filled with rich landscapes of hook-driven melodies and textured guitars. But underneath the masterful performance of his songs, Michael’s heart is what drives those very songs straight to his audience.
Prior to 2003, James toured and recorded as the front man of a band in his native Colorado. With indie label backing, Michael polished his textured guitar playing and heartfelt vocals. However, music has been the focus of his life since long before then, and it shows in his evolved songwriting. “I started writing songs the same day I picked up the guitar.” Michael says. “My first song was called 'Can’t Have it All.' I think I was mad because my mom wouldn’t buy me a Pink Floyd T-shirt.” Michael laughs.
Building on his previous musical experiences and a passion for life that is at the center of his music, Michael James recorded his debut solo EP Loft Sessions in 2004. The EP began to put Michael on the map receiving heavy airplay on East Coast college radio, as well as significant spins all over internet radio and stations in Denver and throughout Colorado.
While Michael recorded Loft Sessions with little more than a guitar and his voice, his last album, Everything We Used to Be, brilliantly broke out onto a wider market in 2005 with more fully produced and realized songs. As James professes, “(it) represented a more complete vision of what I intended the songs to be.” The 8 song album was released to enthusiastic reviews. It has scored regular rotation on independent radio throughout Colorado and is being played on numerous internet radio stations everywhere from LA to New York. Everything We Used to Be was nominated for a Kweevak.com Music Award in 2005 and the video for the first single from the album, Room to Breathe, was showcased at the 2005 Planet Ant Film Festival in Detroit, Michigan and spent time in regular rotation on several independent music video programs. Since the release of Everything We Used to Be, Michael has brought his emotional song-craft to audiences everywhere from colleges and clubs to festivals and conferences nation-wide. Shortly after the release of Everything We Used to Be, Michael was a showcasing artist at Diversafest 2005 in Tulsa, OK. In 2006, Michael James was asked to perform at the Hyperactive Music Festival in Albuquerque, NM, the 10th annual Millennium Music Conference in Harrisburg, PA and NXNE in Toronto, Canada. In 2007, Michael was invited to be a featured performer on the Emerging Artist's Stage for the Virgin College Mega Tour '07.
In the last several months, Michael has begun work on the follow up to Everything We Used to Be. "I really feel like I've grown as a writer and as a singer since my last album. I want that evolution to shine through on the next one." James plans to focus on recording over the next few months and he hopes to release a new album by the end of 2007.
Press/Reviews:
Gotta Have Heart For Success
The passion for music that Michael James encompasses is inspiring. His risk to not graduate college at CU and pursue a life as a musician was not an easy transition to make. James realized, luckily sooner than later, that life as an engineer was not something that would make him happy. Playing music was his true desire.
I finally just got a revelation that what I need to be doing is writing songs and performing them live, said musician James, 28. I need to play, I need to write.
And his passion as a songwriter is reflected in his music. James creative solo mix of electric and acoustic guitar while incorporating life experiences into his lyrics allows him to establish a personal emotion to his songs.
His music dedication was inspired by his understanding that if he was going to be happy, music is what would lead to his ultimate success.
If [your career] makes you happy, then youll be more successful, James said. When you give it your all and you are doing what you want to do, then youll be happy doing it.
James has always had the dedication and determination to put his full heart into his songwriting. It was not until late college when he figured out that songwriting was what he would be fully committed to.
The pursuit of music was the right decision. Either I keep doing something that makes me unhappy or I start doing something I like, he said.
Starting at the age of 12, James wrote songs in Denver, just as early as he picked up a guitar. Being influenced early by 80's artists such as U2, Peter Gabriel and eventually by everyone from David Gray to Death Cab for Cutie, James said he took little cookies from each generation of music and developed my own way of doing it.
Each little cookie that James took, he added on his own sound.
I hope that I sound like me and not a mediocre attempt at being someone else, he said.
According to James, there are two types of artists. There are the ones that are influenced by artists but only emulate their sounds, and then there are the ones that take their influences a step further. James is an artist influenced by other artists, but one who expands and excels on parts of their sounds by making new and original sounds that are unique upon himself.
---Tom Ivory, CU Campus Press
REVIEW: Everything We Used To Be
The first thing that hit me in a big way with Michael James was that his vocals reminded me of Steve Hogarth (Marillion) on several occasions. He has that emotive style that is deeply rooted in his soul and every word he sings he actually feels, then so do you while you are listening.
Everything We Used To Be is about relationships, the entire album encompasses you in the feelings and stories found in each track. If you look at the title, it is in direct proportion or parallel if you will, to every song. It sounds as if James based the recording on a beautiful relationship he once had and how it went sour, followed by the ensuing situations and emotions caused by the event. ‘”Room To Breath” says a mouthful and “Perfect Disagreement” is the road to divorce in any relationship, after a while it wears you down and you both give up and suddenly one of you is “Half a World Away” and the other is “Lovesick” with an “Empty Bed.”
While the words, punctuated quite well by James’ convincing vocal style make it all happen, the instrumentation ends up being the perfect bedfellow for his lyrics and tasteful nuances. The music creates atmospheres that fit the words like a glove, from brooding and sad to melancholy and ecstatic, the entire range of emotions gets equal time on all eight tracks.
This was very moving music and I enjoyed how real James made this for me while listening. It was like he (or whomever he is singing about) jumped inside me so I could feel everything that was being said. That is powerful stuff and it does not happen that often. Bravo Michael! You stole my heart and mind away for 30 minutes. Now that is what music is supposed to do.
---Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck
Kweevak.com Review: Everything We Used To Be
Michael James is a guitarist, keyboardist, producer, singer and songwriter. Michael is a native of Colorado where he fronted a band before focusing on his solo projects, which does include other players. James' music is melodic, acoustic rock with a modern edge. He writes personal lyrics that are serious and soulful. Michael uses a variety of vocal textures to convey assorted moods and tones in his music. Everything We Used To Be is Michael's second release featuring eight expressive songs. The new CD is an evolution of an artist as James continues to define his musical vision and mature as a writer. Michael is a genuine artist singing songs about life experiences that people can relate to and thus connect with him. 'Lost In You' is the opening track with haunting, intriguing lyrics in a layered, acoustic arrangement. 'Room To Breath' is heartbreaking, honest and hopeful – lyrically, musically and vocally. Michael James is a compelling and convincing performer and Everything We Used To Be is intricate and original!
---Laura Turner Lynch, Kweevak.com
Buy Michael James' Music:
Digital Downloads from iTunes:

Download tracks from Michael James' cd 'EVERYTHING WE USED TO BE' at iTunes!

Download tracks from Michael James' ep 'LOFT SESSIONS' at iTunes!

Buy direct from CD Baby:
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