The pop scene is new and fresh in Nashville, attracting not only publishing companies and labels, but also writers and artists from all over. “It’s going to take some us to make waves nationally to keep it going, and we’re all going for it,” says Nashville pop fixture Jeffrey James, who has shared stages with the likes of Rachel Platten and X-Ambassadors. James will release his lush new EP, Unsaid, on April 14th via indie label South X Sea. Unsaid offers the same stankface-inducing grooves and sultry slow jams we’ve all come to know and love—but this time, he shook things up by working with three different producers to bring the EP’s four songs to life.
“I experimented this time, working with different producers this time; two of the songs were co-written and done with a producer named Mokita, who has his own DJ/EDM thing. He’s a really musical guy, he has an amazing touch and feel for the groove-centered stuff that I do,” he explains. A collaboration with local electronic goddess REMMI resulted in album standout “Hand Grenade.” “I tend to talk about relationships and good or bad things in my life, and she helped me do something different. It became this song about wolves in sheep’s clothing, and people going behind your back, and governments, you know, really intelligent things,” he laughs of the Tony Esterly-produced track. The song is paired with a high energy, one-take-music-video that features a riot breaking out around our hero, complete with Molotov cocktails, fire, broken glass, protesters, and his own literal blood and sweat, which fits the energy and mood of the song. The EP’s title track was created with a Chicago-based producing duo called The Worktapes. “They pulled the beats in that song from juke music, a dance form that’s really popular in Chicago right now,” he explains. “It was a great experience getting to work with so many different people and still creating something that sounded like ‘me.’”
James will celebrate the release with a show at slick new Nashville hotspot, The Back Corner, which bears a Los Angeles vibe and is a perfect setting for James’ signature R&B-infused alt-pop. Local up-and-comer Jame Droll will provide opening support. The gig starts at 7:30 pm and tickets are $12 (purchase link here). Don’t miss this one!
Leave a Reply