Followers

Thursday, April 9, 2015

Scott James EP on the way

Scott James returns with a new EP, Rosaline, set for release on July 7. Produced and mixed by Warren Huart (The Fray, James Blunt), it demonstrates James' keen ability for writing highly personal songs that resonate with listeners because of their universal themes and thought-provoking lyrics. See below for track listing.

The 19-year-old California-bred, New York-based artist will celebrate the release with tour dates on both coasts, which will be announced shortly. James gives fans a first listen to the track "When My Eyes" in his performance video, which can be viewed HERE. The EP song features Greg Leisz (Beck, Sheryl Crow) on pedal steel guitar and cellist Oliver Kraus (Sia, Beth Orton).

"Scott James has that incredibly rare combination of youth but with a real sense of maturity in not only his voice but his songwriting," says producer Warren Huart. "Scott's sensibility is rooted in classic songwriting, channeling Dylan, Neil Young and elements of Jeff Buckley's beautiful melodies. He is just at the beginning of an incredible musical journey that can only end with him talked about in the same breath as these world-beating songwriters."

"Some of these songs might sound like love songs, but they really aren't. Overall, it's more about finding the truth, finding the meaning in life, and figuring out your own way, especially in songs like 'When My Eyes' and 'Rosary,'" explains James, who played guitar, lap steel and piano on Rosaline.

Recorded at the famed Sunset Sound in Hollywood and Spitfire Studio in Los Angeles, Rosaline opens with "River," a stripped-down vocal and lap-steel guitar song written about a suicidal friend while the title track tells a tale of unrequited love.
 
In addition to Leisz and Kraus, other guests on the EP include bassist Sean Hurley (John Mayer, Melissa Etheridge), guitarist Tim Pierce (Jason Mraz, Dave Matthews), drummer Blair Sinta (Melissa Etheridge, James Blunt) and Skip Edwards (Johnny Rivers, Dave Alvin) on pedal steel.

Rosaline follows James' 2013 EP Destinesia, which he recorded at age 17 with producer/composer/multi-instrumentalist Joe DiBlasi. SiriusXM Radio's "The Coffee House" channel played Destinesia's "My Road" for six months and the official video for "Garden" quickly hit a quarter million views shortly after its release.

James' love of music started in the 4th grade when he began piano lessons. He moved over to guitar after a tongue-in-cheek recommendation from Bon Jovi's Richie Sambora. "He advised me when I was really young that guitarists got all the girls," laughs Scott.
 
"At that age I thought that was pretty cool coming from a rock star. But I fell in love with the guitar instantly and it was all I could do - all I still do." In just seven years since writing his first song, he has penned more than 100 songs. Currently a student at the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music (ReMu) at NYU, he has performed at Los Angeles' Hotel Café and the Whisky a Go Go and NYC venues such as Webster Hall, the Bowery Electric and The Bitter End.

Track Listing:

River
Rosaline
When My Eyes
How Was I
Rosary

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