Blind I | The Boutique Music Blog | Quality Over Quantity.

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: LEELA JAMES

When Leela James was growing up in Los Angeles, she would browse her father’s vast record collection—full of classics. It was Al Green’s raspy vocals in particular that struck a chord with her and she began to sing along to “Have a Good Time” and “Let’s Get Married.” Naturally talented, singing came easily for James who discovered her niche in Southern California, playing in local clubs and parties. After landing a deal with Ruff Nation/Warner In 2005, she released her debut, A Change is Gonna Come, which was heavily influenced by soul music from the 60s and 70s. Her album charted well, with contributions from Kanye West and Raphael Saadiq.  But as a newcomer to the music scene, the label was trying to figure out how to package the songstress into an artist that was easily received by the R&B community. Nearly five years later, Leela James found a new home with the iconic Stax Records and she’s doing it her way this time on My Soul. Blind I chatted with James about the shifting dynamics in the soul genre, the stereotypes and most importantly the groove of her new project.  Continue on to find out how you can win a copy of her new CD.

Blind I: You’ve always been into music since you were young, but at what point did you start to take singing seriously?

Leela James: I got into it a bit later on around high school and college. I put my own band together and started to play in various clubs—wherever I could and as much as I could. I even took my student loans and paid for the band and from there I just developed and underground following and word of mouth spread. And I gave my demo to everybody that was anybody and it eventually landed in the right hands.

Blind I: Hearing about that big moment is always great. How’d you get discovered?

LJ: I got a call like, ‘Can you come down to this spot? So-and-so might want to meet you.”’  And it just came from me doing shows, and a record exec named Chris Schwartz signed me to Ruff Nation. He was the former president of Ruffhouse who signed the Fugees. He was like, ‘I love you and I love what you do,’ and that’s just how it went down!

Blind I: Last year you released a covers album, Let’s Do It Again. How did you decide on artists like Curtis Mayfield and George Clinton, and did you get any feedback from anyone?

LJ: The reason why I did the project was because I wanted to do a tribute album honoring all of those artists. I always wanted to do a covers album with my live band. I just picked songs that I liked. We only had a week to get everything done. So I went with songs we could turn around quickly and artists that I thought deserved that re-introduction of their music and their shine. I didn’t personally get it but I got feedback from other people that some of the artists were satisfied—so that’s a good thing!

Blind I:  You’re now at Stax. Is there a degree of pressure being a young singer on a label with such deep roots or is there a motivating and inspiring energy?

LJ: I’m so glad to be there because for me to be a soul artist, a true soul singer, to be signed to a legendary soul label, it just makes sense. It’s a better fit. You still need to do a whole lot on your own but having the right label it’s just an additional hand. And if they support you and get behind you it’s a bit more of a machine. Because you still have to do everything these days whether you’re indie or not. It’s all a grind.

Blind I: So you’ve got a new label and album now. How has your sound changed on My Soul?

LJ: It hasn’t really changed too much.  I’m still soulful but if anything it’s fresher and a little older because I’m older. But it’s a little more hip-hop edge to it combined with my rhythm and my blues. And that’s what I would have done with my first project, but it was like a tug of war. But I’m very comfortable with myself and I’m cool with the variety and everything that was done on this album.

Blind I:  You obviously have more creative control now. Before, were they trying to steer you in a pop direction?

LJ: Most labels have an idea of what they think a soul artist is. And sometimes it’s off. People have an idea of what neo-soul is and I’m not really that. I’m just a soul singer. So they think you know that everything has to be slow or be sung a certain way.

Blind I: Definitely. What do you think are some of the biggest assumptions or stereotypes about soul singers today?

LJ: It’s like because I wear my hair natural in an afro, they think you’re supposed to think everything is deep, burn incense all the time. Spitting out poetic lines. Your blackness is not defined by how you wear your hair or the poetry you read. I’m very much aware of things that are going on but I’m your ordinary chick. I like the same things as the next person. Either you’re just funky and you got soul or you don’t!

Blind I:  Very true. R&B is in a different place these days. A lot of the music has more of a club/party vibe and there are a lot less ballads and live instrumentation. What’s your take on that?

LJ: I think it definitely could be more of a variety. There are so many artists out there and I’d love to hear a lot of them and just to allow them to get that exposure as opposed to the same few being over-saturated. Then people think one or two artists represent the entire genre.

Blind I: you’re new video is pretty sexy. Tell me about the concept and how it ties into your new album?

LJ: I worked with Billie Woodruff the director and basically we wanted to do a classic black and white type of vibe with the song because it sounds classic and throwback. But at the same time, we wanted to do the video to basically say tell me you love all of me. Every aspect. It was a lot of fun to shoot.

Blind I:  So now you get a second chance at establishing your identity musically. If each of your albums represented as stage in your life, where does My Soul fit in?

LJ: I’m just comfortable in the sense that the first go round I was kind of like new kid on the block. So now I’m a little more comfortable in the skin that I’m in. And it’s a great time in general, I just co-hosted BET’s new series My Black is Beautiful with Alicia Renee and Kim Coles. It was fun. And I’m touring and just anticipating everyone hearing this album. I can’t wait for you to hear it.

If you’re new to Leela James or you’re a longtime fan, send an email to Maiya@blindiforthekids.com stating why you need her new album in your life. We will notify the winner on May 25 the day of her official release. Please include your address.

And check out the new video for her single “Tell Me You Love Me“

DROPPED BY Maiya

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2 Comments to ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: LEELA JAMES

1. 

   man i love this woman!

   GOOD WORK MAI MAI!
NO on May 18th, 2010
2. 

   Leela is performing at Gramercy Theatre in NYC on 8/4. Tickets are available at http://www.livenation.com/event/000044A6E97F88F0?artistid=976352&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=202. Hope to see you there!
Henry Brown on July 22nd, 2010

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