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.

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Tags: ARTIST SPOTLIGHT, BLIND I, CONTEST, LEELA JAMES, MY SOUL, TELL ME YOU LOVE ME