If you crossed Tom Waits, Jeff Buckley, and Diamanda Galas..
... it MIGHT sound as beautiful as this. Hear the music: Click here to listen to the diabolical and heart-wrenching music of Shayfer James, a villainous singer/ song-writer/ multi-instrumentalist who just returned from a gig in Hong Kong to grace our northeastern ears with his melodic Strange.
The first time Kevin, Mike (my band-mates from The Torcher Chamber Ensemble) and I heard Shayfer James play his stories, it was in a performance space called The Whistling Room in the bowels of a mid-renovation church. Maybe it was the context, but being there among mostly strangers, I found myself thinking in charicatures of how I imagined the parishoners who wandered in accidentally to this completely un-churchy event might perceive what was happening. Before he even sang three notes, I imagined them saying things like, "When a man can sing that angelically, you know the devil's got a hand in it." Then the lights dimmed. The mood shifted and Shayfer James attacked the keys with a venom that made me wonder if there might be some metaphoric truth to that preemptive musing. But only for a moment. The music rapidly swept all externalizing thoughts from the room like a giant emotive broom. Once you arrive in the gritty, sardonic, and strangely intense world of Mister James' rhythmic noir piano, and delicately cruel lyrics, well... I don't believe in the devil as anything other than a cultural archetype, but I'll be gladly damned if there wasn't something about that first song that made the captivated audience feel like we may have reached a time in our lives when all that was left to do was BAD THINGS.
If it took a snake to convince a myth to bite into forbidden fruit, Shayfer James is what you'd play to entice the snake of Eden into doing something...it would never do...
We were hooked. And inspired. That show kicked off an intense bout of song-writing, and led to the beginning of a lovely musical friendship and eventual collaboration. Now the very good news. We aren't the only musicians who have been busy. Though I could wax on endlessly about the intriguing literary acumen of the lyrics or the complex shifts between dissonance and ethereal melodic ascents in the new songs, I bet you'd enjoy the music even more. So without further adieu, I invite you to listen to these dark songwriting gems on James' newest album, The Owl and The Elephant.
... it MIGHT sound as beautiful as this. Hear the music: Click here to listen to the diabolical and heart-wrenching music of Shayfer James, a villainous singer/ song-writer/ multi-instrumentalist who just returned from a gig in Hong Kong to grace our northeastern ears with his melodic Strange.
The first time Kevin, Mike (my band-mates from The Torcher Chamber Ensemble) and I heard Shayfer James play his stories, it was in a performance space called The Whistling Room in the bowels of a mid-renovation church. Maybe it was the context, but being there among mostly strangers, I found myself thinking in charicatures of how I imagined the parishoners who wandered in accidentally to this completely un-churchy event might perceive what was happening. Before he even sang three notes, I imagined them saying things like, "When a man can sing that angelically, you know the devil's got a hand in it." Then the lights dimmed. The mood shifted and Shayfer James attacked the keys with a venom that made me wonder if there might be some metaphoric truth to that preemptive musing. But only for a moment. The music rapidly swept all externalizing thoughts from the room like a giant emotive broom. Once you arrive in the gritty, sardonic, and strangely intense world of Mister James' rhythmic noir piano, and delicately cruel lyrics, well... I don't believe in the devil as anything other than a cultural archetype, but I'll be gladly damned if there wasn't something about that first song that made the captivated audience feel like we may have reached a time in our lives when all that was left to do was BAD THINGS.
If it took a snake to convince a myth to bite into forbidden fruit, Shayfer James is what you'd play to entice the snake of Eden into doing something...it would never do...
We were hooked. And inspired. That show kicked off an intense bout of song-writing, and led to the beginning of a lovely musical friendship and eventual collaboration. Now the very good news. We aren't the only musicians who have been busy. Though I could wax on endlessly about the intriguing literary acumen of the lyrics or the complex shifts between dissonance and ethereal melodic ascents in the new songs, I bet you'd enjoy the music even more. So without further adieu, I invite you to listen to these dark songwriting gems on James' newest album, The Owl and The Elephant.
 | ____________________________________ You can click here to order a copy of The Owl and The Elephant. I can confidently say that if you listen to it, this is extremely likely to become one of your favorite CDs. It has already become one of mine. Click here to read a fantastic review of the album from the fellows over at miccontrol.com Or here to visit ShayferJames.com ____________________________________ |
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3 comments:
Excellent description of a cooler-than-words experience. I, too, first heard Shayfer James play at The Whistling Room and as his fingers hit the piano keys, chills ran through my body. My husband and I were immediately hooked! Just got the album and can't wait to listen!
Thanks, Kitty! It's such a surprise wandering into a seemingly innocuous little venue, and then being completely blown away before the first song is even finished. We felt lucky to catch the show in such an intimate setting before the band gets swept up into expensive concert halls. I hope many more people get to enjoy this music. I gave the track "Every Fallen Feather" to some friends with their wedding present, and I keep finding excuses to pass the album around. I have yet to meet one person who doesn't love it. Enjoy the album, and if you have a moment, let me know what you guys think of it! I am certain it won't disappoint.
heard bits of his music. I love it.
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