Shawn James’ voice is a force of nature, a musical preacher to a flock that accepts everyone, a combination of the gospel choirs he sang with as a youngster and his training in classical music and opera. Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, James’ timeless sound is steeped in blues legends like Robert Johnson and Son House, forever at the crossroads of damnation and redemption, the two inextricably woven into the fabric of his songs.
Transcending any and all genres, James’ songs speak as much to these tremulous times as they do the eternal human condition. Steeped in mythology (the fearsome a cappella which opens “Orpheus”) and America’s dark past (the deep delta blues of “Burn the Witch”), The Guardian Collection (due out October 30 on Parts + Labor Records) represents James’ recent musical effort in stripped, acoustic form. Featuring favorites from The Dark & The Light, James’ newest release features four unreleased acoustic tracks and covers of “Like a Stone” by Audioslave and “Rake” by Townes Van Zandt.
Shawn’s father died an alcoholic when he was five and the two songs feature a journey from the depths of despair to the heights of ecstatic communion. Shawn sings, “The blood that filled his veins flows through mine/It’s not that I’m ashamed but how can I redefine how your story ends.”
“The record’s about turning the darkness and pain I’ve experienced in my life into songs that can inspire others to make the best of hard times,” he says.
After James’ father died, his Greek stepfather introduced him to the Pentecostal church, where his vocal talent was recognized immediately and put to use in the choir. A child prodigy, Shawn entered a number of vocal competitions, with a multi-octave range that makes him unique as an artist. He didn’t start playing acoustic guitar until high school and didn’t start writing songs seriously until he was in his mid-twenties. Studying classical music helped him hone his vocal technique, but he learned to let loose emotionally in church. “I had the mix of both worlds,” he says.
Pointing to “authentic” performers like Tom Waits (“He has an impeccable ‘no bullshit’ compass”), soul singers like Otis Redding, Sam Cooke or Bill Withers, and the old blues icons who inspired him, James explains, “They weren’t precious about what they did; they didn’t put themselves on a pedestal. I want my music to be respected, but I’ll still sit down at the bar to have a beer with you. My goal is to make music that stands the test of time.”
Today Glide is excited to premiere James’ take on Townes Van Zandt’s tune “Rake” off his 1971 album Delta Momma Blues. Though the song isn’t known as one of Van Zandt’s greatest hits, it is undoubtedly a timeless nugget of dark folk from the Texas songwriter and is definitely worthy of a tribute. Compared to the original version with its subtle yet moving orchestral accompaniment, James reimagines the song in a more sparse, stripped down fashion. His voice is haunting and beautiful as he seems be living within the song. Ultimately, this rendition is further proof of James’ dynamic talent as a performer.
James describes the decision to record the song:
“Rake, although not one of his more popular songs, has always been my favorite by Townes Van Zandt. There’s something about the sorrowful reminiscing lyrics comparing his current self to who he was that provides context to the haunting tone and delivery of the performance that always hit me differently.”
LISTEN:
The Guardian Collection is out October 30 on Parts + Labor Records.
