Peter James

Artist Information

Biography

"This is gentle but subtly energetic music, full of gorgeous instrumental interplay and memorable vocal melodies - and upon first listen, it is easy to miss the intricacies of the interlocking guitars, the delicate yet effective percussive touches, and single-line textural elements that blend seamlessly into a shimmering harmonic whole." -Barry Cleveland, Guitar Player Magazine, June 2006

Reaching across genres, Peter James is a part of the rich folk singer-songwriter tradition, which he combines with a popular music sensibility and a compositional sophistication. Supported by the unique instrumentation of 8-string guitar, Chapman Stick, electric-upright bass and fretless guitar, the music is intricate and daring.

Born on the grey, gloomy shores of South Wales, Peter began writing and performing in the United Kingdom where his vocals soaked in the influences of David Sylvian, Morrissey, Everything But The Girl, and Lloyd Cole. He later made his way to San Francisco via Southeast Asia. Inspired by melodic percussive rhythms and the Classical Minimalist compositions of Steve Reich and Philip Glass, he takes a fresh approach to guitar playing and songwriting.

His debut release Footnotes to Fairytales will delight any listener who is willing to brave a journey of heartbreak and capable of understanding its beauty. This is lush, cinematic folk music - thoughtful, subtly complex and intelligently composed.

Instrumentation

Peter James - voice, 10, 8 & 6-string guitars
Daniel Panasenko - Chapman Stick, electric upright bass
David Lofton - frettless & fretted guitar, support voice
Gino Robair - drums & percussion

Discography

Footnotes to Fairytales - Full length CD, 2006
Available at iTunes, Napster, Amazon.com, CD Baby & independent records stores

Audio

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• Shimmering Harmonic Whole [+ Show ]
  

  Peter James is a singer-songwriter who plays 8- and 10-string guitars. On Footnotes to Fairytales, ...Peter James is a singer-songwriter who plays 8- and 10-string guitars. On Footnotes to Fairytales, he is joined by fretted and fretless guitarist David Lofton, Chapman Stick and electric-upright bass player Daniel Panasenko, and cellist Marika Hughes—making for a string-filled listening experience. Rounding out the group are drummer-percussionist Gino Robair and tabla player Jim Santi Owen. This is gentle but subtly energetic music, full of gorgeous instrumental interplay and memorable vocal melodies – and upon first listen, it is easy to miss the intricacies of the interlocking guitars, the delicate yet effective percussive touches, and single-line textural elements that blend seamlessly into a shimmering harmonic whole.
  
  James’ voice has been rightly compared to those of David Sylvian and Morrissey as it contains both the soft-spoken intimacy of the former and the elegant desperation of the latter. His lyrics are compact, introspective, and highly personal—presenting clusters of images rather than opting for the more usual folk narrative style. My favorite pieces are the delightfully buoyant “Angels and Aeroplanes,” and the polyrhythmic “Save Yourself,” which managers to add a 5/4 outro section without sounding the least bit proggy. –Barry Cleveland
  

• Sophisticated Balladeer [+ Show ]
  

  Sophisticated... complex ballads with an arty sensitivity that recalls the likes of Bryan Ferry and ...Sophisticated... complex ballads with an arty sensitivity that recalls the likes of Bryan Ferry and David Sylvian. –Mac Randall

• Best You Could Ask For [+ Show ]
  

  Garnering a lot of attention among the mainstream, guitar-oriented press... the skill of the musicia...Garnering a lot of attention among the mainstream, guitar-oriented press... the skill of the musicians and their textural use of many stringed instruments is anything but run-of-the-mill, and will rightly command the enlightened listener's attention... James certainly has one of the best CDs you could ask for.

• Soothing Acoustical Soundscape [+ Show ]
  

  ...a soothing acoustical soundscape ...reminiscent of the stellar work of the late Michael Hedges …a......a soothing acoustical soundscape ...reminiscent of the stellar work of the late Michael Hedges …a lush affair of fine musicianship and evocative lyrics served by a sincere voice. (Best listened to) from a beachfront deck at sunset with a glass of wine in hand and romance in the air. –Roland Goity

• A New Star [+ Show ]
  

  It's deeply emotional …like traveling in a strange country yet you feel at home …some of the biggest...It's deeply emotional …like traveling in a strange country yet you feel at home …some of the biggest names of the folk tradition are heard in the first few seconds but after one or two titles you have to say 'I am listening to Peter James'…it's so good, there is a new star in the heaven of folk.

• Heavenly [+ Show ]
  

  For that easy going, folksy feeling, do not bypass Peter's latest album. The album is excellently se...For that easy going, folksy feeling, do not bypass Peter's latest album. The album is excellently self-produced and the guitar work is, well, heavenly. Am I going overboard? Hell, yes! Quick, throw me that life-belt I need to get back on shore to listen to it all over again.

• Favorite
  

  One of my favorite discs of the year so far. Great...

• Emotion-based Songwriting [+ Show ]
  

  Mellow, velvety, soulful voice that ...goes into the David Sylvian territory of surreal, emotion-bas...Mellow, velvety, soulful voice that ...goes into the David Sylvian territory of surreal, emotion-based songwriting. Excellent. A departure from regular songs …repeated listens will reap rewards.

• Hipper Than Folk
  

  Nice mellow music …It's a little hipper than folk, like mellow John Mayer, Jack Johnson or Coldplay.

• Good Songs
  

  We dig the new disc here at 100,000 watt KUMD …good songs! Good band bringing them to life!

Setlist

Basic Requirements

Calendar