Mary James
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Mary James

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Band Hip Hop Pop

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Discography

All My Ladies - Single
Love Me - Single
The School Of James - EP
Lover, Lover Down - DVD

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Bio

Calgary born artist Mary James produces a unique and divergent brand of hip hop that has grouped her with artists such as Kelis & M.I.A. Her live show is classic and retro - adding elements of blues, jazz and live instrumentation. Mary James says: “My music is hip hop & dark R'n'B with a drizzle of punk soul.”

Mary James has established herself as one of the most active ladies on the west coast working in underground hip hop. Collaborating with California producer Oh No The Disrupt on her well-received demo, “The School of James” and working with popular Toronto artist DJ Nana are just a couple of the reasons why.

However, most recently Mary James has extended her talents to also include film work by releasing a DVD called Lover, Lover Down which features two self-directed music videos ‘Love Me’ and ‘All My Ladies’.

Surrounded by a family that is extremely musically inclined and artistically gifted - Mary James was introduced to hip hop and music and at a very young age; spending most of her youth collecting cassette tapes, singing in church choirs, learning to play the piano, acoustic and bass guitar.

Mary James explains: “In the early 80’s, both of my parents immigrated to Calgary from tiny island Caribbean Nations. Our culture is a mix of marooned African Slaves and First Peoples of the Caribbean, we are Carib Indians – imagine me growing up in Calgary in the 1980’s. At that time, I didn’t have many friends but I had my music.”

In 2000, at the age of seventeen Mary James left home and moved to England where she began her professional music career working with artists from many different genres and backgrounds. As an artist she spent time living in London and Manchester. While in Europe Mary James study music & art and traveled to metropolitans such as Paris and Amsterdam.

Two years later Mary James retuned to Canada enlightened, she settled in Toronto and studied at Trebas Institute for the Recording and Film Arts. At this time Mary James began experimenting with her home studio recording a series of soul hip hop tracks inspired by the coined Eyrkah Badu & D'Angelo Nu-Soul sound.

In 2006, she became the artistic manager for modern day hip hop renaissance man - Moka Only. Mary James toured with him throughout 2006 & 2007 and assisted in the release of his albums; The Desired Effect (part 2), The Station Agent and Vermilion.

Mary James can be heard regularly as a reoccurring guest-host on CJSW radio in Calgary. As well, Mary James has been featured in various videos, print ads and T.V movies including "The Other Women" directed by Jason Priestley (90210, Barenaked in America) and the new CBC Television Calgary-based drama ‘Wild Roses’.

Deezuz and Vancouver-based producer LoKeynote are amongst the producers on Mary James upcoming release titled Elevator which is fusion between hip hop and soul. Mary James is fast becoming one to watch for her creative talents and sharp business styles.