New Music Video: Luke James – “I Want You” | Pre-Album, “#LUKE” is available Dec. 22th, 2011

When a new artist hits the scene,
adjectives like fresh and honest frequently get thrown around when, in
many instances, it’s more hype than truth. But that’s definitely not the
case when it comes to Luke James.

And just who is Luke James? 

He’s
a singer/songwriter who truly embodies the honesty and fresh, organic
soulfulness that’s been in relatively short supply of late in
contemporary music. Now that sounds like a pretty tall order for a
newcomer to fulfill. However, the New Orleans native is very much up to
the task. In fact, you’ve no doubt heard his work: he co-wrote Chris
Brown’s “Crawl” and has penned songs for Justin Bieber (“That Should Be
Me”) and Britney Spears (“Kill The Lights”), among others. And his
growing fan base includes none other than Beyoncé, who selected James to
appear in her “Run the World” video. 

James’
real-deal approach to music and—more important—the craft of singing are
the main attractions on his upcoming mix tape and album of the same
name: “Made to Love.” Both mark the singer/songwriter’s debut on New Age
Rock Star Records (NARS), the label helmed by award-winning producer
Danja (Mariah Carey, Keri Hilson) and long-time collaborator / mixing
engineer Marcella Araica (Madonna, Pink, Timbaland).

“This
isn’t a fad for me,” declares James. “I’m willing to go wherever with
this because music is everything to me. This is my world and how I see
it. My music speaks for me in a way that’s relatable and truthful.”

“Honest
is the best word to describe Luke,” adds Danja, who began working with
James nearly four years ago. “Every message in his songs is sincere. And
Luke’s voice is another obvious factor. Putting all of that together,
he possesses a universal connection that touches everyone. He’s an
undeniable force.”

That
connection hits home on James’ lead single, “I Want You.” Packed with
interesting breaks and tempo shifts, the sparse yet bright track
pulsates with an infectious, hip-hop-influenced beat. That foundation
provides the perfect complement to James’ pure, arresting falsetto as he
sings: “I was just a broken record of one-night stands /Til you came
along with your beautiful song …”

“It’s
all about the voice,” says Danja. “And that’s what he’s captured on
every record. Production doesn’t matter. No matter how sparse or grand I
make it, he takes control and makes it about him.”

James’
innate talent as a singer/songwriter was nurtured in one of music’s
legendary outposts, New Orleans. An only child, he grew up listening to a
wide array of influences thanks to his single mother: everyone from
Marvin Gaye and Harold Melvin & the Bluenotes to Willie Nelson and
Alabama. James’ oh wow moment occurred when he was 11 years old and
watching the amateur talent segment on TV’s “Showtime at the Apollo.”
One of the contestants began singing Donny Hathaway’s version of writer
Leon Russell’s “A Song For You.”

“I
got chills,” recalls James. “And I get that feeling all over again
whenever I think about that performance. At the time, I’d never said I
wanted to be a singer; I just knew I wanted to entertain. And I’d never
heard of Donny. But when my mother found her copy of one of his records,
I knew then that I wanted to reach people that way.”

While
in high school in 2001, James joined a trio that started performing
around New Orleans, opening for such acts as Brian McKnight. That’s when
James first met his longtime manager Frank Gatson. When things with the
trio didn’t work out, James moved to Los Angeles after graduation—on
the advice of Gatson—and began singing background for R&B singer
Tyrese. It was through the singer that James met production duo the
Underdogs and signed with their label as part of a singing duo: Luke
& Q.

When
Luke & Q decided to go their separate ways, James began honing his
skills as a songwriter after hooking up with producer Danja nearly four
years ago. Since then, he has collaborated on songs for Brown, Bieber,
Spears, Keri Hilson and Brandy and worked alongside such other producers
as Kadis and Sean and the Messengers. Inspired by those collaborations,
he rediscovered his footing as a singer in his own right.

“I
found the feeling again where I felt something fresh could come out,”
says James. “Writing songs helped me figure out what my lane was as far
as being a solo artist. And I’ve also learned something else: If I don’t
feel it, I can’t do it.

Connect with Luke James
www.whoislukejames.com
www.facebook.com/whoislukejames
www.twitter.com/whoislukejames