Description
A native of New Hampshire, James relocated to Chapel Hill to attend the University of North Carolina, but the desire to pursue music convinced him to temporarily move to Los Angeles. He wrote songs during his stay in California and returned to Chapel Hill in 2002, where he graduated from college and set his sights on New York. James decamped to the Big Apple and issued a four-song EP before enlisting producer Mikal Blue (who would later produce Colbie Caillat’s Coco) to help him record a full-length debut. Featuring songs inspired by his parents’ divorce and former love interests, The Day Is Brave arrived in June 2008. After touring the album and relocating once again to Los Angeles, James wrote and recorded his self-titled sophomore release, Brendan James, which appeared in 2010. Playing Favorites followed in 2013, with the emotionally direct Simplify arriving later that same year.
An American singer-songwriter signed to Capitol Records at age 25 and Universal Records at 28, James has collaborated or toured with John Mayer, John Legend, Cat Stevens, Carly Simon, Keb Mo, and Andy Grammar, and his songs have been placed in over 15 major television shows and films worldwide. Writing songs on the topics of love, optimism, political enlightenment, simplifying, self-empowerment, wanderlust, and adventuring aimlessly through the natural world, James has left no stone unturned in his six studio albums to date. His performances are chock full of stories and fresh perspectives that seem to leave his crowds wanting more every time.