What do you say to someone that is holding back? Are you in a relationship with someone where communication doesn’t mean leaving everything out-in-the-open? Enter “Do You Want Me” from singer/songwriter Jo James. This affectionate song, as real as it gets, puts to song what so many people struggle to convey. You don’t have to be alone. Open up. James makes it sound so easy and frankly, effortlessly cool in this mesmerizing pop-soul-Americana single. Some might call his sound ‘retro’, but to me, James is clearly present in all that he does.
WEBSITE: http://www.jojamesmusic.com/
James, who competed in Season 17 of The Voice, with his rendition of Lenny Kravitz’ “It Ain’t Over ‘Till It’s Over”, wasn’t able to get any of the judges to turn their chairs. Still, he stood on that high stakes stage and gave audiences just a small taste of the singer he is. The artist that he is. I’ve always found it both heartbreaking and inspiring that artists get the chance to sing their heart out (often to a popular song) and when the chairs don’t turn, the collective softball in all of our guts drops. While watching the clip of James singing, it’s clear he gives his all and is emotionally connected to Kravitz’s performance. That said, James’ “Do You Want Me” is more real, and just as raw. If you wanted more excitement out of his voice – I think you’re wrong. He is precisely where he should be and the mood of the song calls for what he’s so sharply presented. I don’t need all the bells and whistles of the production studio – I need James’ voice, his guitar and that faint piano organ.
No more walking on a lonely road, James sings. His voice, holding back nothing, is in perfect range and pitch to match the soulful and slow-moving tempo for which the song calls. Like a lazy Sunday, this song opens up to conversation and lets down the walls. One can hear that and feel that vibe and that mood-setting when James sings. The chorus- tell me you want me baby – cements his feelings that he’s not letting up, not giving up on this person. He wants them to open up and express their feelings. He’s willing to drop everything and be by their side. His care is absolutely captivating. One can be transfixed on his voice, but always in the background is a whisper of a piano organ, and an electric guitar that carries its weight in gold. It’s a stunning blend of melodies and intricate sounds that keep the listener aflutter.
SOUNDCLOUD: https://soundcloud.com/user-301278838
The verdict? “Do You Want Me” is a winner. Jo James has himself a song that can definitely make its way to the charts. I’m highly impressed with the emotional vocal delivery and the unpresuming music bedrock. He shines, and he does so brightly. The breadth of this song seems to linger for hours, leaving me to believe that we’ve only witnessed a slice of James’ talents. What’s next – where’s the next single Jo James. I’m ready.
Chadwick Easton