Leah James Announces Solo Debut Album; New Single 'WIldfire' Premieres
By: Caryn Robbins Jan. 18, 2018
Singer/songwriter Leah James announced today the release of her solo debut album While She Sleeps on March 30th. The daughter of renowned Eagles guitarist Don Felder, James steps out on her own for the first time, writing, recording, and producing the album solely by herself. The result is a sweeping indie-folk record, decorated with symphonic strings, tenor guitar, piano, and the soft swoon of Leah's voice. Today, she releases her new single called "Wildfire," the first song she wrote for the record, which was premiered this morning by Billboard. Listen to "Wildfire" HERE.
"Stepping out of my own way and my own self-doubt and self-judgement and actually doing it, I think was the most challenging part," James told Billboard. "After I did that it really came together a lot more easily than I had anticipated and expected." She continued, "...I really didn't want to rely on anybody else other than myself to create the album I heard in my head."
Leah James began writing While She Sleeps soon after the birth of her daughter. She became inspired by the themes of motherhood, femininity, family, and independence, and wrote all ten songs alone, hammering out the music's melodies and cinematic arrangements during the little moments while her newborn baby slept. With one foot planted in her influences - from Mazzy Star's reverb-heavy haze to Simon & Garfunkel's acoustic folk - and the other pointing toward newer territory, James turns While She Sleeps into something that's at once fresh and familiar. It's real, raw, and romantic, offering up a mix of lilting lullabies ("My Love Will Follow," "One and Only"), cinematic campfire songs ("Wildfire"), elegant pop-noire ("Love Me With Madness"), airy instrumentals ("The Moment I Met You"), and showcases for James' thrilling, cooing voice ("Big Sur," "That Fateful Day").
James teased the album late last year when she released the lead single "The Desert," an ethereal indie-folk gem that's intimately hushed one minute and as lush as a Hollywood film score the next.
Although While She Sleeps marks Leah James' first release as a solo artist, the album also carries on a family tradition. Like her own daughter, James grew up surrounded by music. Her father, Don Felder, was the Eagles' lead guitarist for decades, as well as the main architect behind the band's biggest hit, "Hotel California." When the band hit the road again during the mid-1990s, James tagged along. "It felt like an outrageous extended family," she said, remembering a childhood spent backstage, in the wings, and aboard the tour bus. The experience was eye-opening, teaching James about the love, passion, and connectivity of live music at a young age.
Leah previously performed with her husband as a duo called Brandon & Leah. They released two EP's as well as a few singles, including 2013's Cronies which reached #82 on the Billboard 200, #16 on the Billboard Independent Albums Chart, and #24 on the Billboard Digital Albums chart.
Track List:
01) That Fateful Day
02) Love Me With Madness
03) Wildfire
04) My Love Will Follow
05) The Desert
06) One And Only
07) New Moon
08) The Moment I Met You
09) Won't Back Down
10) Big Sur
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