Shawn James ' powerful voice and poetry have made him one of the leading rising names in blues rock. With a decade on the road, the American artist became known for the moving ballad "Through the Valley," part of the soundtrack for the game The Last of Us Part II , but there's much more to his sonic universe than just acoustic guitar and the folk feel of South Chicago.
The musician recently completed a successful tour of Brazil in April, playing in three cities: Curitiba, São Paulo, and Rio de Janeiro hosted James' first full-band performances here. His debut in Brazil took place a year prior, but with acoustic acoustic sets featuring just voice and guitar.
In an interview with Wikimetal shortly before these shows, Shawn James spoke about his latest album, A Place In The Unknown . This project expands the horizons of musical genres explored in the artist's sound, who masterfully uses elements of the heaviest sounds of the day, from rock to grunge and heavy metal.
WM: Speaking of Brazil, you did your first show here last year. How was it?
SJ: Absolutely incredible. I've never received such a warm response on a first visit. The energy and engagement from the audience is the best I've ever seen. And it was just an acoustic show!
Wikimetal: The cover of your new album is enchanting. How does it relate to the sound and message of the album?
Shawn James: I saw this album as something kind of chaotic, but beautiful – and the artwork really captures that. [The artist] Eleonora Pulcini absolutely blew me away with the artwork she created from my idea.
WM: For fans who discovered your music through The Last of Us , this album might bring surprises. What are your main influences when it comes to heavier music?
SJ: My influences are many, actually! Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Gojira, At The Gates, Meshuggah and many more are some of my favorites.
WM: Your song “No Blood From a Stone” made me think… Many say that rock n' roll is dead, and the lyrics describe something that will disappear because of its greed. Could that be the case with rock n' roll?
SJ: I don't think it's like that. I think styles and genres can be trends that come and go in terms of popularity. But in my opinion, nothing really disappears, even if it becomes less popular. I believe it works like a pendulum and will come back.
WM: This topic of not selling out for gold or money comes back later in the album. How difficult is it to follow your passion for music and not get lost in the promises of fame?
SJ: As long as you can stay honest, genuine, and authentic, then it won't be a problem in my view. I think the mistake people make is when they start changing their music and themselves to be more successful and make more money. That's never good for art.
WM: Another strong message from this album is about staying strong and moving forward, as seen in the songs "Not Alone" and "No One Knows".
SJ: “Not Alone” is about feeling alone. I wanted to tell everyone that no matter how alone you feel, that’s not true. There are always people and comfort around if you open up. No matter how hard it gets, you’ll find a way to keep going as long as you don’t give up.
In the case of "No One Knows," I'm talking about how everything can always change unexpectedly and surprise you, regardless of how stable and secure you think you are. It's wise to always be prepared for the unexpected. You never know what will happen in the end.
