José James has been known to dabble in a variety of genres from jazz to soul to hip-hop to rock and now...trap? Yes, music everyman James' next musical foray is into the waters of Trap&B popularized by folks like Bryson Tiller and H.E.R. Now, that might seem like a shocking departure, especially for someone known for his velvety smooth vocals over live instrumentation. However, as with his last collection of original music, 2014's While You Were Sleeping, it looks as if the ever-experimenting James looks to further those efforts when his new album, Love In a Time Of Madness, which is set to arrive this February. If you were wondering what this new incarnation of José sounds like, look no further than his latest single and video "Always There."
Admittedly, hearing the singer over a track with all the trappings of, well, trap — booming 808s, slurred synths, skittering hi-hats — is a bit jarring. However, James' heart is where it always is: his voice. He sings on the track in his usual laid-back tone, only this time with an added bit of swagger, as he rides the beat quite effortlessly. And though things remain relatively simple in both lyric and melody, it's still a rather heartfelt affair, with José affirming an ever-present love. The video also reflects the song's aesthetic, with simple scenes of the singer walking, laughing, smiling and loving with his video sweetheart being the clip's main focus.
In addition to the single/video release and the album announcement, José also has a few tour dates on the horizon Stateside, kicking off on March 16th at Atlanta's Center Stage and making stops on both coasts and in-between, including a date at New York's Bowery Ballroom on March 23rd, before wrapping up on April 2nd Seattle's Triple Door. You can check out the announced dates below after you peep the visual for "Always There." Look for Love In A Time Of Madness to arrive on February 24th.
José James US Tour dates:
3/16 – Center Stage – Atlanta, GA
3/17 – Motorco Music Hall – Durham, NC
3/18 – U Street Music Hall – Washington, DC
3/19 – The Foundry – Philadelphia, PA
3/22 – Brighton Music Hall – Boston, MA
3/23 – Bowery Ballroom – New York, NY
3/25 – El Club – Detroit, MI
3/26 – SPACE – Evanston, IL
3/28 – Echo – Los Angeles, CA
3/29 – The Independent – San Francisco, CA
3/30 – Guild Theater – Sacramento, CA
3/31 – Doug Fir – Portland, OR
4/2 – Triple Door – Seattle, WA
